Oh Christmas Tree...

 Hey Everyone! Just sitting here on this Sunday and decided to take some pictures of our tree with our cute christmas gifts for our loved ones underneath! This is my most favorite time of year and I absolutely adore decorating and bringing new themes to our tree each year! This year I decided to go with a rustic glam theme. 

I always like to make sure that the gifts that I wrap, tie in with the theme of the tree they will be sitting under. I know... it can be quite silly to think that deeply into it but, as I said this is my most favorite time of year and it is reflected in everything I do during this holiday.

Just like the gifts I wanted to bring in some rose gold, sparkles and polka dots with a mixture of greens. 

If when its out of focus, it blends and blends.

I found these gorgeous new rose gold with crystal ornaments at Hobby Lobby during their 50% off sale and I am so happy I snagged ALL of them! 

This year I decided to do two ribbons; one with gold polka dots and the other a rose gold with dark gold trim.

I hope you love this little post showing our first "married" christmas tree. 

Even if decorating for the holidays is one of my favorite parts of the season, we must never forget the reason for the season!

thankful for grace, hope, love and the night that changed everything...

 sweet baby Jesus' birth.

Not My Typical Post

            Lately something has weighed very heavy on my heart & spirit & I needed a place to release my thoughts on whats been keeping my mind up at night. This isn't going to be a typical post that I usually write about beauty products, its more personal & it's something that I feel like I need to write. As many of you know, I am passionate about being a hairstylist but my biggest passion is my Faith in God. Sadly, I must admit for the first two years of my career I battled back and forth with God on whether or not being a hairstylist was my calling.

Embarrassingly I thought,

 God has much, much bigger plans for my life and why would He ever call me into a career that would never fulfill my deepest hopes and desires. 

            I had put MY IDEA of what I THOUGHT God wanted for me on a pedestal and thought that being a hairstylist couldn't hold a candle to what God had in store for my life, but I continued on in my career with the mind set that eventually I would leave and go onto bigger and better things. 

            In the last year, my job has a hairstylist has become much, much more than hair and I now see why I was given the GIFT of becoming a hairstylist. We have all heard the joke that "hairstylist are like psychologist because for some reasons clients will tell you anything and everything," and its true. It's true in the most beautiful way. I don't consider myself a psychologist or think in any way I have the skills or knowledge to treat someone in a way that a doctor would but I do know that I am a daughter of a King who stays with me, day in and day out. I know that the women He puts in my chair are their for a reason and He will give me the knowledge, He will give me the words, He will give me the tools to reach out and love them for exactly who they are. 

            Now as I come to the end of the best year in my career, I can honestly say that there is nothing more fulfilling to me than to speak love, truth, hope and surrender my wants and my needs to be what God needs me to be to the women that are sitting in my chair. Whether my role is a friend, a sister, a secret keeper, a shoulder to cry on, a hug or even a silent nod so they know that someone is there and that someone loves them and someone thinks that they are beautiful. 

            As I take a look back and reflect, I feel stupid for thinking that being a hairstylist wasn't good enough for me and what God had in store for my life. For thinking that one day, God was going to come down and show me my true calling and I was going to leave my life as a hairstylist behind. I now can see that, God doesn't just place us in places by accident and I didn't just fall into being a hairstylist by chance. It was all thought out and planned by God.

When you really think about it, God saw something in me to where He trusted me to spend time with His Daughters, daily. His precious, precious daughters who mean so very much to Him. HOW CRAZY IS THAT?  Now I see, God wants us to trust in Him so wholeheartedly that no matter where we go, where we work, where we live;

that loving others like He loves them...  

is our calling.

            I know this isn't what you expected to read on my blog and I feel extremely vulnerable being that open and honest but I felt like God had placed it on my heart and I needed to let it out. I hope that you enjoyed this little glimpse into my heart and into my life and into my relationship with God. If you have any questions, comments or just want to show some love, please don't hesitate. I would love to hear from you. 

My Skincare Routine & 2016 Favorites

Hey Everyone + Happy December! 

I know its been a minute since I have posted and I apologize for my absence but with the holidays right around the corner the last few months have been "wonderfully crazy." I am so thankful for the growth my business has had over the last year and it is all thanks to you my amazing clients, family and friends. I am so excited for the things I have in store for 2017 and for the surprises I have for all of you! Thank you for your love and support and lets ring in the end of the year 

"My Skincare Routine & 2016 Favorites" from each category! 

Let's get started....

Step One: Remove Makeup

My absolute favorite makeup remover for 2016 is most definitely the 

"Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm" by Clinique. 

I have repurchased this twice over 2016 and I would have to say I have a love affair going on with this balm. It is a lightweight makeup remover that rapidly dissolves stubborn eye and face makeup. When you take the balm and begin to massage it into the skin it transforms from a balm into a silky oil. I will be taking this balm with me into 2017 + beyond...

Price: $29.00 for 3.8 oz.

Step Two: Cleanse

I have tried multiple different cleaners over the last year with the ever changing and unpredictable Michigan season and I have finally come back to my ride or die facial cleanser which is the

 "Daily Facial Cleanser" by Cetaphil. 

It is a dermatologist recommended cleanser that removes excess oil without drying the skin or causing irritation. I can always count on this cleanser to do its job in the morning and in the evening after a long day.

Price: $14.49 for 16 oz.

Step Three: Tone

Toning is such an important step when it comes to your daily skincare routine and with that I couldn't decide between these two toners as my favorite for 2016. First lets start with the toner I have been using the longest;

"Pixi by Petra Glow Tonic" 

The toner gently exfoliates the skin to remove dead skin cells, revealing healthy glowing skin. This toner is paraben free, hypoallergenic and not tested on animals! I have repurchased this toner twice this year and I am so happy I was introduced to it by my good friend Jordan Weber it has truly help transform my skin. The scent it a little different than most toners & it is truly not a bad thing.

Price: $15.00 for 3.4 fl. oz

The other toner that I have fallen in love with is the;

"Clarifying Lotion 2 by Clinique" 

This toner is a dermatologist-developed formula that also reveals fresher looking skin. It gets rid of flakes and excess oil so moisturizer can do its job. I really enjoy this toner and the refreshing and tingling sensation it gives to my face makes me feel like I will have brand new skin in the morning. I do notice that my skin looks quite red after I use it but once you can get passed that, its amazing.

Price: $14.50 for 6.7oz    +   $24.00 for 13.5oz

Step Four: Moisturize

I have to be honest with all of you, this is the step that I didn't really see the point of when I was in middle school and high school but as I have continued to research and observe my skin this step has really made me have a passion for taking care of my skin and this moisturizer is also to blame for my passion/obsession as well.... it is the 

"Renewed Hope In A Jar" by Philosophy.  

This formulation features a triple blend of alpha hydroxy acids, 3 forms of hyaluronate plus an Asian fruit extract, delivering an even longer-lasting glow and continuous hydration benefits. After I have removed makeup, cleansed that skin and toned this moisturizer makes my skin feel refreshed & refreshed. I use this moisturizer in the morning before I put on makeup and at night before I go to bed! 

Price: $47.00 for 2.0 oz.   +   $75.00 for 4.0 oz.

Thank you for stopping by and checking out "My Skincare Routine & 2016 Favorites" and I hope you found it helpful and informative. If you have any questions, comments or just want to send some love please don't hesitate to reach out. If you would like to see a post on my "Pamper Routine" with my high end and drugstore products for the skin & body for nights of pampering please let me know and I would love to do that for you! Until next time...

A Lavish Affair Alter Ego Lip Gloss Collection: REVIEW

Hey Everyone! Today I wanted to share with you my review on the 

"Lavish Affair Alter Ego Lip Gloss Collection," by Lorac Cosmetics. 

This Collection is a limited edition collection with 4 LIMITED EDITION shades. 

                     

Firstly, I am absolutely obsessed with this packaging, very sleek and pretty and very much on trend for this holiday season that is around the corner. I think this collection would be a perfect christmas gift or even an individual lipgloss for stocking stuffers. 

*MISSING "DIVA" Lip Swatch, but I do give that one 4 stars. Highly pigmented! 

BAE

Personally for my lip color, I have never found a nude lipgloss that is this true to my lip. It gives me just a little sheen to intensify my natural lip color. I think this is would a universally friendly color that would look beautiful on anyone. 

IT GIRL

I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this color. I am not usually a huge fan on gold shimmer in a lip gloss, but this one is such a hidden gem that just pops right off the lip! 

GODDESS

Out of the entire collection this is my NUMBER ONE MUST HAVE. I feel like this lip color could spice up an everyday look and it can also add the right amount of color to a smokey eye! This is a permanent gloss with Lorac Cosmetics. 

ICON

Unfortunately, I do NOT like this lip gloss. It is the only color in the entire collection that I will not wear unless its over laying on a lipstick. It is not a wear on its own color. Very low pigment, and a little splotchy. 

DOMINATRIX

I am a huge fan of deep burgundy colors and this one is no exception. It is deep in color and also in pigment, perfect for this season! 

A Lavish Affair Alter Ego Lip Gloss Collection : $25.00

Alter Ego Lip Gloss: Goddess-  $16.00

Alter Ego Lip Gloss: Dominatrix- $16.00 

Overall I think this is a fantastic collection and I would most definitely pick this one up! Highly Highly recommend this collection and it is limited edition, so please don't wait to go pick up yours today! Individually, Lorac Lip Glosses are $16.00 and this collection is $25.00 and gives this collection a $96.00 VALUE! Can't beat that! 

Thank you for stopping by and checking out my review on the Lavish Affair Alter Ego Lip Gloss Collection and I hope you found it helpful and informative. If you have any questions, comments or just want to send some love please don't hesitate to reach out. If you have any ideas or thoughts on what you want me to write about next just let me know. I would love to hear your suggestions! And if you enjoyed my makeup review on my blog, let me know. I really enjoyed putting one together for you and I would love to review more products. Let me know if there is anything you would like me to review & write about! 

<3

Everything You Need To Know About: Lorac Pro Mega3

Hey Everyone! Today I wanted to give you all the details about this amazing palette! Below I have photo's, swatches and my opinion on everything that has to do with this palette!

Here we go...

I am so obsessed with this packaging. It is sleek and slim and is a perfect all in one palette for vacation or travel! With the wide variety of shadows from lights to darks and mattes to shimmers, I really can't complain about anything in this palette.

Featuring 32 PRO Eye Shadow Shades:

• 16 Matte (top two rows) & 16 Shimmer (bottom two rows)
• 30 New Shades & 2 Essential Shades (Jet Black and Snow)

Below I have row by row swatches of each color. Keep in mind a used a light to show off these shadows, most of the colors will be even MORE pigmented in natural day light! <3

Row One:

is filled with gorgeous and pigmented mattes

Row Two:

is filled with lighter and deeper mattes

Row Three:

 starts the shimmers and gives a variety of warm and cool tones.

Row Four: 

finishes off this palettes with some more excellent shimmers & this would most definitely have to be my favorite row out of the 4.

     

I have been so excited to get my hands on this gorgeous palette.! I've always had an obsession with Lorac shadows and their soft & butter like feel, so when I saw this palette that had mattes and shimmers I knew I couldn't pass it up! This is number 3 in a series of Holiday Palettes that Lorac comes out with every year and this is the first time I have purchased one because I couldn't let it go! 

Now onto the shadows...

 My favorite thing about the shimmers in this palette is that they remind me of gorgeous foiled shadows. Even without using a fix plus (that will intensify the pigment) it gives the same effect with a dry application! The mattes are great as well and they do exactly what you need a matte shadow to do! 

The best thing about this palette is it gives an amazing variety of colors & tones! The worst thing about this palette is that it is a limited edition item, so make sure to get into a store that sells this product and pick one up! It would be great christmas gift or even a treat for yourself kind of gift! 

I found mine at Ulta in-store & they also sell it online! 

Click the link below if you want to purchase this palette, right now!

Lorac Mega Pro Palette 3- 

This palette is priced at $59.00 and it is worth every penny. 

When you do the math it comes out to- $1.84 a shadow! 

Come on, you can't beat that! 

I truly love all the shadows in this palette but below I wanted to circle the shadows that are my absolute favorites, if I had to make a choice--- 

Thank you for stopping by and checking out my review on the Lorac Mega Pro Palette 3 and I hope you found it helpful and informative. If you have any questions, comments or just want to send some love please don't hesitate to reach out. If you have any ideas or thoughts on what you want me to write about next just let me know. I would love to hear your suggestions! And if you enjoyed my first makeup review on my blog, let me know. I really enjoyed putting one together for you and I would love to review more products. Let me know if there is anything you would like me to review & write about! 

<3

The Face Shape Guide

Finding your face shape and knowing what it is becomes a very helpful tool when looking for a hairstyle that will be the most flattering on you. I hear it all the time when a client sits in my chair, that they cannot have a specific style because their face shape is too round, too long, to square and in a lot of cases they don't know what their own face shape is. In this post, I am going to give you the ultimate guide to finding your face shape and details on what will look best on you. 

Let's get started...

OVAL

Description:

Someone with an oval face shape has a forehead that is 

slightly wider than their chin, the length is also 1-1.5

 times in width and they have a rounded jawline.

Do:

1. Angular Bob

2. Blunt or side swept fringe

3. Long and wavy hairstyles

Don't:

You can do anything.

CELEBRITY EXAMPLE:
Carey Mulligan









OBLONG

Description:

Someone with an oblong face shape has a narrow

 thin face without angles and the length 

over width is evident. 

Do:

1. Fringes
2. Long curls and waves
3. Keep hair longer than collarbone

Don't:

1. Pixie cuts

CELEBRITY EXAMPLE:
Liv Tyler

ROUND

Description:

Someone with a round face shape has

chubby cheeks and the length and width

are equal to each other. They also

have a round and full jaw. 

Do:

1. Chin Length bobs

2. Layers that hit the nose, chin and collarbone

3. Get layers that come down and away from the face. 

Don't:

1. Big top knot buns.

2. Half up, half down bouffant hairstyles.

3. Bangs

CELEBRITY EXAMPLE:
Cameron Diaz





DIAMOND

Description:

Someone with a diamond face shape has a 

narrowed hairline, their cheekbones are the

 widest part of their face and their face is 

slightly longer than it is wide with a pointy chin. 

Do:

1. Long hairstyles

2. Middle partings

3. Add volume to the corners that are missing.

4. Wavy and curly hairstyles

5. Angled pixies

Don't:

1. Edgy voluminous short hairstyles

2. Side cut bangs

3. Volume on the top.

CELEBRITY EXAMPLE:
Scarlett Johansson

HEART

Description: 

Someone with a heart shaped face has a 

wide forehead and cheekbones and their 

face has narrow jaw and pointy chin.

Do:

1. Side swept bangs

2. Pixie Cut

3. Long hair that come at the face

Don't:

1. Low pony tails

2. Blunt Bangs

3. Lots of volume on top and or 

cuts that end around the ear.

CELEBRITY EXAMPLE:
Reese Witherspoon

SQUARE 

Description: 

Someone with a square face shape

 has a forehead that equals jaw in length 

and is equal width and height. 

They have a strong jawline and square chin. 

Do:
1. Texture
2. Long, sleek styles
3. Waves and side or straight bangs

Don't 
1. No pixie cuts
2. Don't add volume to the top

CELEBRITY EXAMPLE:
Rihanna

Even though your face shape might have certain styles and looks that are more flattering, that doesn't mean that you wouldn't be able to rock a style that is completely opposite of what your face shape says. I think, if you want to try something... do it. 
It's your life & your hair, do whatever makes you happy! 


Thank you for stopping by and checking out my "Face Shape Guide" and I hope you found it helpful and informative. If you have any questions, comments or just want to send some love please don't hesitate to reach out. If you have any ideas or thoughts on what you want me to write about next just let me know. I would love to hear your suggestions! 

THE INVESTMENT: My Service Prices

Hey Everyone! I just wanted to make a reference post when it comes to my services that I provide in salon and what those prices are! I hope you find this helpful and I hope to see you soon at an appointment!!!

What Does That Mean?

When clients comes in for specific color or style some of the terms stylist use become a foreign language to clients. In this post, I wanted to give you an outline on specific words and terms so when you get in the chair so, you know exactly what you're asking your stylist to do.

1. Balayage

this technique can be used to lighten or darken the hair but the term means to paint the hair in such a way to create a natural-looking effect. Balayage is definitely more of a technique than a specific look. This is for sure the technique I use the most but I do mix it up and create different forms of balayage.

2. Ombre

This style of color can be used in many different ways but it all reality it is just having tones of color that shade into each other, graduating from light to dark. You can also have it fade it both directions... fading from dark to light is an ombre but fading from light to dark is called a reverse ombre.

* Balayage Ombre is creating an ombre that looks as natural as can be without using foils. When you use foils to achieve this look is can be called a Foilage which is achieving a balayage look with isolated foils to either help give maximum lift or to protect the hair from other colors being used on the hair. 

.

3. Highlights

There are many types of highlights and many techniques to achieve them but the basic concept of highlighting is creating dimension through adding lighter tones into the hair. 

4. Lowlights

There are many types of lowlights but when it comes down to it you're just adding dimension into the hair with darker tones. I like to use this technique to help blend a dark root color into a lighter mid-shaft to end color. It gives a seamless grow out.

5. All Over Color

Adding an all over color in the hair isn't as simple as slapping one tube of color all over and then the hair magically becomes a solid color from roots to ends. It is much more than that but, an all over color is described as a hair color that is the same color throughout entire head of hair. Most of time, you aren't going to just do an all over color because that does lack dimension, so adding multiple colors to achieve a look that looks cohesive and balanced is the best in my opinion.

6. Baby lights

In some cases it almost looks like an all over color that is perfectly blended from roots to ends and in other cases it can add slight dimension to dark hair to give it some movement, but it is described as very fine and small weaved highlights to achieve lightness. 

7. Hair melt

Also known as a sombre, where like an ombre having tones of color that shade into each other but with this technique you have no lines what so ever and it gives a low maintenance grow-out. 

I hope you found my outline on specific hair trends, helpful and informative. If you have any questions, comments or just want to show some love, please don't hesitate! I would LOVE to hear from you. 

Thanks again for checking out my post and until next time, have a great day!