5 Hair & Makeup Tips for Easter

Photo from Fashion Meets Food

Remember when Easter meant searching for eggs, eating tons of chocolate, and wearing your adorable Easter bonnet?  For better or worse, grown up Easter now means sipping mimosas, chatting with family, and looking fabulous - of course!

Why not use your Easter fete as an excuse to try a new makeup look?  Step out of your comfort zone of neutral eyes and a touch of mascara.  Elevate your Easter from everyday to extra special.  Here are five fabulous ideas for making the most out of your Easter makeup:

1.  Punch up your eyes with pastels.  Lucky for us, pastel colors are all the rage right now.  We're seeing eyes swathed in lilac purples and pretty blues, even mint green.  Just stick to one or two complimentary colors to avoid looking like an Easter basket yourself.  Swipe a bright color on your whole lids then blend up into a light neutral by your brows.

2.  Embrace colored eyeliner.  A little pop of color on the liner of your lids can make your eyes stand out.  Switch from regular black to a fun color like blue, green, or purple.  A swipe of green "can be ethereal if it's left alone or more dramatic when followed by a few coats of mascara" says Allure Magazine and purple is universally falttering.  If you want to tone down the color a little bit, apply black or brown eyeliner first then layer a bright color on top of it.  You can also apply a shimmering eye shadow color with an eyeliner brush dipped in water as an alternative to eye shadow.

3.  Be Blushing - make sure to apply a brilliant and shimmering blush.  You'll want to look great in all those family photos, so opt for a color that pops but doesn't distract from the rest of your look like the ever popular Nars Orgasam.  Remember, your blush should always be a graceful transition from your eyes to your lips.

4.  Paint your nails!  There's no better reason to break out all those pastel nail colors than Easter.  Opt for a grown up manicure in a pretty purple pastel like "Play Date" from Essie or try the two tone nail trend or pick two complimentary colors like a pastel pink and pinkish beige, then alternate the two colors on your nails.  Of course if you're feeling especially playful you could pick five different Easter egg inspired shades and paint each nail a different color.

5.   Pick a spectacular hair style.  Easter is a care-free, relaxed holiday, so make sure your hair has the same feeling.  There's no wrong way to wear your hair long and flowing - opt for loose waves, sleek strands, or bouncy curls.  If you need extra volume, make sure to check out Big Sexy Hair's What a Tease Backcomb in a Bottle.  You'll be amazed at how much volume you can get without ratting your hair.  Pick up your bottle at the Styling Studio.

Above all though, don't forget your smile!

How will you be styling yourself for Easter this year?

~Kirsten

Pretty Product Picks for Spring

We'll be the first to confess, sometimes we like to pick out our products by the bottle or color.  So here are some of our favorite products we'd pick just because they're pretty.

For Eyes
Rimmel London Union Jack Eye Shadows in collaboration with Kate Moss - makes us want to fly our flag, although we're also in love with the super easy smoky eye palates from Almay, Intense i-Color Satin - i makes creating a colored smoky eye as easy as 1-2-3-literally.  To try the colored eyeliner trend with ease, try Tarte's Aqua-Gel Eyeliner in a rainbow of glide on colors.

For Lips
This perfectly pink shimmer gloss looks gorgeous in or out of the bottle: M.A.C. Dazzle Glass in Extra Amps.  If you want smoothness without the color, Maybelline Baby Lips is the way to go.  These bright poppy colors would look good in any purse, plus they come packed with spf!  Another perfect for the spring/summer transition is the newest line from Mary Kay - The Art of Nature Limited Edition Dual Lip Glaze in warm coral or glistening sand, the tube contains color and clear gloss all in one.

For Everything Else
This Philosophy 4 in 1 is perfect for on the go touch ups and saving space: Philosophy Divine Color Tint.  Don't ignore your nails, Essie has a fabulous new Resort 2012 collection featuring pretty purples with fun names like "No More Film."

Do you use pretty packaging as an excuse to buy new makeup?  What are your favorite spring makeup products?

~Kirsten

Spring 2012 Beauty Trends to Try

Spring always brings a bevy of new styles, colors, and trends to try.  We see inspiration from the fashion week shows around the world as well as the blooming flowers and warmer weather!  Here are my top three favorite beauty trends for Spring 2012.

Bright Bold Colors

Neons are back!  Kids of the 80s have no need to fear though, these bold colors are matte this time around and without the metallic sheen of the 1980s.  Look for stand alone hues with deep saturated pigments and wear them on only one part at a time.  If you're sporting bold eyes, keep your lips and cheeks subtle whereas extra bright lips call for a neutral eye.  I love the look of a bright, poppy eye colored paired with a pinkish lip color.  Neons are on trend for nails too!

Products I like: Cover Girl Eye Enhancers in Purple Pop applied with a wet eye shadow brush and paired with a neutral like Lancome Seasonal Effects Eye Shadow Smooth Hold in Daylight.  OPI Nail Lacquer in Pink Flamingo or Essie Spring Resort 2012 Collection in No More Film.
Photos from: Glamour Magazine, Bella Mumma, Cover Girl, Lancome

Pastels

Pastels usually make a spring appearance, but this year they're in more concentrated hues including lots of lilac, ice blues, and even green lip gloss that got beauty blogger buzzing.  When wearing pastels stick to one or two colors to keep from looking like an Easter egg, and definitely stay away from matching your makeup directly to your outfit...you don't want to be mint green from head to toe.

Products I like: Lancome Color Fever Lip Gloss in  Green Petal, Tarte Cosmetics Aqua Get Eye Liner in Green and Plum,
Photos from: Elle Magazine, Case Collective, Love LipGloss & Pumps, Tarte Cosmetics

Bold Brows

I've always been an advocate of defining your brows!  Now the trend in brows is straying away from delicate and over plucked but rather embracing the strong, bold brow.  You'll need a good Lash & Brow Groomer Brush paired with a good eyebrow tint or gel.  Pair this look with neutral eyes and a nude lip to make the biggest impact.  2012 is all about the state of the brow.

Products I like: E.L.F. Studio Eyebrow Kit, EcoTools Lash & Brow Groomer, L'Oreal Paris Eye Shadow Quad in Desert Sunrise
Photos from: Our Vanity, E.L.F. Cosmetics

Which one of these trends are your favorite?  Wearing another spring trend?  Have you tried them all?  Leave me a note and let me know!
~Kirsten

sexyhair is Coming to The Styling Studio

Exciting News! sexyhair is coming to Chicago's South Loop Salon - The Styling Studio!

When I asked Patrick what his favorite Shampoos were he responded easily with his top three: Pureology, Moroccan Oil, and sexyhair. Patrick was excited to announce that The Styling Studio will now be carrying the sexyhair line! He loves their "Big Volume Shampoo" for its moisturizing and fullness properties and ability to work on color treated hair.

Another product Patrick told me he was pumped about? Their "What a Tease Backcomb in a Bottle Firm Volumizing Hairspray." It's made with special resins that give hair extra height.

Want to know which products are best for you? Check out the What is Right For Me quiz on the Bigexy Hair Website. Or chat with Patrick at the Salon at your next hair appointment. These products have started coming in now and should be fully stocked soon!

~Kirsten



What sexyhair products will you be picking up?

Kirsten gets hair color for the first time!

When Kirsten contacted me and asked me to color treat her hair, I was ecstatic. I was so honored that she trusted me with such a big decision. I asked Kirsten what she was unhappy about with her hair so I could gain a better perspective of what she was looking for. She said she wanted something lighter and shiny: a good starting point for the formulation process. When I already know what a current clients natural hair color looks like, I start formulating immediately. That way, when I do the consultation, I have key questions in mind to make sure that what I am envisioning matches what they want.

The Consultation…

Kirsten arrived promptly for her appointment and I was so excited to get started. One of the most important parts of a consultation is to find out what a person wants and to interpret their vision. When asked what she thought about color on her hair, she answered, "lighter and brighter, and natural looking." I agreed and the next step was to find out if she was warm or cool toned - the wrong color choice wouldn’t look good if I put a warm tone on a person who is a cool tone. Kirsten is definitely a cool tone, so the next step is to determine her natural hair color level with a natural level finder by Redken. I like their color for the natural and shinning cool tone they have when they’re applied properly.

The Formulation…

Knowing Kirsten is a cool tone, I set off to formulate her color. Since Kirsten wanted a color that grows out naturally, we decided a shimmering sun kissed look would be best, so I chose 3 colors for a a tri-dimensional look. The first color was one shade lighter than her natural color, the next shade was two shades lighter, and the last shade was 4 levels lighter than her natural level; this would be a seamless transition during her growth process in the coming weeks. Finally, I added a color enhancer in chrome to give all the colors a very cool finish (As a colorist, I knew that I would be able to compliment the warm tones that would come up during the lightening process. It would be just enough to control those warm tones without loosing the lighter and brighter color that we would be putting into her hair.)

The highlighting process…

I used a highlighting technique with foil that would have a natural result and allow Kirsten’s hair to grow with out a noticeable difference. I carefully placed each foil according to her hair growth pattern. When placing foils in this structure, color will grow out efficiently and look natural during the coming weeks and months. I processed Kirsten’s color in the foils for 45 minutes and followed with a shampoo and conditioning treatment with Moroccan Oil products. When done, a blow dry and style then the big reveal. She loved it! The result was a natural sun kissed look with fabulous shimmer and shine, just enough to be seen without being overwhelming.  See for yourself with the photo above!

Big Sexy Hair products I used in Kirsten's hair

The makeup goodies for Kirsten's new color photoshoot

The final recommendations…

I recommended that Kirsten see me again in 8 weeks for a touch up and another cut to clean up the ends and layers. I had a wonderful time doing Kirsten’s first color treatment and the look on her face when she was done was worth a thousand words.  See Kirsten's thoughts here.

Do you remember one of your client’s first coloring experiences?

My 1st Time: Dying My Virgin Hair

Last week I paid a visit to Patrick at The Styling Studio with a simple mission: lighten up my look.  I was hoping for a little more dimension in my hair and something that would make the transition from my porcelain skin to my dark brunette hair a little less dramatic.  I was hoping that by lightening up my hair a little, it would make me more versatile looking at auditions; I love my really delicate light skin, dark hair combo, but just maybe if I lighten it up a little, it will help get me cast in a wider range of roles.  I was a little nervous, but excited...I'd never dyed my hair at all!

Sitting in the chair was easy.  Patrick gave me a Moroccan Oil Shampoo and Condition, dried my hair,  and trimmed my ends.  Then it was onto the dye!  Patrick matched color sample to my current, natural hair color, started mixing color and getting out the foils.  I was amazed at the process!  Patrick was so meticulous at applying dye to a few strands at a time and then wrapping them delicately in foil.  I had no idea of intricate the process was.  While we waited, we chatted about blogging and life, then out came the foils!  Voila!  I loved my new look.  It was delicate, subtle, and gave me tons of dimension.

Check out my before, during, and after photos (above) that I snapped on my blackberry.  That day in the salon proved to me that color doesn't have to be bold and scary.  It can enhance your natural color and beauty!  I will definitely be doing it again!

Check back on Thursday to learn all about my color from Patrick.

Have you had your hair dyed?  What was your first time like?

~Kirsten

Meet Kirsten

I'm pleased to introduce Kirsten Agnello-Dean who will be lending her voice to my blog. Kirsten is one of my clients who will be blogging all about hair, makeup, and fashion. I'll let her introduce herself.

Cheers,

Patrick

Hello!

I'm please to be blogging with Patrick! He's been styling my hair for about three years and has styled my makeup on several occasions too! I'm a singer and actor as well as a blogger and self-proclaimed etiquette expert. I've taken theatrical makeup classes and been styling my own period hair pieces and makeup designs on stage in dozens of productions. I'm looking forward to sharing my thoughts with you on makeup, hair, fashion, and everything else in-between. I love comments! So if you like or loathe something let me know.

Make sure to check back on Tuesday for my first post all about getting my hair dyed for the first time!

~Kirsten