Wedding Day Hair Preparation

It is a misconception that the only thing you need to do in the year leading up to your wedding is ‘let your hair grow out’. In fact, if you love wearing your hair short or in a cute, stylish bob than why do you feel the need to grow your hair long for your wedding day? Shorter locks are adorable and unexpected on modern brides so don’t feel pressured to do what everyone else is doing. If you do have longer hair the following steps will ensure that your tresses will be gorgeous on your big day:

1. Look for a great stylist who is cognoscente of getting your hair in great condition in the months leading up to the wedding day.

2. Consider highlights! Even if you are apprehensive about highlights at least try subtle highlights because that will show up the detail in your bridal style whether you where it up or down.

3. After doing your hair trial take the photos to the stylist and he/she will be able to trim & highlight your hair in the best possible way for the style you’ve chosen to be it’s best.

4. Nothing is more beautiful than healthy shiny hair so condition, condition, condition BUT only up to the week before the wedding because you don’t want to over condition the day of your wedding style.

5. It’s NOT true that dirty hair makes for a better updo. In fact unless your hair is ridiculously dry you should wash it the morning of so that your hairline looks fresh instead of oily and separated.

Looking for a great stylist?

Try Tali at Alchemy in College Park on Edgewater Dr. 407.650.8022

Erin O'Connell's Kissimmee Wedding

Today I had the pleasure of doing hair and makeup for Miss Erin O'Connell. Though the day started off with a minor catastrophe that was out of both our control, Erin stayed really calm - no freakouts here and I reassured her that no matter what, the wedding would still happen on time and she should enjoy the beauty part of her day as it is usually the most relaxing. She was surrounding by several wonderful bridesmaids which helped her stay worry free. Most of the girls, including the bride, opted for updos to keep their necks cool in our 100 degree Florida heat. Smart choice for any bridal party this time of year. Erin didn't put stipulations on the girls hair or makeup so I suggested a modified 'Lauren Conradesque' braid for the first bridesmaid with the hair romantically gathered in the back... Before I even came close to finishing the first look, each one of the bridesmaids liked it so much that they all decided to deviate from their original idea and go with a version of Kristen's, each modified to suit their individual face shapes, of course.

As we checked each girl off the list, my bride stayed so relaxed that it was apparent that she was really enjoying the whole experience. When it came time for her she told me that she had full confidence in me and that she trusted my judgment which means the world to me on such an important day. I made a few minor adjustments from the original trial look and her hair and makeup turned out even better than either of us thought possible. Needless to say it was another wonderful wedding and I wish all of my brides were as relaxed as Erin because it really makes their experience that much better with any artist they are working with.

Thank you to everyone involved today! I had a great time with all of the girls and have a feeling I made some new friends in the process.

Bridal Purse 'MUST HAVES'

Since you don’t need a phone or wallet in your beautiful little clutch than you will have plenty of room for the following necessities:

1. Touch up lip color or gloss
2. Blotting powder or pressed powder compact
3. Bobby pins in your hair color
4. Band-Aids
5. Motrin
6. Breath mints – NOT gum!

TIPS FOR YOUR BRIDAL TRIAL

1. Flip through magazines, not just bridal ones because red carpet styles are
really popular for brides so don’t count non-bridal looks… oh and bring plenty
of examples of what you like and don’t like so your stylist gets a good idea
of what you’re looking for.

2. If you never wear your hair up than don’t on your wedding – no one says you
have to!

3. Be open – let the professional you’ve hired help guide you on what would look
best on your face shape and with the accessories you’ve picked out.

TIPPING ETIQUETTE for Hair and Makeup Services

Wedding Day Hair and Makeup ‘TIPPING ETIQUETTE’

As much as I wrestled with whether or not to touch on this sometimes touchy subject, I concluded that poor or non-existent tipping is rooted lies with a not well informed bride so maybe this could be helpful in dealing with your future vendors.

I am very motivated to educate brides in the planning stages of their wedding since recently I executed another large service wedding (totaling over $1100 in hair and makeup services) and was over-the-moon that the bride and everyone in her party was thrilled at the results however sadly on the 3 hour drive home I excitedly opened my tip envelope to find $30. Grateful at the gesture as I am, I would be lying if I said I was super disappointed after all of my hard work in making her day as perfect and stress free as I could – not to mention all of the discounts I gave them in good faith.

Here’s a way to look at it that might seem more reasonable… You would never get your hair highlighted without tipping the stylist AND she didn’t even travel to you. When you dine out it isn’t a question about how much is appropriate to tip your server and I guarantee that the wedding DJ definitely was thanked monetarily for your appreciation… even your nail technician was rewarded so why would it be ok to skip the 1 person who’s artistry made you feel stunning on the biggest day of your life?

By all means if you were unhappy with your service you should NOT feel obligated to tip but it means the world to us artists that get to work with you on your big day and I’m just asking you to consider us the same as we are only here to serve you.

Excellent Service is 20% of $1100 = $220

Good Service is 15% of $1100 = $165

Satisfactory Service is 10% of $1100 = $110

$30 on $1100 = 2.73%

Please give me your feedback as this is a very important topic but often too difficult to discuss so I would love to know your thoughts.

Sex & the City Premier Makeover Party

This is a recently added service created by none other than my stylish clients - If you are excited about seeing the much anticipated sequel but you want to do something other than just dinner before the show, consider inviting your girlfriends over for a little Sex and the City makeup session/lesson (starting at $199 per group).


Sex and the City $199 Package includes:

- We focus on smokey eyes: how to do them, what colors look best to create the look and tips on getting a clean, sexy look with sultry colors.
- Everyone gets a FREE false lash application.
- All the girls can have a 100% organic, Dancing with the Stars spray tan for $30 instead of the regular rate of $50 per person.
PLUS 50% off Brow Shaping for everyone
- This usually takes about 1.5 - 2.5 hours and I can take up to 5 girls and the host will get a gorgeous bottle of champagne to get the night started off just right!

* Other options are available, email me for details Kara@FabulousFacesStudio.com

If interested let me know... I've already booked 4 parties this week!

More weddings should have Ostrich plumes… it’s so glamorous!

I just attended a wedding at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress and it was well fashioned with huge white Ostrich plumes provided by Vangie de la Concha of Blossoms. It was so elegant and probably the most elegant style of weddings I’ve ever seen.