Holiday Hair Product Essentials

As we all know, December is usually host to a couple of celebrations that require you to look fabulous for all those facebook photos...holiday soirees, charity galas, office parties, dinners with friends, not to mention New Year's Eve!  Not sure what to do with your hair?  Don't frett!  I've gathered up all the essentials for stocking your cabinet.  If you're prepared with great products, deciding how to do your hair will be a snap!  And now is the time to make sure your cabinet is stocked!  You don't want to wait until two hours before you head out the door to realize you're out of hairspray.

Here's what products you'll need: assuming you already have a great shampoo and conditioner, you'll want a dry shampoo for days when you don't feel like getting wet.  We like Big Sexy Hair's Volumizing Dry Shampoo.  If you need more oomph for day after dirty hair, tap a few sprinkles of Powder Play on your part line and massage into your scalp for an instant lift.  Going curly?  Don't forget the Soy Renewal Beach Spray (this product is a favorite of mine!  It's also a great travel buddy as it works well in any climate).  For styles that need some texture and hold, or if you have short hair, you'll need Short Sexy Hair's Rocked Out, it's a great product that's build-able, mixable, and not sticky!  Pureology's Anti-Split Blow Dry is a great product (that replaced their Nano Glaze) to have in your arsenal too.  And last but not least, you'll need a hair spray.  For a down-do hairstyle try Pureology's Strengthening Control Zero Dulling Hairspray which has a nice build-able quality, but if you need hard hold for an updo Patrick likes the Big Sexy Hair Line.  My pick?  Patrick will kill me, but for extreme updos a little Aqua Net never hurt.  

Here are some little extras to have on hand.  A killer blow dryer, curling iron or flat iron is a must of course, but hair accessories are a good idea to keep around too.  Grab a sparkly hair clip, pin in flower, and don't forget the bobbi pins!  Check out my post on Holiday Hair Add Ins for ideas.  I love having Goody's full size and mini color collection pins by the hundreds on my counter too.

Need more info on the products above?  Call Patrick at the Styling Studio or leave a note with a question on his facebook page.

~Kirsten

Holiday Sparkle: Makeup for your holiday season

'Tis the season!  It's time for feeling cozy and giving to others!  But it's also time for holiday parties, cocktails, and family gatherings.  Why not add a little extra glitz and glamour to your season?  I love all things glittering, sparkly, and fabulous, so I've gathered some wishlist worthy sparkly items.  Grab these to create a perfect holiday look whether you're headed to Christmas dinner, an office holiday party, cocktails with friends.

Start with your eyes!  Purple is  surprizingly flattering on most complexions.  Pick a sparkling purple shade,  I've had great success with Purple Pop from Cover Girl (it's one of the only shadows I use that tiny sponge applicator with.  Get it wet, then sweep a couple rounds of the shade onto your lid).  Pair purple shadow with a black eyeliner and pile on mascara for a more dramatic effect.  You'll want to keep your cheeks polished but not too pink, so pick a highlighting blush like the one above from NARS to give you subtle shimmer.  A loose shimmer powder can be a godsend for dreary wintery skin too!  Apply it with a setting brush (like this pretty pink one from Real Techniques) to your brow bone, contours of your cheeks, and collar bones.  You can also use a body shimmer if you're wearing a strapless dress to accent your shoulders, just don't go overboard.  Finish your look with a shimmering lipgloss on top of your favorite berry lip color (berry lips blends with purple eyes quite well).  Don't forget to grab your diamond (or faux diamond) studs and a sparkling clutch to stash your touch up makeup in.  Voila!  You're ready to sparkle for the holidays!

Where do you wear your sparkling makeup?
~Kirsten

Holiday Hair Add Ins

If you're looking for an instant way to add some oomph to your updo, you're in luck!  Pretty pieces to slide and clip into your hair are easier to find than ever.  Sliding a glittering clip or fluffy flower into your hair is an easy way to take your pony tail from ho-hum everyday to extra special or special occasion.  I use hair add ins as secret trick to fix updos that go up slightly off center.  Bun not quite round enough?  Stick a flower next to it and it will look just fine.  Did you curling pull your pony tail to the right?  Slide a jewel encrusted stick next to the base and no one will notice.

Haven't ever indulged in an extra hair accessory?  Now that the holiday season is upon us it's the perfect time to try.  I've rounded up some of my favorite ideas for adding a little extra sparkle and special-nesss to your next hair occasion.  Find these pieces online or in stores...but don't forget to check your jewelry box (you can pin in a brooch with a handful of bobbi-pins) and check your childhood jewelry stash.  You never know what you'll find, I found a pair of cute red and white "Kirsten" barrettes.  If you want to buy though, check these out:

Shabby Chic Hair Flower  - These small flowers are super easy to work with.  Just pop in place with the attached prongs and pin down any layers that are sticking up.  Great for sides of buns/pony tails, nestled in curls, or fixing off center work.

Glam Girl Baretter Flowers - If you don't want to deal with prongs, these snap barrettes are a "snap" to put in.  If you have a pony tail, wear on on each side of it so the flowers touch at the top of your head.  If you're sticking them both near a bun or messy up do, wear them side by side so they look like one piece.  These are also great for pinning back bangs.

Softies Stars These new soft barrettes from Goodie promise to "make hair styling fun and easy for girls to use too.  Softies are free of snaps and clips delivering a comfortable, no-fuss styling experience."  I've never tried them, but they seem to go on almost like velcro.  They would make a fun, playful addition to just about any hair style and since they're flat can go almost anywhere.  Just be careful pulling them out.

T-Shirt Headband - I'm not a big fan of headbands, but these cute DIY t-shirt ones are easy to use and you don't have to worry about pinching.  Don't want to do it yourself?  Check out this cute satin wrapped headband from Forever 21.

Glitter Bows - Bows are back!  Curl your hair and pop these in for a totally cute effect or add one to a super sleek 'do to take the edge off.

Swooping Feather Hair Clip - This Urban Outfitters piece has a decisively vintage feel and would be perfect for a holiday party.  Clip back your bangs, or let it peek out from an updo or next to a French twist.

Adorn Jewelry Bobbi Pins - Want to go simple and chic?  Try these little gold bobbi pins.  You could also create your own version by gluing crystals of glittery baubles or beads to your own bobbi pins...just make sure the glue is dry before you try it!

Multi Flower Head Wrap - Head wraps are like the chic-er sister of the headband.  They'll look perfect and slightly flapper inspired with sleek strands, but don't be afraid to tuck the band part underneath the flowers and pin it in place at the back of your head for a more fascinator feel.  What is a fascinator?  Check out this blog post I wrote a few years ago here.

Debbie Lee Long Comb - If you have an extra special event, like a wedding, charity gala, or black tie ball, you'll want to spend a little bit more to get a piece with staying power.  Look for pieces made with real crystals and metal combs (the plastic ones are easy to break).  Smaller combs are easier to work with while longer ones look beautiful coming out of French twists.

Need some help with creating your updo?  Check out this post.

~Kirsten

Thanksgiving Inspired Nail Art

Be honest...every holiday there's a little part of you that loves the cheeky celebration of wearing thematic colors and paying homage to the day with nail art!  Since we're two days away from turkey day, here are some of my favorite nail ideas for showing your support for Thanksgiving.  Just know the formality of where you're going.  Turkey nail art might be fun and funky at a family dinner back home, but if you're meeting his or her parents for the first time or dinning along Michigan Avenue, it might be best to stick with a classy neutral or more elegant design like a swirl or marble.  Don't be afraid to sparkle though.  Holidays are a great excuse to get dressed up and feel fabulous.

Want to see tutorials and polish ideas?  Check out this Polyvore set here for links.

If you do decide to try one of these you MUST upload a photo to Patrick's facebook page so we can see your handi-work.  What color will be on your nails this Thursday?
~Kirsten

Budget Beauty Buys

It's no secret I'm a little cheap when it comes to makeup.  I love using my Lancome eye shadows that come free gift with purchase, but I only treat myself to splurges like department store makeup every year or so (and always only if they have a gift with purchase).  It's been over a year since I've been in a Sephora, but I'm a frequenter of the Target and Ulta beauty aisles and I love trying new, inexpensive makeup.  It's a great way to update your look, for $5 or less sometimes!  Some of my favorite new products have come from the mass market cosmetic companies.  So if you're looking for some new makeup or a different tried and true favorite, check out my favorite beauty buys on a budget.

You have to start with tools you love, two of my favorite brushes are the Expert Face Brush by Real Techniques and the Buffing Brush by EcoTools.  Both have ultra soft bristles (that are bonus, cruelty free) and apply product excellent-ly.  I definitely recommend using a brush for your base if you haven't yet!  After base, eyes are most important to me, so I always fill in my brows.  The ultra inexpensive eyebrow gel from E.L.F. is fabulous (I wish they sold just the cream as I don't use the powder.  Apply it with a detailer brush or angled eye liner brush).  For days I want an extra pop, I use CoverGirl's Liquiline Blast - it goes on super smooth and is really easy to make a winged eye with if the end is sharpened.  For costume parties or dress up events, E.L.F.'s false eyelashes look really realistic too!  For cheeks and lips...you've probably see my previous blog posts singing the praises of the Dream Bouncy Blush, and for lips I love a season neutral berry like the one above by New York Color.  When I feel like a gloss, I reach for my E.L.F. super sparkly pink.

Beauty doesn't have to be expensive!  That I love.  Get all the links and prices here, on Polyvore.  What are your favorite budget beauty buys?

~Kirsten

Video Tutorial: Applying Long Lasting Blush

The wait is over...our second video tutorial is here!  I hope you liked the first one on Applying Concealer.  Today I'll show you how to apply long lasting, beautiful blush.  

Products I used:

May your blush always be beautiful and long lasting!

~Kirsten