Monday, August 20, 2012

The Bridal "Up do " or "Un do" ?

Hello All!

Today we are gonna talk about the variations a bride or anyone going to a special event can choose when it comes to the "up do" for a pretty hair style! These days, the tight little curls piled high upon the head with a few ringlets dangling off of our sides is rather dated! Let's face it, times change and typically we all like to get in on what is the new cool thing right?
The hot thing in wedding hair these days is what brides refer to as the "un do"!!  This term is becoming more popular as time passes!! Also affectionately referred to as the "messy bun"!!
When a bride is setting her "theme" or "feel" of the wedding, it helps when everything from the flowers to the cake and everything in between kind of follows suit with the same feeling. Including hair and make up!  Let's say a bride is getting married at the beach with a bohemian style wedding, well we probably wouldn't want to choose to have her hair styled in an extremely elegant or vintage style updo.  This type of bride often asks me to create something that looks pretty but soft and loose and romantic but still slightly carefree.  So incorporating twists and braids and deep waves in the hair is gorgeous for a wedding themed this way.
The next bride I meet with might be having the ever popular " vintage" themed wedding. This is another gorgeous type of styling.  When brides say "Vintage" to me, I usually need to ask what era they are referring to! Vintage can mean anywhere from the finger waves in the 1920's to the Victory Rolls and pin curls of the 1930's, to the sleek and elegant bun at the nape of the neck with the sides perfectly coiffed in the 1940's.  It can keep going through the years, however, I have yet to have a bride say to me, "Can you make my hair look like a flower child of the 60's or a disco diva of the 70's, or maybe give me head banging hair of the 80's"?  So....when I hear "Vintage", I typically stop calculating after the 1950's styles:) LOL!!   Then, I have the brides that are going for all out elegance!  A style dripping with sophistication and class from the Manolo Blahnik shoes she will wear to the Dom Perignon the guests will drink! This bride will often ask me to create something timeless and perfectly coiffed and smooth in styling such as a perfect chignon or even a low and classy spin on the french twist with no hair out of place and the shine spray galore!!  Honestly, the most popular request I get lately however, is ... The messy "un do".  It's cute and pretty and romantic all at the same time and can be versatile in almost any theme of wedding. The curls are loose and the slightly "messy bun" I create is usually positioned low and off to one side with a soft side sweep bang in the front often accompanied with a little loose twist of some kind to enhance the sides leading to the gathering of loose tousled curls in the back. I love this look along with all the others I get requests for! Those of you who have thin baby fine hair or a short style that is stacked in the back, this makes up do's a tad more challenging! Do not underestimate the awesomeness of clip in hair extensions ladies!! They work wonders! There is always a way to create the illusion of more hair! It's all about being creative!  So when you are getting married and putting together a theme or feeling or inspiration for your wedding day, keep in mind, the hair and make up go hand in hand with your dress and shoes and flowers and everything else. When everything flows together, it makes the wedding day that much more memorable. If you are getting married or going to a special occasion and looking for an on location hair artist in Savannah, GA  and you want something beautiful done with your hair to complete your perfect look, contact Heather Ferguson at www.savannahweddingmakeupartist.com.  Beauty is a Gift to be coveted.
Blessings till next post!
Heather Ferguson

Monday, August 13, 2012

Can I be photo shopped please???

Hello Everyone!
O.k. so, today I want to talk a little about make up and photo shop:)  What do these two things have in common right? Well, as a professional make up artist, I get a lot of brides and clients that come to me with a stack of photos in hand of what look they are wanting to accomplish for their wedding day or special event!
Typically, I see beautiful examples out of  People magazine red carpet photos of Holly Wood starlets such as Eva Longoria, Kim Kardashian, Carrie Underwood, Charlize Theron, and etc...   From this point many of my lovely brides to be say I love her look in this photo, can we duplicate this.   This is where it can get a little tricky!  You see, the thing is, we are regular human beings with regular skin that has freckles and possibly scars from past acne or bumps from current acne issues and fine lines here and there!  Even those beautiful stars you see in those glossy pages of the People magazine or Brides Magazine, they do not have perfect skin. Not even close. The make up artists these famous A Listers have, do the best job they can do as far as concealing, high lighting, slimming, camouflaging, brightening and contouring, but after that..... PHOTO SHOP!!  Yes ladies, that is correct. Not even those seem to be perfect starlets can look that perfect without help.  Make Up artists such as myself pride ourselves on making a naturally pretty face look even prettier with our bag of magic tricks, but the truth is, whatever can't be covered or bumps that can't be hidden etc... Photographers are magic makers to!! Oh boy are they!  They can remove scars and shadows and tattoos and all sorts of things out of a photo with their photo shop magic!  How wonderful is that!!  I wish that when any of you come to me and say, I want to look just like this picture of Eva Longoria, I could make you look exactly that way, but no one ever knows how she really looked before Photo Shop got a hold of that photo.
Also, keep in mind, there is a big difference between two words that seem to confuse a lot of people.. these terms are " naked" and "nude".  Does not sound like much difference in the meaning does it?  Well let me explain. A "naked" face is one that you have no make up on at all when you head to the gym for a sweaty pilates class:)  A "nude" face is one that looks flawless and natural in tones and high lights and contouring and definition but with no real colors added from blushes and eye shadows etc... So, basically, a seamless airbrush makeup foundation coverage but not too heavy, with a natural bronzer for contouring, some matte highlighters where needed for dimension and defined eyelashes with a peachy pink nude lip gloss.  Hope this makes sense!  Many clients say, but Carrie Underwood looks so natural in this photo!! Oh if you only knew how much make up she really had on to look that "Natural"!  Plus of course then....PHOTO SHOP!  Lol!!
So, you see ladies, no matter how awesome make up can make you look, there are always going to still be small imperfections that will then be erased in a photo at the talented hand of a photographer!! So, when you hold that mirror up to see my masterpiece after I am finished and you gaze at your reflection for the first time, if you hold that mirror two inches from your face, you will immediately begin to find every possible little flaw that might be there. When you hold the mirror at a distance of where most people would be face to face distance from you.. you will be saying...Wow, I'm gorgeous:)  So, the truth is my lovely ladies, when in real life, no matter how great of a make up artist has done your make up.... We are not photo shopped until we are in a photograph!:)  I hope this helps all of you realize that even the small imperfections we all have, makes us human and beautiful and real, and not like a wax statue.  If you are looking for a Makeup Artist in Savannah, GA, please contact Heather Ferguson by going to my website at www.savannahweddingmakeupartist.com.

Be Blessed and Beautiful until next post!
Heather Ferguson
 

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

For The Love of Faux Lashes:)

Hi Ladies!
O.k.so... how many of us have stood in the bathroom within an inch of the mirror cursing the pain of applying these fake eyelashes that everyone raves about? Trying to apply the glue and apply it to your eye while they actually are sticking to your finger when you let go??  Hmmm..... does this sound familiar? Admit it.. you've done it and so have I and every other woman you know unless you are one of those rare specimens that have lashes two inches long and bat against your sunglasses when you have them on!! If you are one of these lucky ladies blessed with lashes like that... Oh how you are envied:)  However.. for the rest of us.. here is the skinny on fat beautiful lashes that we must fudge the truth on with the falsies ;) 
Make sure that you buy lashes that are fitting for the time of day or event you are going to! I mean we probably don't want to see lashes that look like they could take us to the night club in Vegas when we are just going to the Piggly Wiggly to get groceries, but, to each their own. If you can rock it...go for it:) Anyway, there are the very black lashes that do add nice drama even if they are the natural looking length and thickness. These work great on anyone who is dark to medium haired, and honestly, most everyone can wear some form of the black ones.  Then for the lovely ginger haired and pale blonde ladies with fair complexions, there are some beautiful brown lashes that will be more natural looking on you! These look gorgeous with a brown black mascara. Grab a clear mascara at the store and apply it before you apply your black or brown mascara and watch the definition happen:) Also apply this on the bottom lashes for that doll eyed effect!  So, it's time to figure out how to apply these cool but crazy lashes.  Here is a great little secret if you don't already know it...get a hand mirror and put it on the counter in the bathroom or wherever you will have good lighting. Bend over and look down into the mirror and set your lashes across your eye to measure for the length. Can you see by doing this, how much easier this will be than looking straight into the bathroom mirror?  Once you have measured for the length of your lashes, use a lash or cuticle scissors and trim from the outer corner end what you don't need. Now for the glue!  There are a ton of different kinds you could try. Of course Ardell waterproof Lash Grip glue is popular everywhere. It's a timeless favorite and usually gives good results. It is a latex glue though, so those of you that may be allergic, beware!!  A brand called Duo is also one of the most popular and raved about brands of glue. It comes in brush on and regular tube formula. It comes in white which dries clear or dark black which you may like if you are going for a dramatic look or you are dark skinned. Either way, it's a great glue! Now that you have measured and cut your lashes to the proper length, and made sure your eye lids are clean and without makeup or oils from any eye make up removers, it's time to apply the glue to the lash strip! Do not be in a rush to glob it on thinking more is better here ladies.. it's not. But too little, that's not good either, just a happy medium. After you lay a stripe of glue across the lash band, wait and count 30 seconds to let the glue set and then with a tweezers holding the lashes, look down again into your hand mirror and apply the lashes as close to your natural lash line as possible. Press the strip down in the middle and then press down on each end to secure them. Wait a good two or three minutes before you give them a gentle tug to see if they are secure. If they are, you are ready to proceed with your eye makeup and shadows to your heart's desire:)  After you have applied your shadows and then liners, give your lashes a nice curl with an eyelash curler to blend your lashes with the falsies before applying two coats of your fave mascara!!
There you have it ladies! It's not as hard as we thought:) Are you running to get your hand mirror yet and try this? LOL!!  If you like my blog, you will love my work if you are getting married or having a special event and you want Bridal makeup in Savannah GA or Wedding Hair Styling in Savannah, GA, contact me at www.savannahweddingmakeupartist.com and keep following me on Makeup Artist Savannah blog spot!
Blessings till next time!
Heather Ferguson

Sunday, August 5, 2012

All about Eyes!

Hello All!
Today's blog is about those beautiful eyes we all want when we do our make up! Here are the best top artist tips for creating a beautiful eye look! First, make sure you invest in an eye base. There are many on the market, however ones that are tinted either white or skin tone work nicely because they prime the eye lid for shadows to stay but also make a clean uniform toned base. Since we all have thin skin on the eye lids, the skin tone is not uniform and does not make for a clean canvas for our shadows unless we prime or base first.  Now you are on your way.. Second, start with a matte shadow in cream or pale peach or nude to brush over your eye primer. Next, choose a crease color depending on how dramatic you are going for, followed by a slightly shimmery light color for the lid to add dimension. Eye liner is the super star here.. Gel Eye liner is your friend!!! Get some. Many companies all have their own version that are water proof and they create a beautiful clean line. Now add a light color in matte or shimmery depending on what time of day your look is for, on your brow bone for drama and contour and two coats of your favorite mascara on curled eyelashes and you should have a beautiful cover girl worthy eye look!! Stay tuned for more tips and if you are searching for a Makeup Artist  Savannah, GA, look me up at www.beyondbeautifulbyheather.com 

Stay Beautiful till next time,
Heather Ferguson