Balay…What? (Balayage, Defined)

What is Balayage, anyway?

Balayage is a french color technique that comes out of the 70’s. Balayage means to sweep or to paint. The technique is created by hand painting decolorizer or color into the hair. This can be done on all lengths of hair, but it looks best on styles that fall below the shoulders. This technique can look soft and natural.  The draw to this color is that it is low maintenance. In this current day and time women are busy and want gorgeous hair that still looks good when they return to the salon. The goal is to keep the root/base deep and rich with color or come close to the natural color. The highlights should be randomly places into the color design so the grow out is subtle.

Below is a gallery of images from Tasha Torres and Jacquetta Sorensen, stylists at The Hive Style Collective in Exeter Ca.

Although the next image technically isn’t  Balayage, there was a bit of hand painting in this color process. The model already had a beautiful rich color. She only wanted to add a touch of radiant dimensional bronze tones for the summer. This technique only requires 12 color packets. I use TIGI Color Meches so I can paint the color where I want it in the packet. In the application I used lightener and color in the same packet of highlights to create a very random and soft effect. There was very little done to the hair but it created a high impact.

A lot of women want some change in their hair for the spring/summer. Let this be inspiration to try something subtle and beautiful during these sunny and shiny months, and enjoy a little sparkle in your life.

What Every Bride Should Know {Part 2: Hair & Makeup}

WEDDING DAY HAIR & MAKEUP

I am a hair and makeup artist, as well as a professional photographer. My goal in styling hair and makeup is to consider the perspective of the photographer and the final images. The advice I’m sharing in this post will not only help you look your best, but it will help your photographer make you look your best.

one

When it comes to your hair and makeup, be yourself. Your wedding is not the day to do something “out of the norm”. You want to recognize yourself in your photos. Don’t let other people sway you into looking the way they envision you to be. You should always stay true to your own personal style.

two

Have your artist emphasize your best features in a style that fits you. For your makeup, pick one feature to emphasize, your lips or eyes.

three

Pump up the amount of makeup so it doesnʼt disappear in the photographs. Trust me, a little more is okay.

four

Choose a great artist and have a trial makeup appointment. It’s well worth the money to know you will love the finished look on your wedding day

five

I suggest airbrush because of the flawless finish and longevity.

Makeup and photo Jacquetta Style, Hair Eric Gomez

six

Exfoliate your body and face for weeks leading up to your wedding. I love to make my own exfoliant for the face with coconut oil and sugar, and coconut oil and coffee grounds for the body. Another great way to exfoliate your lips is with and old toothbrush and salve.

seven

Have the artist curl your lashes, use waterproof mascara, and apply false lashes. If you plan to well up with emotion be prepared with a hanky and lightly dab – donʼt rub the moisture from your face and eyes.

eight

Don’t forget the brows. They frame those “windows to the soul”. If you have a stylist that waxes your brows, your pre-wedding wax should be 2-3 days before the wedding. This goes for all your pre-wedding waxing.

nine

Teeth whitening is another great way to highlight the smile on your face. This is the day when everyone will be looking at it.

ten

Remember the scarf. Drape the scarf over your hair and face as you slip the dress over your head, and you will keep from transferring makeup to the dress.

eleven

Make sure your hair color is fresh (one week before), and don’t get crazy and try anything new.

twelve

Your hair should be slightly dirty (one day) for your wedding style if you want it to have some volume/hold, and clean if you are just going to wear it down and natural.

thirteen

It’s important to remember that whatever you do to your hair will be undone later when you are alone with your new spouse. If you add extra hair to you style, you will be taking it out with him. If you plaster it with spray, he wonʼt be able to run his hands through it when you take it down.

fourteen

Keep these essential items in a sweet bridal hand bag: oil absorbing strips, touchup lip color and pencil (if you aren’t using a long wearing lip stain), and a mirror compact.

What Every Bride Should Know {Part 1: Photography}

Before the WEDDING DAY

Try to book an engagement session with your photographer so you can get to know each other, and be comfortable working together.

Make sure your photographer gets an idea of the story you wish to tell before you schedule your shoot. One couple may feel that a sweet fun session is more suited to their relationship story,

…yet another couple my want something a bit more classic and natural,

…or the couple’s taste in photos might lean toward urban/city styled images. Tell your photographer if you love black and white images.

Bringing your storyteller in on some of the details of your relationship may be the catalyst for building a session around some of the story. For example, if the two of you are building a life connected to a rich history of a generational family farm, why not create a shoot that utilizes elements that highlight the past, present, and future pieces of that story?

Tell your photographer as many details as possible to get the best images. Surprise wedding guests, gifts, songs – you want your photographer to know these things so that he/she can make your memories personal and unique. Some examples: The groom and his groomsmen are in a band and will probably be jamming the morning of the wedding; a brother just arrived home after a two-year military deployment;  the bride plans to surprise her love with photos from a boudoir photo session that she did for him.

These are the precious moments that you hope a photographer captures.

Make plain for your photographer your expectations, needs and desires prior to your wedding. This helps your photographer anticipate shots.

Collaboration is important, so don’t be afraid to discuss locations, backgrounds and some poses you’d like to try. However, while it’s tempting to share your enthusiasm for wonderful pictures in the form of extensive shot requests and examples you have seen in magazines and on the internet, curtail your ideas to the few you love the most and share those with your photographer before the wedding day. Great photographers will not be able to capture every image you can think of, but they can deliver images you never dreamed of.

A good photographer can get the shots you want without endless hours of posed shots. Work with your photographer before the wedding to set aside the necessary time to do your pictures. Be sure to include travel time and a little extra time for inevitable surprises and delays. Most photographers should have a shot list of the most popular photos you can discuss prior to the wedding to find what you would like to do, and a really good photographer will create a schedule with you to assure proper time is alloted to give you what you want.

Wedding Day Tips

• If your wedding is later in the day, plan for clean food and drink for you and your party so that you feel your best during the wedding.
• The room you get dressed in will be a part of your photos, so keep things out of sight that you donʼt want in pictures.
• Designate a friend to be in charge of keeping the people who are scheduled for formal pics gathered and ready. Make sure everyone that you want in formal photos is aware and knows to stick around after the ceremony for instructions.
• During the ceremony, make the kiss a good one (a couple of seconds) so the photographer can catch it.
• If you plan anything special for the ceremony, such as a unity candle, sand ceremony, or communion, donʼt stand shoulder to shoulder, but open up so your guests and photographer can see you.
• Like the kiss, make your first dance a good one, as well. Donʼt cut it short or have your bridal party join you halfway through it.
• If you run into a hitch and are going to be late, immediately talk with your photographer about how to adjust your photography schedule to recover some of the time. It may mean you have to curtail some of the posed groups, do away with a third location, or do some of the formal groupings at the reception. Communicate, be on your toes, and be flexible.
• Ask for an internet link to the wedding images. When a photographer is taking posed or more traditional shots, sometimes guests attempt to capture the same images, potentially slowing the process. If you request an internet link to the wedding images from the photographer then you can send it to your guests later and save time on your wedding day.

Great wedding pictures reveal something special about the people in the photos. As a couple, the feelings you have for one another are unique and should shine through in your shots. When people have fun and are spontaneous, great pictures easily happen. Just go with it!

The wedding is your day, so relax, enjoy it, and let your photographer handle the rest.

Take a deep breath, take many deep breaths. Focus on the positive and delegate the little details. It’s entirely possible to have a blast at your wedding and, in the process, make great pictures!