beauty sleep

Some much needed beauty sleep is in order, after a busy work week of beautifying others with these products in the Salon this week: Nioxin clarifying treatments followed by a hydrating mask for the hair. Love this product for smoothing hair and this one for letting curls go wild. I use this Niospray as a finishing product to seal the cuticle, an added bonus the reflectives in this product leave hair with natural hold and sheen. Men are never to be forgotten especially when coiffing faux hawks with this product. The look of Form, Flow, and Flaunt a compliment to all of the colorful highlights, lowlights, and relights I have been enjoying perfecting so much. Thank you for visiting me I adore the comments, they make my day.
Hope to see you next week for my first gift-away!


Shalom Harlow by Ellen von Unwerth

it's a ten

It's a 10 haircare was recommended to me by a fellow hairstylist. Being an educator in the beauty business I am fortunate to be able to have an abundance of products to test and some don't necessarily pass. This one sure did. This leave in miracle product is a detangler and leave in conditioner with nourishing ingredients. These ingredients contain, Sunflower Seed, Green Tea Extract, and silky Amino Acids and Antioxidants that strengthen, shine and de-frizz .  In the salon I use It's a 10 for my initial comb out before the hair cut and although I continually dress the hair with different products such as these before I blow dry and style I find that sometimes all I need is in this little blue bottle. What is your favorite miracle hair product?

image: here

Vive la Différence

Vivienne Mackinder is a hair industry icon. She unveils her new role as fashion director for ICA Intercoiffure America • Canada with this recent  photo shoot and takes hair to new heights as shown here in these retro-couture styles. This took place in The City Of Lights, complete with mobile salon where she styled and dressed the hair using lovely backdrops in their Parisian pristine. For us hairdressers in the salon this kind of work brings new styling techniques back especially hairdressing. For these looks that means dusting off those hot rollers and curling irons and bringing out bobby pins, spray gel and Elnett.

image: beautylaunchpad

chanel eye candy

Love the look of Chanel's Spring Atelier collection as seen in Elle  es. Not only was I inspired by the eye embellishments of sequins and pearls but I got to brush up on my reading in español. I always love the behind the scenes action as seen here via Vogue TV. Check out Chanel's global creative director, Peter Philips give some great make up blending advice, prep for a Chanel runway show with a peak at legend Karl Lagerfield, as well as the making of these lovely embroidered lashes. True make up artistry at it's best along with a little model mayhem. Another way to create this look; Starry Eyed glitter eyeliner's by TwoFaced, along with a little white eyeliner lining the lower rim of your eye like this followed by a flutter of lashes
images: elle

more madonna

More Madonna from her recent Dolce Gabanna add that I posted about  here.  I hope you don't mind if I make it a quickie I love my blogging but the late nights up are leaving me looking a bit worn if I keep this up I may have to fly in and see Madge's doc for some facial rejuvenation as seen here.

                                      her arms, I am always so impressed by them and

                                      her corset gives a good lift

                                 she makes putting on lipstick sexy, is that lola?

                                 I always hang my fine washables to dry too, and love the lavender scented sachets

                                          

                                 "don't cry for me argentina," when you have him

                this is for you, for stopping by, for saying "hi," have a lovely weekend!

argan oil + jose maran

Before I started blogging I would tear out articles like this one from Elle Magazine that inspired me. Who would have know that this article about the botanical phenomenon Argan Oil would be synonymous with this make up line I had just sampled at Sephora. The oil has a multitude of uses to moisturize skin, hair, cuticles and even a pimple cure as seen here. I will definitely try it but for now a little tea tree oil will do. Love the feel and coverage of Jose Maran tinted moisturizer and the Argan Oil moisturizing stick is great for a little pick me up to hydrate during the day around the eye area and above my cheekbones. I love that she is a "giving back," kind of girl. Her bare naked wipes sound like a treat themself. With these ingredients to wipe off your make up, aloe vera, cucumber, and vitamin E. A portion of every package sold will go to protect the polar bears.  Eco-Friendly packaging glowing skin, Finger paint creme palettes containing four feather-light shimmers that bring soft-glowing color to eyes, cheeks, and lips.
 Another plus for all purchases of Josie Maran cosmetics here until February 1, 50% will be donated to American Red Cross for Haiti.

images: josemaran

bad gal lashes

The eyes are the window to your soul. I like to share this message with clients as I am making them up. Great lashes are like a tiara, a crown of glory. You can peer thru them even in the wee hours and still feel confident that you look good. I haven't been feeling like that lately, I feel like I am losing my lashes. This happens to me every year at this time.  It's like a dog shedding it's winter coat. (and I don't mind being compared to them, as I Love mine)! Could it be that I am using too many of those lash boosting mascara's? Or is it the carnuba wax or petroleum. According to this article carnuba wax is good for lashes. I have even changed eye make up removers  from Dior to Lancome to plain old Ponds. Instead of picking up some Lattisse. I bought this product and have a sample of this product from Sephora. I also decided to go back to what works Bad Gal Lash by Benefit. Inspired by this video from one of the best  Celebrity Make up artist's, Scott Barnes. Beside giving great lash, he makes everyone look soft, sexy, with the art of blending, and balancing color on the skin so that is glows.

I'd like to thank my hairdresser

Because celebrities have such an impact on what we see and hear in society I love to hear it when they thank all the behind the chair action with the hairdressers and make up artists that transform and create for them. Sandra Bullock's acceptance speech was abundantly grateful for her Golden Globe award which not only included her husband but all the make up and hair crew who transformed her character from the inside out in the movie, The Blind Side. She is my kind of gal, more comfy in jeans than ball gowns and can't wait to get home and walk her dogs. Penélope Cruz was nominated for best supporting actress in the movie, Nine, Can you tell she is a favorite of mine? During her recent 60 minutes, interview she revealed that her first acting experience came from being in the hair salon of her mother, a hairdresser. "Listening to people talk about their lives, or the things that they wouldn't talk about but revealed by their actions." gave her an insight into acting. Although she didn't leave with a Golden Globe she is a winner to me especially with a man like Javier by her side. Speaking of globes Mariah Carey's were out there in full force as seen here, What did you think? I like my favorite Skinny Dish author, Bethanny Frankel's  take on her, "Mariah's dogs are all over the yard, but I love that she doesn't care. She rocks her rocks and owns it."

image: Michael Tighe

he had a dream

 "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character".
We've come a long way baby and may we continue.  This pic,1963: Martin Luther King Jr (1929 -1968), Civil Rights leader, Baptist Minister and 1964 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, sits quietly, surrounded by excited journalists after giving a speech in Birmingham, Alabama.
 In honor of Martin Luther King, hope your day was peaceful, a holiday to indulge in good thoughts and better ones to come. Sweet dreams in the rain.

image: ernst haas

education

Lovers with Oxford College beckoning in the back round,

Effortless upswept hair, soft smokey eye, with a  pouty red lip.

Easy to forget she is still a young school girl

Updo very Audrey Hepburn a la Breakfast at Tiffany's

Great hair looks good under lovely leopard hats too.

Romance, cocktails

  & beautiful music








Looks like today will be a dirty secret kind of day for me in regard to my hair. With a busy work day ahead I would rather spend this time with you to share one of the Golden Globe nomination's, An Education . Love the darling actress, Carey Mulligan as Jenny, kind of reminds me of a young Katie Holmes. We see her grow up before our eyes as the desire of an older man captivates her heart. Glimpses of Oxford college, smoky nightclubs, sultry music, 60's inspired hairstyles, and faux furs and hats. Reminiscing on hairdo's past and present. This new product from Sebastian Volupt, for big hair paired with NioSpray, love the reflectives gives hair a shimmer even on fine hair with out  weighing it down. Currently educating myself with a new computer  blue tooth software, flush keyboards, and hidden buttons, took me a bit to figure it all out but it's good to be back!
image: from here

a roll in the sand + bronzer

Is this the same sweet Eva ...

as this sweaty Eva?

working up a sweat is good for the skin and good for the body

just ask her.

or you could fake it with this bronzer from Sephora.  With the sunny,

beautiful, L.A. temperatures lately couldn't resist. Are you loving it?

image: huffingtonpost

wella color blending & a beautiful bob

This beautiful bob is a favorite of mine this season and displayed on most of the Wella literature, instruction manuals, and even dvd's for educators and professionals. Her image is a soft, classic bob with bangs, slight beveled texture, and color blending of at least 4 fashionable fall shades. The formula for her color vary in tones of Koleston Perfect pure natural, blonde tones and a little special mix of gold, caramel and brown.  I use this imagery often as well as the 4 other models with color variations of Special blonde and butterscotch. Love the sultry brunette with hints of redwood, sable, and  chocolate brown. The wow factor is definitely in those vibrant reds with the p5 molecule that is best known for reflecting only red light.  I think the images are perfect for this seasons trends. As a stylist and educator it keeps me happy in my high heels sharing color charts, imagery as shown and constantly referring to my manuals for color blending formulas that never cease to amaze me. The brilliant, beautiful, results in color are unique to each client. I love to take a step back and enjoy the results of the fruits of my labor. For clients I wish for you the same excitement as you leave the Salon from your stylist behind the chair.

image: wellausa

boots + booties

Posting a quickie before I have a computer meltdown couldn't help but share these lovely things I came across. Love a glitzy shoe as seen here, especially to pick up some of the black and champagne in my fall wardrobe. My new birthday boots are suede and silver as shown here. I love that they are comfortable and go perfect with leggings and skinny jeans that I bought here. Speaking of skinny have you seen this new campaign add in V magazine? What do you think? 


images: florentini + baker, booties, flickr

birthday prelude & lovely little things

visions of sugarplums,

pink peonies,

This pink beret

 reminds me of a previous birthday gift and memories of  La Bohème.

Cupcakes and champagne, are always nice, as well as breakfast at Julienne's.

Today is my Birthday, but I feel like I already celebrated my Birthday with all of the lovely events from yesterday, beginning with breakfast with my mother at Julienne's. This has long been a family favorite for years since I use to work next door to the french inspired breakfast bistro. The scones sprinkled with rosemary and currant are like no other and my mother adores the oatmeal with baked apples. Our next stop to see the new Pedro Almodóvar movie  as seen here. The end of the day brought a surprise visit from a favorite little nephew and dancing to Michael Jackson as we listened to Thriller. Did you ever see 13 Going on 30? Remember the scene where she starts  dancing to Thriller? Memorable Moments in life that leave you breathless with laughter.

images: children, scones, champagne, peonies,