Wedding Wednesday....Bridal Brunch Dc

I couldn't be more excited to participate in this wonderful event. It will be held at Hotel Palomar in Washington, DC on March 8, 2015. I encourage all of you that are in the area to come out and capitalize on the opportunity to not only speak to wedding experts but also get some insight that will assure that your wedding will be the wedding of your dreams. I am a sponsor for the event and will have the pleasure of styling models for the bridal fashion show that we will be having. I will post pictures after the event and leading up to it, I will be posting inspirational hairstyles.
Get your tickets at http://thebridalbrunchdc.eventbrite.com

Wedding Wednesday... A Barn-Style Wedding

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of styling hair for a beautiful bride named Alix. After months of trial appointments, she decided to wear a classic and sleek bun. We went through 6 variations of bun styles and decided on a simple look.
Her wedding dress had alot of detail and she didn't want her hair to be a distraction.
Again this is why trial appointments are extremely important. It really takes the stress away, at least when it comes to hair. That day is already emotionally draining, you want to have as many things in place as possible.
Something else that's really important is, when you seek out vendors, make sure you get people who are professional and accommodating to your needs. Everyone is not going to be as nice as you would like, everyone isn't going to go above and beyond to make sure that your needs are met. This is when having great vendors really matter. It makes all the difference in making sure things go smoothly on your wedding day.
I'm pretty patient and I make sure that I do my best to accommodate my clients. It's not always easy but it's worth it. You don't let anyone disrespect you however  you want to make people comfortable.

Alix had a barn-style wedding, which had a rustic feel. Her guest ate BBQ and had the opportunity to take-in beautiful country views.
Congratulations to the Mr. and Mrs.!

Below are the looks from the Wedding Day. Styled by Me

Wedding Wednesday...Bridal up-do (The Trial)

I have stressed to many clients how important it is to get a Trial so that you know what how your hair will look for your wedding day. The last thing you want to do is wait until your wedding day to see how your hair will look.
That is by far the worst thing you could do. I even encourage you to have a few different trial appointments.
This is so that you and your stylist are on the same page. The day of  your wedding is so stressful, it takes the stress out of having a hair crisis. Trust me!
It's even okay to seek other stylists for a trial appointment. You want variety and everyone has their own way of styling. You may like the way another stylist does up-dos, and that is okay.
This is one of the most important days of your life, you want to look your best.

Below are pictures from my latest Bridal Trail appointment:

Wedding Wednesday.... Versatility

Who doesn't like versatility when it comes to hair?
I know I want to be able to do as much with my hair as possible. Especially when I'm wearing extensions, I want to wear it up, down, to the side, etc. I want as many options as possible. I don't want to put excess amounts of heat on my hair so versatile extensions help give you different ways that you can wear your hair so that you don't damage your natural hair. There are a few options that I recommend. You can either choose, versatile sew-in extensions or micro bead extensions. Both are a healthy ways of achieving the perfect look. Micro bead extensions are more maintenance than sew-in extensions, so it just depends on what is best for you.
I usually recommend micro bead extensions for my brides because you will have more options for the wedding day and then it works out well for the honeymoon as well.

Sew-in versatile extensions-

Before Extensions

After extensions (Indique hair used) -Ponytail 

After-Bun

Wear it to the side 

After-With ceramic curls

Micro-bead Extensions-

First look

Client is natural. Hair is pressed, precision layered cut, and ceramic curled. Extensions are from Indique hair. 

Before 

After extensions are applied, hair can be worn up or down

Beads are barely noticeable

After

Hair is flawless

Second look

Client is relaxed. Hair was relaxed a week prior to micro bead application. Extensions are from Wagmans.

Hair is ceramic straightened, precision layered cut, and ceramic curled

Before

Wedding Wednesday... 5 Beauty tips to avoid before your Big day!

I'm sure many women make terrible mistakes before their big day in hopes to get prepared for it. You try new products, hairstyles, and diets. You may think that you are doing the right things to prepare however you could be doing yourself a disservice.

I'm going to give you some healthy tips to help you make smart decisions so that you aren't at the alter with a bag over your head. Yikes! 

 I have talked about some of these things before, but here is a refresher. As I was doing some research I was surprised by some of the things that I learned myself. 

1. New Color or Haircut

You don't want to make the mistake of making an emotional decision so close to your wedding day. It's a stressful time of your life and it's easy to do. Most of the time when women stress, it's reflected in their hair. I have seen this in my chair so many times. It's not uncommon for a woman to seek a big change prior to her wedding day. However, it's not a good idea. Not only may you not like it, but you have to realize that the pictures that you take are going to last forever so you don't want to alter your look too much. If you make a rash decision, you may regret it later. 

2. Peels and Specialty facials

Chemical peels and facials are to rejuvenate your skin, however you don't know the effect that it may have on your skin. It's usually recommended that you have it done 2 weeks prior to your wedding day. Peels and facials can cause bruising and redness. You don't want to have a negative reaction right before your wedding. I would probably even stretch it out a month prior, just so you have time to prepare if you have an allergic reaction to the products. 

3. Overly Indulge in Caffeine 

Caffeine effects your nervous system. You will probably have alot of anxiety the day of and excess amounts of caffeine can negatively impact your bridal day beauty. Due to caffeine being dehydrating it can create dark circles underneath your eyes as well. It's ok to intake your normal dosage of caffeine however don't overdue it as it will have an adverse effect on your skin. 

4. New workouts

The week of your wedding day is in no way the time to factor in new workout routines. If you weren't doing it at least 2  months prior, then leave it alone. You don't want to risk breaking anything so close to your wedding day. God forbid you have to roll down the isle in a wheelchair. There is nothing wrong with working out but you want to make sure you properly adjust your muscles to workouts. 

5.  Juice Cleanses

I saved this one for last because I was in shock about this one. I totally thought that a cleanse would be beneficial leading up to your wedding day. However it's not because they are too low in calories. They drain your energy and can cause you to be hungry and irritable. You need balanced meals to get you through this hectic time. During this time you should intake lots of fruits and veggies. Don't forget the H2O!  

Wedding Wednesday! How NOT to lose your Hair during the planning process

Don't worry be Happy:)))) As most brides embark upon one of the most memorable times of their lives, it can also be a very stressful time. It's so important to find ways to distress. Not only can stress have an adverse effect on your health but also on your hair.

During the planning process brides-to-be are flustered trying to figure out, dress options, food options, guest list, seating assignments, decor and other miscellaneous things that are relevant to the wedding day.
Many people don't realize that stress is the leading culprit in hair loss. When hair loss occurs due to stress, it's a very rapid process. More often then not hair will thin and in some cases, it can trigger 'alopecia areata'. If alopecia occurs you may have to see a dermatologist and get cortisone shots (Which are pretty painful, but has a high success rate in stimulating hair growth).
Its very important to remember that the wedding is one day of your life. Whereas stress can have a lasting effect on your life.You have to be Happy, and Happiness comes from within. That's why when you are stressed it has an effect internally and externally. It shifts your pH levels, because when you stress you deprive your body of vital nutrients. This is due to not eating regularly, or consuming the wrong foods (When you stress, you don't eat or you eat poorly).
If you want a healthy head of hair, you have to remember to treat it, moisturize, and keep excessive amounts of heat off of it.
As I stated in my previous post the foods that you incorporate in you diet play of significant role in hair growth.

Here are some ways to distress so that you can have beautiful and healthy hair for your big day.

1.) Listen to music. I like classical music. My favorite is the 'Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart' Pandora station. It's Awesome!

2.) Call a trusted friend or loved one. Healthy relationships/friendships are important. A reassuring voice can put everything into perspective.

3.) Eat right, Plan ahead. Fruits and veggies make great snacks. Fish with high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce symptoms of stress.

4.) Take a deep breath. Deep breathing oxygenates your blood and clears your mind.

5.) Drink a cup of tea. Tea has healthy antioxidants in it. As well as 'Theanine', which is an amino acid that has a calming and soothing effect on the nervous system.

Source: www.healthline.com