6 things a hairstylist would never do to their own hair

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  1. Over-process

If I knew going lighter with my hair wasn’t in my best interest and would be damaging to my hair, I 100% wouldn’t do it. No matter how much I wanted to be blonde! Over processing your hair can be super devastating and isn’t worth it if your hair’s going to be damaged because of it. Sometimes the best thing to do is ask yourself if you want healthy hair, or super blonde hair. If your stylist tells you not to go blonder, don’t do it!

2. Go blonde, then brunette, then blonde again

This kind of goes with over processing your hair, but I would never go dark, then blonde, then dark, then blonde. It’s just not good for your hair! It’s best to find a color that works for you, and change it up within a few levels of your current color if you’re looking for a change. For example- if you like to go darker in the fall and blonder in the summer, don’t go from one extreme to another every year. Instead, add lowlights for a subtle change that can easily be taken lighter again when its time. I’m not saying you can never drastically change up your look. but it’s not recommended to do it too often, especially if only in a short period of time.

3. Highlight my own hair

I wouldn’t ever highlight my own hair- and I know what I’m doing! It can be damaging, and unpredictable. Not to mention its just hard to do and not relaxing!

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4. Use cheap hair products or no products at all.

I would neverrrr use cheap drugstore hair products on my hair! Your hair is an investment and you should take care of it just like you do your skin! If you wouldn’t use cheap skincare products, you shouldn’t use cheap hair products if your hair is colored- especially blonde. Cleanse, Protect and Moisturize your hair just like you do with your skin.

It’s also super important to always use a heat protectant and use leave in products to protect your hair from damage.

5. Use too much heat

Using too much heat on your hair daily is so bad for it! I could never imagine using heat on my hair everyday of the week. Find a way to switch it up and wear your hair up in a cute style a couple days a week instead of curling or flat ironing it.

6. Flat iron/curl my hair when its still damp

Again, super damaging to your hair! Wet hair is much more fragile than dry hair so it’s SO bad to use a flat iron or curling iron on your hair when its still damp! Don’t do it!





Ultimate Gift Guide for the Hair Lover

I can’t believe the holidays are already here! I’ve put together the perfect gift guide for the hair lover. I love these gifts because they’re perfect for the beauty lover & all so useful! Enjoy!

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Luxury shower cap

Click here to purchase from Amazon now!

This shower cap is mold resistant, waterproof, super comfy & not to mention so cute! I use my shower cap 5 days a week and love having a shower cap that is fashionable and reusable. It also comes in a couple different colors/styles!

Hair, Skin & Nail Vitamins with Biotin!

https://amzn.to/2DKK3dA

Click here to purchase from Amazon now!

The perfect stocking stuffer! These vitamins have vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients for healthy hair, skin and nails. The vitamin C is a great collagen booster and biotin is so good for the health of your hair!!

100% Silk Luxury Pillowcase

Click here to purchase from Amazon now!

Silk pillow cases are a MUST for damaged hair, extensions, good skin and healthy hair! Silk reduces the friction between the hair and the pillowcase - causing less breakage and helps blowouts last longer! Silk has natural proteins help hair stay moisturized and frizz-free. It also never absorbs facial cream. This one also comes in a ton of different color options!

Trendy Velvet Scrunchies

Click here to purchase from Amazon now!

Velvet Scrunchies are so trendy right now! They are more healthy than elastic hair ties, and you can create a more put together pony. These make the perfect inexpensive stocking stuffer.

Wet Brush + Extension Brush

Click the image to purchase the wet brush or extension brush of your choice!

Wet brushes are a must have for tangles, and prevents damage to hair! And if you have extensions- these extension brushes are AMAZING.

T3 Cura Blow Dryer

Click here to purchase from Amazon now!

The TOP blowdryer of 2018 and also the newest from T3! This blow dryer will help with frizz, speed, shine, and also has an auto pause sensor! So cool! Features include:

  • Digitally-controlled heat dries hair quickly while maintaining body and shine

  • 5 Heat & 2 Speed Settings offer styling customization for all hair types and textures

  • Volume Booster Switch boosts texture and volume

  • Auto Pause Sensor intuitively pauses airflow when you release the dryer handle

  • Lock-in Cool Shot Button locks in any style for a smooth, sleek finish

  • Lightweight design and quiet operation for a luxurious drying experience

  • Ergonomic Slant Handle helps alleviate wrist strain for effortless drying

Shower Head Filter

Click here to purchase from Amazon now!

A shower filter is a MUST have for blondes, and healthy hair! Chlorine from hard water is one of the causes of brassy, dry and damaged hair. This filter can remove up to 95% of chlorine from shower water which improves hair health and beauty, increases color retention and vibrancy, helps skin retain more moisture and look healthier, and makes skin noticeably softer and smoother.

1.25” BioIonic Curing Iron

Click here to purchase from Amazon now!

This is the curling Iron I use in the salon everyday! I absolutely LOVE this iron, it creates the perfect beach wave and the extra long barrel is perfect for creating that perfect effortless look

GHD Nocturne Flat Iron

Click here to purchase from Amazon now!

GHD is always my go to for flat irons! I’ve had the one I use at home for a couple years now and it still works great! I love this flat iron because it leaves the hair silky, doesn’t snag, and the rounded edges are perfect for flat iron curls!

The perfect at home scalp massage

Click here to purchase from Amazon now!

Another cute stocking stuffer idea. These head massagers are the perfect alternative to that amazing scalp massage you get at the salon. Trust me.


I hope you guys enjoyed these gift ideas for the hair lover in your life! XOXO

7 wedding day "regrets" & ways we saved serious money

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I really 100% don’t regret a single thing. Most of the things I’m sharing that we “regret” really aren’t that big of a deal to us, but they are just things we discussed and looking back, things we could have done differently.

One thing I think a lot of people always want to ask brides is, if they regret how much they spent on their wedding. While I am not going to share how much we spent, I will say it was below the average wedding cost (thankfully) and honestly I don’t regret a single expense. If I would have been able to do it over the only thing I would have done differently money wise was hire the Champagne Supply Company Truck… hehe :)

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In this post, I’m going to share a few things:
1) 7 things we could have done differently
2) 14 ways we saved money
3) 9 things I’m SO glad we did!

First I’ll start with things we would have changed:

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  1. We wouldn’t have left for the Honeymoon the next day

    I think the one thing that sticks out to me the most when it comes to things we would have done different would be not leaving for the honeymoon the day after the wedding. We got married on a Friday and left that Saturday because it was the best flight option for us when traveling to Italy. Looking back it would have been nice to have one extra day to spend with our families, and prepare for our honeymoon. It was a little stressful packing everything up for both the wedding and honeymoon that week, and then coming home with only a few hours to grab our bags and head to the airport. Looking back we probably would have gone out after the wedding to a nearby bar or something, which also would have made the wedding night seem like it lasted a little longer. It just would have been nice to have a little more time to spend with family.

  2. Picked a Venue where we LOVED the rain option as much as the outdoor option

    First I want to say that I LOVED our venue, and it was the perfect place for us to get married. However, I really didn’t want to have a “tent wedding” and the inside of the venue wasn’t my style at all.. I absolutely loved the ceremony site, and when we first toured the venue our plan was to have the reception under the stars without a tent. I didn’t even think about it raining on the wedding day at the time because I was excited to pick the venue. We ended up needing to use a tent for the reception (which luckily our venue had provided) and it turned out beautiful. But looking back at photos, everyone was sweaty, and hot under the tent. As much as I loved the outdoor option of our venue- it would have saved a lot of stress leading up to the wedding day if our venue had a more modern indoor option that we loved just as much as the outdoor option. My advice would be to pick a venue where you love ALL the options for the ceremony and reception.

  3. I would have put a sign on the Bridal Suite door

    One of the biggest issues for me on the wedding day was having guests trying to come into the bridal suite when we were getting ready (while I was in my dress) and even after the ceremony when I was getting my dress bustled and during our private dinner! (more on that later) The Bridal suite was right next to the reception area, which I loved. But it was also really annoying how many guests kept opening the door right before the ceremony and saw me in my dress. I didn’t want anyone other than my mom and bridesmaids seeing my dress before the wedding, and a unfortunately some people did. I was already nervous and having everyone come in really stressed me out. I would have had a sign that said “Bridal Party Only” on the door or something along those lines.

  4. PRACTICE YOUR BUSTLE!!!!!!

    I can’t stress this enough. Unfortunately my seamstress didn’t add the correct buttons to bustle my dress and we didn’t realize that until the wedding day. This resulted in my maid of honor not being able to bustle it. My train was super super long, and it was already a complicated bustle. It was kind of a stressful moment, but I was so excited to just get out and start our reception that I ended up saying it was fine and pretty much had to hold my dress all night. My dress also got SO dirty, because it was dragging on the ground when I wasn’t holding it. Looking back, my sister and I could have easily practiced bustling it before the wedding day which would have saved a lot of stress. My advice would for sure be to ensure your bustle is good, make sure you get a video of it being bustled, and practice it a couple times the week of your wedding!!

  5. I would have gotten a family photo with my entire family (extended too)

    I was going back and forth about this when making my family photo list because my family is HUGE. We would have had to round up about 30 people, haha. And I was worried about having to organize a large family photo like this which the amount of time we had. I chose not to add a large photo like this to my photo list and looking back I do kind of wish we would have taken a photo of all of my aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents together, even just a selfie or something. This was the only time I have seen my whole family together in a very very long time, so I think they would have liked to get a photo together, even if it was just done at the reception! Again, just a little thing we would have done different..but we got SOOO many good photos from our photographer with family and videos at the end of the day it didn’t matter. Just a little advice for those of you with larger families that don’t get together often!

  6. I would have had my dog in the wedding

    No commentary needed haha…my dog is like my child and I should have just had him there on the wedding day.

  7. Hold off on buying bridal party gifts until you have your bridal party count confirmed

    Without getting into too much detail we had to make some hard decisions about a bridesmaid and groomsman in our bridal party after we had already purchased the wedding day gifts for them, which caused us to waste a couple hundred dollars. We ended up having 5 people each in our bridal party, and on each side 4 out of the 5 were all family. I’m so glad we kept it to mostly family, because at the end of the day family is going to be in our lives forever.

    One big regret I have is not asking my sisters to be my maid of honors from the very beginning. I originally asked my “best friend” and had that special moment of asking someone to be my maid of honor taken a way from me when she said yes, and then backed out a couple months before the wedding for no reason. Like I said, family will always be there, and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise because having my sisters as my maid of honors was so much more special. That being said, we had purchased some “Matron of Honor gifts” and some custom groomsmen gifts we literally ended up throwing away.

    Looking back I would have waited until a couple months before the wedding to purchase gifts. I also wouldn’t have spent as much on the groomsmen gifts because men will be men, and none of them even took the custom glasses with their names on them that I thought were so cool, haha. I think they just forget them in the grooms suite. I would have just gotten them their ties, and a bottle of alcohol to share. I don’t think the guys care as much about the cutesy gifts so we could have definitely saved some money there.

    8. Don’t worry!

    Of course you’re going to worry, just like I did. You’re going to hear a lot of stories like “on my wedding day this happened” “on my cousins wedding day she fainted” whatever it may be, everyone has an opinion or story. At the end of the day, don’t let other peoples stories get to you! Sometimes little stories like this freaked me out, and honestly it all turned out fine, even little things that could have gone wrong.. would have been just fine. :)

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Ways we saved money: from the ceremony to the reception

Honestly when it comes down to it, I don’t regret any purchase we made on any of the decor, from the seating chart mirror, to the flowers, or any other decor element. (You can click here to view our wedding day decor post) Every item we purchased was perfect and exactly what we envisioned for our wedding day. Here are a few ways we saved money on our wedding!

  • Veil-Purchase your veil from etsy or from your seamstress. My veil was about $100 vs $400+ at the bridal shop.

  • Shoes- Again, my shoes were about $60 from Nordstroms. I wore them for 15 minutes and then changed into flip flops. Theres no need to spend $200+ on shoes that you wear for 15 minutes.

  • Suits- Eric’s suit and the groomsmen suits were all under $250, and they got to keep them. We got them from a local suit shop in Austin! The Black Tux is also a good option!

  • Pretty Ceremony Site- We saved a lot of money not having to decorate our ceremony site because it was so beautiful even without any added decorations!

  • Small Bridal Party- Depending on what you are gifting your bridesmaids, and if you’re paying for part of their hair or makeup, I would estimate spending at least $100 per bridesmaid (and thats low). Having only 5 bridesmaids helped us out with our budget as well!

  • DIY Table numbers, menus, and other signage- Instead of buying table numbers or menus, I downloaded an etsy template and printed them myself using cardstock, and a paper cutter! It cost me about $20.

  • Inexpensive Invitations- Minted has great options for inexpensive invitations and they usually have discounts during any holiday! Save money on stamps by personally giving the invitation to people you see often.

  • Linens- My wedding planner from Blue Sparrow Events said that some people spend about $40+ on each table linen! Ours were less than $30 for ALL FIVE of our guest tables combined and they looked beautiful!

  • Programs- You don’t really need wedding programs. They get thrown away or used as fans

  • Guest List- We had about 55 people at our wedding. We kept it small by only having very close friends and family at the wedding. We honestly didn’t invite anyone we didn’t have a close relationship with. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Obviously having a small guest count saves money on food. But also allowed us to have fewer guest tables, fewer linens, less floral decor, less alcohol needed, fewer invitations, and more time to spend with each person and the list goes on. Having a smaller wedding was so great if you can swing it!

  • Guest Book- Like programs a guestbook is also unnecessary. You don’t need it, and will probably never look at it again after the wedding. My uncle generously gifted us with two, three liter custom wine bottles with our pictures on them for our guests to sign. If we wouldn’t have been gifted this we would have skipped the “guest signing” idea all together to save money.

  • Catering- We saved money on catering by having a buffet style dinner and having one entree with a pasta as a “side” rather than having 2 entrees!

  • Cake- We got a very small cake, enough to feed our guest count perfectly, and didn’t save the top tier.

  • One location- We had our getting ready, ceremony and reception all in one spot. This saved us money on transportation. We didn’t have to hire any transportation other than our getaway limo for our wedding day.

  • Bachelorette Party- We choose to stay in Austin for my bachelorette party, which saved on travel expenses for sure!


    I would recommend waiting until closer to the wedding to buy your decor, so you can see how much room you have in your budget, and you know your guest count.

The things we wouldn’t have changed at all:

1. Getting married locally VS a destination wedding

Some of you know, we originally wanted to do a destination wedding, after doing research and trying to arrange a wedding out of the country.. we realized it was so much better for us and way more fun to plan things locally! Hello cake tastings, and vendor meetings. If you are the type of person who wants to plan and be involved, I wouldn’t recommend a destination wedding. If you want someone else to plan every detail with you basically just showing up to get married- have a destination wedding

2. Private dinner and private last dance

Hands down the best decision..thanks to the best wedding planner ever. We had a private dinner right after ceremony while my dress was getting bustled. (so we actually got to eat!) and we had the most intimate private last dance while our guests were lining up for the send off. (I cried like a baby)

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3. Hiring a videographer

One of the best decisions we made. The feeling of watching that video brings me back to the wedding day every time we watch it. I would recommend hiring a videographer to any bride. Click here to watch our wedding videos!

4. Having a photo booth

Like the videographer, this one was another great decision we made!! Our guests had so much fun in the photobooth and it was so fun looking back at the photos of them having a great time. This was an another expense that was well worth it and we spent less than $500!

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5. Any vendor we hired

Every vendor we hired was absolutely fabulous, necessary and worth every penny. Our wedding coordinator- amazing. Photographer- incredible. Florist- worth every penny. The hair, dress, catering and dj. I wouldn’t have hired anyone else or done anything differently. (I will list all of our vendors at the end of the post)

6. Saying our own vows

As mentioned in my post about our wedding video and ceremony, saying our own vows was something I am so glad we did. It was so unique, special and intimate and something I stressed myself out more way more than I needed to. At the end of the day, everyone has heard the same traditional vows over and over..but no one has heard YOUR vows, written from YOUR heart. Click here to watch the full ceremony where we read our own vows!

7. Take a moment to look back at everyone during the ceremony and reception

I read this in another blog before the wedding, and I am so glad I took a moment to look around when I was standing up at the ceremony to make eye contact with a few guests and look at everyone. I also took a moment to myself to look around during the reception to see everyone dancing and having fun. It was so heartwarming.

8. Not doing a first look

For us choosing not to do a first look was a special decision. While having a first look does have its pros- like being able to take a ton of photos before the ceremony and getting those emotions out of the way. We chose to share the anticipation and the excitement of not seeing each other until the ceremony, and it was so worth it.

9. Bridesmaids 1st look

The bridesmaids 1st look was something that was unexpected, and so so sweet! I am so glad I was able to share this special moment with my bridesmaids.

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I hope you guys enjoyed this post! Comment below with any other wedding day questions..seriously I’m having wedding planning withdraws! haha :)

Vendors:
Photography Honey Gem Creative
Wedding Planner Blue Sparrow Events
Videography Paper Bird Films
Florist Sweetwater Stems
Mirror Signage & Escort Cards Haley Wynn Designs
Invitations Minted
Cake Kayla Knight Cakes
Photo booth We Just Click ATX
Catering Dagars

The wedding video & full ceremony unedited!

GUYS!!!!!!! I am SO SO SO excited to share the wedding video with yall! So many of you guys have been following me and with me as clients for the entire year we’ve been planning. As much as I try to share and tell you all about it online and in the salon there just really isn’t a way to share this day with you guys other than photos…until NOW! At the end of this post I’m attaching the edited video of our wedding day and also the full ceremony, completely unedited! (I actually wrote our entire ceremony as well)

You’ll really enjoy watching me say my vows in the unedited video, because I got cut off…by a train.

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I wanted to be able to give you all a little piece of our wedding day, and the video gives us all the feelings and emotions all over again, and I hope it will for you too. .

We were torn about hiring a videographer for our wedding day because we paid for our entire wedding ourselves, and we didn’t have a large budget. I will tell you right now, it was worth every penny and more. If I would have had to make a choice between food and the video…lets just say my guests would have been hungry. haha..

I did a lot of research online about wedding planning and one thing I kept reading over and over again was that most brides #1 regret was not hiring a videographer for their wedding. I didn’t want to look back and regret anything (and I honestly don’t!) We used Paperbird Films for our videographer and I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend them. One thing we were nervous about too was being on camera, and honestly we didn’t even notice our videographer was there, because he was so discrete.

Everything about our wedding day was so amazing and it honestly was the best day of my life. When I woke up on our wedding day it was like waking up to all of my childhood Christmas Day’s in one moment. I was so nervous, excited, and ready to marry Eric. I got ready with my bridesmaids, my mom and mother in law. It was quiet and intimate which helped me stay calm. We drank mimosas, got our hair and makeup done, and one of my favorite moments was the bridesmaids first look. It was so special.

I was so nervous leading up to the wedding and on the day of because we were saying our own vows. I hate public speaking and I didn’t want to mess up, or cry too hard. I was overthinking it for weeks. I even messaged my officiant (aka my uncle) and asked him to write up a back up plan for the part where we said our vows incase I choked. I was just so nervous about it and I don’t know why! Looking back saying our own vows was another one of the decisions I am so happy about.

The moment leading up to me walking down the isle felt like an eternity. We all lined up to walk out, obviously me being last. I watched each bridesmaid and groomsmen walk before me, one by one. This was the moment I had been dreaming of in my head over and over for a year. My head was going crazy with nerves because of the vows and the excitement. As I heard the bridal party song start to end and the last bridesmaid and groomsmen were no longer in sight, there I was. Just my mom, my wedding planner and I. I couldn’t imagine any other 2 people more calming to be with in that moment. I felt like I was going to faint, I got soo dizzy and started to cry a little but they both calmed me down so gently.

Then I heard the song come on. The piano version of A Thousand Years. The song I was sure was overplayed at this point, after replaying it on youtube over and over again for the past year. I waited for that moment, really my whole life, but for that moment with the song, and my first step out towards my future with Eric, with my mom walking me down the isle. The feeling was unreal.

Guys that walk was longgg, really, it was a long walk from the bridal suite to the ceremony site at our venue. And it sounds cliche, but with each step I took all of my nerves were slowly going away and by the time I was in front of Eric, and in front of all of our friends and family. I was calm. I was at home. I said the vows, even better than I thought I would.

Everything was perfect, and we had so much fun dancing with our friends and family the rest of the night. Like everyone said, it went by so fast and before I knew it the night was over and we were in the limo on our way home. Getting these videos back was like reliving the day all over again. I hope you guys enjoy them!

I have attached our edited video of our entire wedding day below!

And here is the full ceremony, unedited!

I decided to share the unedited wedding ceremony with you guys for a few reasons. One, so you guys could share the moment with us. But also because its real, and raw. You guys can see each moment of the ceremony, from Erics reaction… to the train cutting me off. I wrote our ceremony script for my uncle to read, and I looked up a ton of youtube videos trying to get inspiration for the ceremony wording. I hope this video can help someone else write their own vows, their own ceremony, or help calm your nerves about saying your own vows on your wedding day.

The wedding day attire

I’m so excited to share all the wedding day outfit, accessories and details with you guys! I will be linking the items we purchased at the bottom of the post!

Getting Ready

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Getting ready with everyone was such a fun part of the wedding day! I got ready at the venue with my bridesmaids, my mom and mother in law. It was so nice to be able to get ready at the venue and not worry about driving to the ceremony after getting hair and makeup done. If you can get ready at your venue or nearby I for sure recommend it! Make sure to buy waters, snacks like finger sandwhiches, fruit and veggies! And don’t forget the champagne!

I gifted my bridesmaids with a cute box they could put all their items in with their initial on them.

In each box I had:

  • Kendra Scott Earrings that matched their dress (if you mention you’re getting the earnings for your wedding party you can get a discount on your purchase depending on how many pairs your buying!)

  • A champagne flute that said bridesmaid, maid of honor, or mother of the bride/groom

  • A pair of silver flip flops to change into later

I also got them these cute silk robes with their names on them. I wanted to get them robes they could wear again, so I choose to put their first names instead of “bridesmaid”

I love when everything flows together, so I choose to get robes that matched the color of the dresses and I got my mom and mother in law dark navy colored robes to match the color scheme! I also had the hangers made with their names on them as well!

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The Bridal Party Attire

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Choosing the attire for the bridal party was one of the most difficult wedding planning decisions for me. I knew I wanted neutral colors but that was about it. It was hard to make a decision between mis-matched bridesmaid dresses, the suit colors, and the bridesmaid dress colors! Ultimately after reaching out to my photographer and wedding planner (who are both super detail oriented, and a little OCD like me) they helped me make a decision that would look best and flow nicely in photos.

Our photographer explained that darker suits always make the dresses pop! So true! Especially against the white dress. And dark colors for groomsmen tend to photograph better and look more “fancy and elegent” She explained her opinion on keeping the groomsmen and groom in the same colors tends to look more cohesive, rather than having the groom in a separate color than the groomsmen. This made me realize I wanted everyone in the same color palettes, because I am lover of all things cohesive! For someone who has her entire closet color coordinated, I don’t know why I was thinking mismatched dresses would work for me..haha.

I feel like you see sooo many examples and ideas on pinterest that it can get overwhelming! So I loved getting this honest opinion from a photographers point of view. I think mismatched groomsmen or bridesmaids can look great! But for someone like me, who likes things in order and is super OCD- it just wasn’t my style. I knew I would overthink it too much, haha.

We ended up choosing black suits for the guys and light grey dresses for the bridesmaids! Each bridesmaid got to choose her own neckline, which I loved. They were able to pick a dress that worked best with their body type, and it still looked “mismatched” but with the same colors!

And she was right! Everything flowed together and looked cohesive, just like I imagined! Also…can we talk about how cute our ring bearer and flower girl were? I had them somewhat match the bridal party, again with the cohesiveness ;)

The Dress

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And now….the DRESS! AHH, I miss my dress. I wish it was acceptable to wear it for date night on the weekend, haha. :(

So, I was never one of those people who thought about their wedding dress before getting engaged! So I had no idea what to get, or what style I wanted. But when I tried this one on…I knew! I would recommend trying on all the different styles of dresses until you find one that you like!

I loved the lace detail, of my dress and the long train. I added the lace sleeves to match the lace on the dress, and opted for a long veil with lace to match my dress as well!

My wedding day accessories included: (I will link these at the bottom of the post)

  • Matching Kendra Scott earnings and necklace

  • Custom Lace Veil

  • Matching hair pins

  • Lace wedge heels

  • Detachable custom lace sleeves


One of my favorite moments of the day was my bridesmaids “first look” It was so fun to put my dress on and see their reaction! Eric and I didn’t do a first look, so it was really sweet and fun to do something like this with my girls!

Photographer: Honey Gem Creative
Bridesmaid Robes: Tohappilyeverafter on Etsy
Bridesmaid Earrings: Kendra Scott (Similar earrings here)
Bridesmaid Dresses: Weddington Way but they went out of business. I would recommend: Azazie or Lulus for inexpensive and similar styles!
Groomsmen Ties: The Tie Bar
My Dress Designer: Pronovias
My Dress Shop: Serendipity Bridal Austin
My Moms Dress: Nordstrom-Pisarro Nights Beaded Pencil Dress
My Shoes: Nordstrom- Elyana Strappy Wedge Sandal
My Necklace: Kendra Scott- Shelly Pendant Necklace
My Earrings: Kendra Scott- Bea Drop Earrings
My Hair Accessories: TopGracia on Etsy

I hope you guys enjoyed reading all about our wedding day attire! Comment below with any other questions! Next up: Wedding hair and makeup!

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The wedding day decor!

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Hi guys!!! I’m MARRIED! I am so excited to be back and to share all the decor details of our wedding day with you all. So many of you guys have been with me following along this process for the year of planning & I am so excited to finally be able to share this day with you.

First I want to start with all the decor details of our wedding day! In another post I will add my hair and makeup advise, my dress, and our bridal party attire. At the bottom of this post I am linking all of the vendors we used for our wedding. I may be biased…but they are the best in Austin. :) Also, a huge thank you to our photographer brooke with Honey Gem Creative for capturing every moment and every photo below!

The Rings

We got our rings from Diamonds Direct! Choosing a band was difficult for me! There are so many options but I ended up choosing a wedding band that matched my engagement band. It’s simple and matches perfectly! Eric’s band was much easier, he wanted something modern and a little different. The metal on his band is Tantalum, which means it won’t tarnish and is “scratch free”

I get a lot of questions about the cut of my ring! It is a radiant cut diamond, with a halo.

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The Invitations

We got our invitation suite from Minted.com. It was SO easy to use, affordable, and ships fast! They give you 10 free samples, (we ordered like 30 haha) We wanted everything to be cohesive and simple. Our wedding website was also from Minted, www.ericandallywedding.com

We used our wedding website for guests to RSVP, and it was a great way to save money on stamps and envelopes! Since we had a smaller guest count I think it worked great. I think guests found it more convenient to RSVP online rather than sending back a response in the mail.

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The Seating Arrangements

One of my favorite decor elements from the day were these marble escort place cards I had made for our head table and the custom seating chart mirror design. I didn’t do assigned seating for each table, instead I did assigned seating for our head table with the escort cards, and then the seating chart mirror to help direct each guest to their assigned table. It saved the headache of assigning each guest to a specific seat, and they got to choose where they sat within their assiged tabe.

@haleywynndesigns KILLED it on the escort cards and mirror designs. Another awesome thing is being able to use the beautiful mirrors after the wedding! They were super easy to wipe off after the wedding, and look beautiful in our apartment. I got the mirrors from Home Goods!

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More Wedding Signage

We had Haley make a custom welcome sign and bar menu sign too! Both Mirrors from Home Goods!

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The Flowers

I can’t even handle the photos of our wedding flowers. Serious perfection. Our florist created the most beautiful floral arrangements and boutonnieres. I wanted simple bridesmaid bouquets, that incorporated the natural elements of our outdoor venue. We had an elegant, tuscan theme for our floral decorations.

Since our ceremony site was beautiful, we didn’t have to spend too much to decorate it. Our florist decorated our ceremony tree with a beautiful floral design, and added beautiful greenery to the top of our tent!

We incorporated a lot of loose greenery, with simple designs for our head tables. We also had little bud vases with simple roses, and candles throughout the reception tables and head table!

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Table Signage

I made all of the signage for our wedding from a templete on etsy for $10! Click here for the link. I bought the table number frames from amazon here, and bought the other frames and easels from Michaels, Hobby Lobby and Marshalls. Instead of a guestbook that we would never look at again, we had custom wine bottles made for guests to sign!

I made:

  • The Menus

  • Table Numbers

  • Sparkler Sign

  • Hashtag Signs

  • Welcome Table Signs

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The Cake

OMG yall, THE CAKE. We still have guests talking about it, haha. We did a bananas fosters cake with caramel filling. It was SO. GOOD. Again with the simplicity, we had a simple cake design, adorned with florals and a beautiful cake topper from etsy! I bought the cake stand myself here. Our catering company provided the cake knife set which was nice, because it’s kind of a waste of money and we purchased custom champagne flutes with our name and date.

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Other details we are so happy about

  • Our Photo booth

  • Our Wedding Planner

Our photo booth was a huge hit! We had a custom marble backdrop (cue the marble escort cards) and I ordered the cutest photo booth props from Amazon from here and here! Such a small investment, that made the night SO fun!

Our wedding planner was a godsend, look how cute she is with her headset, handing me my post ceremony champagne while taking my bouquet. Having a wedding coordinator for our wedding was the BEST decision. She took so much stress off of us the days leading up to the wedding and the day of. Our wedding wouldn’t have been nearly as beautiful without her.

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Photography Honey Gem Creative
Wedding Planner Blue Sparrow Events
Florist Sweetwater Stems
Mirror Signage & Escort Cards Haley Wynn Designs
Venue The Vineyards at Chappel Lodge
Invitations Minted
Cake Kayla Knight Cakes
Photo booth We Just Click ATX

Our wedding day was without a doubt the best day of my life. During the wedding planning process I worried so much– about all the little details and in the end, it all turned out better than I could have ever imagined.

I was so nervous, up until the minute I was standing in front of Eric at the ceremony site. As soon as I was standing in front of him, all of my nerves went away, and I said our vows with confidence and excitement. I have never felt so happy, and joyous in my entire life.

Eric and I want to thank all of our friends and family for being there on that day, and all of YOU guys for supporting us as well. All of your emails, DMS, and well wishes are so sweet.

I love you guys and am so thankful for all of you!! I hope this detail post will help out another bride planning their wedding! Feel free to comment below with any other questions.

How to throw the perfect bachelorette party!

Austin Bachelorette: #FarewellToFeezel

Hey guys! The wedding is coming up so quick and I just had the BEST bachelorette party ever! I've teamed up with @shopstagandhen to fill you guys in on what we did and how to plan the perfect weekend! Make sure to go to shopstagandhen.com to purchase all the essential bachelorette party needs like we did below and also for more cute bachelorette party ideas! You can also read about my bachelorette party weekend there too!  

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When it came time for me to celebrate my final fling, I decided to ditch the now typical destination weekend and stay in my hometown of Austin! By skipping a flight or road-trip, the girls and I were able to not only save some money but also really relax by avoiding the stresses that comes with traveling. We rented an amazing house in South Austin with a pool, enjoyed a fancy dinner out and hit the bars downtown for drinks and scavenger hunt. Oh and did I mention the private twerking class?! Read on for all the details! 

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We got matching bride squad hats for a pool day at our bachelorette party pad in South Austin. 

The Weekend Itinerary
What We Did

We had the perfect mix of downtime by the pool and partying on Austin's famous sixth street! The weekend kicked off with a twerking class at the house (um, amazing!) followed by a pool day on Saturday and bachelorette party scavenger hunt at the bars Saturday night. 

Friday
• Check into the house and decorate! 
• Welcome party with drinks, snacks and a Chick-Fil-A nugget tray
• Private twerking class by @twerkoutaustin (AMAZING)
• Drinks out on West Sixth Street at The RanchConcrete Cowboy and Green Light Social Club

Saturday
• Breakfast at the house
• Pool day with party floats and mimosas
• Pre-party at the house and Quiz The Groom game (with a surprise video message from the groom!! omg cutest thing EVER guys)
• Dinner at Stella San Jac
•  Scavenger Hunt at the bars on Sixth Street (aka "dirty sixth") I did NOT want to do this at first, but it ended up being so fun! And probably the last time I will ever do it haha! 

Sunday
• Breakfast and head home! 

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Before heading to dinner at Stella San Jac in our little black dresses and coordinating sashes from Etsy.

The Bachelorette Pad
Where We Stayed

We found an amazing house with a pool AND a waterslide (a MUST for summertime in Texas) in South Austin. The modern-style townhouse was a perfect location for the weekend - just a 10 minute Uber to downtown and close to all the other famous spots South Austin has to offer like South Congress, Barton Springs and Zilker Park. 

3 bedroom, 3 bathroom VRBO
VRBO - Modern Resort Style Home with Pool

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The Party Favors
How We Accessorized

It's not a bachelorette party without some bride tribe bling! We accessorized with a decorations and favors from EtsyStag & Hen and Target.

• Bride Squad Hats - Etsy (VowandVibe)
• Sahes - Etsy (LeRoseGifts) 
• Bachelorette Name-tag Pins - Stag & Hen
• Customized Cup Decals - Etsy (TheAbbyCo)
• Ring and Flamingo Pool Floats - Target
• Quiz The Groom Party Game - Stag & Hen
• Bachelorette Party Scavenger Hunt - Stag & Hen

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We accessorized with sashes, hats, party pins and tons of adorable decorations from EtsyStag & Hen and Target

The Round Up
Where We Ate, Drank & Celebrated

Finding great restaurants and a place to stay can be tough! Here's a round up of some of the spots we recommend from my Austin bachelorette bash. 

•  House Rental - VRBO Modern Resort Style Home
•  Twerking Class - Twerk Out Austin
•  Dinner - Stella San Jac
•  Bar - The Ranch
•  Bar - Concrete Cowboy
•  Bar - Green Light Social Club

One of my favorite parts of the weekend? Snapping photos of our weekend old-school style with a Polaroid camera - such a fun idea! 

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Want even more cute bach ideas?! Follow @shopstagandhen for bachelorette inspiration, giveaways, deals and MORE!

New Orleans Travel Guide

New Orleans is one of my favorite cities! I've been 3 times now and it just gets better every time. I love the old, southern charm and the food is to DIE for. I feel like it gets a bad rep because of the infamous (dirty) Bourbon Street...but thats just because you need to get OFF Bourbon! Okay, go to a couple bars to say you did it if it's your first time and then follow this guide for all the best restaurants, bars, and things to do! 

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Favorite Bars

Pirates Alley Cafe-
This is my FAVORITE bar in New Orleans! It is a tiny little bar, where they make absinthe right in front of you (I don't like strong drinks and I actually enjoy these!) AND! The bartenders are dressed in character in old pirate outfits. It's like taking a step back in time! 

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Carousel Bar at the Monteleone-
This is a must do! Try to get there early in the day to get a seat at the bar!

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Pat Obreins Bourbon St-
A cute bar on Bourbon that isn't trashy! You're welcome :) 
 

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Lafittes Blacksmith Bar/Shop-
This is the oldest bar in the US built in 1722! Again, this bar is like taking a step back in time! The vibe is a little more modern that I would have liked for a bar like this- they were playing Justin Bieber, haha. BUT still so cool! 


The Sazerac Bar in the Roosevelt Hotel-
A cute hotel bar named after the worlds first mixed cocktail, the sazerac, originating in new orleans. 

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Any bar on Frenchman Street to watch live Music! 
This is the place to be for nightlife! SOO much better (and cleaner) than Bourbon Street. You can't really go wrong with any of the bars here!  
 


Favorite Restaurants 

Commanders Palace- A tourist spot and a little expensive but SOOO good. The best meal I've ever had. OMG take me back. 

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Cafe Du Monde for Dessert- Obvi

Revolution- Another AMAZING meal! Ask to take a tour of the Kitchen!

Brunch: 
Brennans

Broussards Jazz Brunch
 

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Things to do other than eat and drink!


Harrahs Casino

Get a Tarot Card Reading

Take a Plantation Tour (I've never done this but have always wanted to!)

Walk along Bourbon Street During the Day and watch the street Performers, or play with a parrot!

Take a Haunted Ghost Bar Tour! We did this and they took us to all the bars mentioned above and a couple more! It was a fun and different activity and they gave us a lot of history along the way!

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We stayed at the Omni in the French Quarter and for sure recommend it! It was a great location and it also had a rooftop pool! 

 

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My Wedding Beauty Plan

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With the wedding fast approaching my beauty routine is in full effect! I wanted to share my beauty plan with you guys! This is a great plan for anyone getting married or getting ready for a special event! I'm sure you can use this plan even if you're not preparing for an event! 

I've broken it down into my Hair Plan, Skin Care Plan, and my General Beauty Plan for you guys! Enjoy :) 

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Start your hair color journey and find your colorist as soon as possible even if you are wanting a big change or not! Sometimes it takes several visits to get to your desired color, and it could take a few appointments to get your color just right! You want to make sure you start early and your hair color is where you want it to be! You'll also want your color on point for all your events and pictures! So the sooner the better! Have your final hair appointment 1-2 weeks before the wedding so you have time for any adjustments if needed! 

Start growing out your hair if you're wanting it long for the big day! Depending on your hair type try to get trims every 3-4 months. 

Invest in good products so you can get your hair as healthy and shiny as possible! I love the Virtue Repair System which has keratin and helps repair damage. And Start Deep Conditioning on the regular! 1-2 times a week for 10 minutes or more is best! 

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Now is a great time to try out extensions! I recommend getting extensions about 2 months before the wedding so you will still have a fresh set of extensions for the big day, but still have time to get used to them. Tape in extensions are a great option. A less permanent option that works GREAT for weddings is The Original Halo Piece which can be taken on and off whenever you'd like! Even if your hair is long extensions are awesome because it adds SO much volume, makes your hair look thicker and fuller and also holds a curl very well! 

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Have your hair trial and find your wedding hair artist! I recommend scheduling your hair and makeup trial on the day you do engagement pictures or bridals so  you can see how it lasts and looks in pictures! I also did mine about 5 months early so I had time to have another trial if I wanted to try a different look with my hair. 

If you're in Austin, I HIGHLY recommend Lola Beauty! That's who did my hair below, and who I am using for my hair and makeup! 

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Meet with your dermatologist and address any skin care concerns! I wanted to start a plan to brighten my skin and get rid of my dark spots so I started using a retinol and skin brightener! Give yourself about 6 months so you can get use to the products and give yourself time for it to take affect. This is also a good time to start a good daily and nighttime skincare routine! 

Start botox or other injectables if you want to! 6 months is a good time to start this! I do botox on my forehead, around my smile lines, and also lip injections for fuller lips. I see Dana Kirk-PA who is now at Rejuvenate Austin. 

Find an airbrush tanning pro and get your color right for the big day! DO NOT try airbrush tanning for the first time right before the wedding or big event!   

One thing that has been AMAZING for that wedding day glow are HYDRAFACIALS! I have been getting them regularly by Jennifer at Blonde Faith every 6 weeks or so and it literally makes my skin GLOW. You can even do this 2 days before the wedding! There is no downtime at al!! Follow Jennifer on instagram @browmewowme (she also does microblading!!!!) or call 512-467-4717 to book an appointment with her. Mention this post for a discount! 

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Lash extensions are a great option for fuller lashes and low maintenance eye makeup! I am starting my lash extensions about a month before the wedding, so I have time for one fill 2 days before the big day! That way I get used to them and don't try something new right before such an important event. One big reason I'm doing lash extensions is for the honeymoon! It really helps save time on makeup each day so it will be nice to not have to worry about it during the trip! 

If you're in Austin go to PINK LADY LASH!!!! They're the best in Austin. I'll show y'all my before and after in September!! 

Start teeth whitening! I'm working with Smile Brilliant and starting my teeth whitening this month! Stay tuned for a discount code and before and afters! 

I started a gym routine about 6 months before the wedding! There's nothing like a wedding to get you in good shape! But I've really been enjoying it. I hired a person trainer for about a month when I first started working out because I had no idea what I was doing at the gym. IT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY! Now I can go to the gym with a routine and actually know what to do!! I try to work out about 4 days a week with cardio at least 3 out of the 4 days. 

Other than that I drink lots of water (or try to), do yoga regularly, and get plenty of sleep! Trying to do things that are good for your body, stress, and well being will help with your overall appearance and happiness! 

 

Hope you guys enjoyed my beauty tips for the wedding! 109 days to go!!! 

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Answers to all your haircare questions

Hair Care Q&A 

Hey guys! I'm super excited to share this post! I've teamed up with my client @jenniferxlauren and she asked me some important questions about haircare for you guys! Enjoy!

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Q1: WHAT ARE SOME TIPS FOR GROWING OUT YOUR HAIR AND KEEPING IT HEALTHY?

For growing out your hair the best thing to do is not cut it! I personally don’t believe the old myth about trimming your ends every 6 weeks to help it grow. Your hair grows about 1/2 inch a month, so if your cutting it every 6 weeks or so you’re hair isn’t having enough time in between appointments to grow. I recommend going at least 3 months in between appointments unless your hair is super super fine – in that case I would try to go between 8-10 weeks and have your stylist only trim 1/4 inch or so at a time. If your hair is super healthy and thick or in great condition try to go as long as possible between hair cuts! Talk with your stylist and see what she recommends.

 Using good products and taking multivitamins is another great way to help your hair grow. Using a professional shampoo and conditioner (I like the Virtue Recovery, which adds strength and keratin to damaged hair) I would also use a leave in conditioner (I like the 7Seconds from Unite, which is a heat protectant as well), and always use a deep conditioner. I LOVE the Living Proof Restore Mask. Keeping your hair healthy by using good products and not using too much heat is the best way to help with hair growth, because healthy hair is happy hair!

Q2: WHAT ARE SOME TIPS YOU HAVE FOR BUILDING BODY WHEN STYLING?

A few tricks for getting volume in your hair include using a volumizer on your hair when wet, before you blow dry. And then using a product like the Unite Texturiza when dry to add extra body (it is like teasing your hair in a can, one of my favorite products). When blowdrying your hair, try flipping your head upside down, or blowdrying your hair in opposite directions from how in naturally lays. The key is to “over direct” your hair to get more lift. You can also try using hot rollers too! I have several clients who do this as an easy alternative for volume.

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Q3: WHAT ARE SOME SUPPLEMENTS OR VITAMINS YOU RECOMMEND FOR MAINTAINING HEALTHY HAIR?

Biotin + Vitamin A, B, C, D, and E! Also maintaining a healthy lifestyle and drinking lots of water and eating protein.

Q4: HOW CAN A CLIENT GET RID OF SPLIT ENDS WITHOUT LOOSING TOO MUCH LENGTH?

Product wise I would recommend the Virtue Split End Mender. I LOVE this product for sealing split ends on the hair when it’s dry. Also using a good shampoo + deep conditioner etc to help keep the hair healthy. There is also a cutting technique called the “invisible haircut” which involves cutting only on the surface on the hair strand, removing no length. It’s a great option for removing split ends and no length! Ask your stylist about this technique.

Q5: WHAT ARE SOME TIPS FOR FIGHTING FRIZZ DURING THE DRY MONTHS?

For Frizz I love using oils, like the Unite U Oil. Using this on wet hair and then again on dry hair is great trick for frizz!

Q6: WHAT PRODUCTS DO YOU RECOMMEND A CLIENT USES IN THEIR DAILY/WEEKLY ROUTINE?

Here is my favorite weekly product routine for the best hair possible – Once a week use a clarifying shampoo. I love the Weekender by Unite. This gets rid of build up and hard water minerals. After the clarifying shampoo I recommend a purple shampoo, and this helps get rid of yellow tones and brightens up the color (good for Brunettes too). For a good purple shampoo I highly recommend the Blonda by Unite. I do this combination once a week. On the other days use a shampoo and conditioner with moisture or protein. Once a week (or more) I recommend a deep conditioner, and always use a leave in conditioner and heat protectant. This is my favorite routine for healthy hair!

Q7: HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE BE WASHING OUR HAIR?

Everyone is different! I personally wash my hair about 2 times a week. I have clients that wash their hair everyday, but could honestly go every 2 days if they just gave it a chance. I also have some clients that only shampoo once a week. Dry shampoo does wonders. I LOVE the PHD dry shampoo from Living Proof! I think a good number would be 2-3 times a week. For someone with really fine hair that gets extra oily maybe every other day.

Q8: HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE CHANGE OUR SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER?

I think it is good to switch it up! I personally keep these ones in my shower:

1) The Weekender Clarifying Shampoo

2) Blonda Purple Shampoo

3) A shampoo and conditioner for damage (adds protein)

4) A shampoo and conditioner for moisture

I alternate between the protein based combo and the moisturizing combo, because everyones hair needs both. So yes, I guess I have about 6 shampoos in my shower and think it is best to switch it up!

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Q9: WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT FAVORITE HAIR STYLES AND COLORS FOR 2018?

For color clients are still loving the low maintenance lifestyle of balayage and baby lights. I have so many clients transitioning from heavy traditional highlights to more of their natural colors with a few highlights to break up the outgrowth. Color clients are looking for more depth, and dimension and embracing more of their natural color or doing root shadows with pops of blonde around the face like I do on Jennifer below. For haircuts clients are still loving the long bob, and the shag is also coming back!

Q10: WHAT ARE SOME TIPS FOR GETTING A SALON STYLE BLOW OUT AT HOME?

  1. Use a lightweight hair dryer so its not too heavy for you to hold. Investing in a blow dryer like a T3 Featherweight is a great option! It helps with frizz and a quicker blowout.

  2. Find the correct size round brush. Your round brush should be as wide as your shortest layer, it should wrap around the brush with the end fitting perfectly underneath.

  3. Get about 80% of the moisture out of your before blow drying with a round brush. Go in opposite directions or hold your head upside down to get volume!

  4. Dry your hair in sections that are not too big – 1/2 inch in width is a good rule of thumb!

  5. Finish with the right products like a split end mender for frizz, a shine spray, etc.

 

 

Hope you guys enjoyed this post! Be sure to follow @jenniferxlauren and comment below with any other questions/blog posts you'd love to see!! 

 

Engagement Photo Tips

OMG you guys, Natalie Ebaugh Photography did our engagement pictures and she seriously KILLED it! We are beyond thrilled with how they turned out, and not to mention she got them back to us in just a few days! She also does Boudior photos, which are equally as amazing! (mention my blog for $100 off your session) 

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I wanted to share some tips with you guys about how to have an awesome engagement photoshoot! If you're on the fence about taking them, I would for sure reccomend it!!! We had such a good time and are using them for our wedding decor, save the dates and around the house. It's also good practice to connect with your photographer prior to the wedding and also helps you with your nerves in front of the camera!

Also in this post:
I ADDED SOMETHING A LITTLE EXTRA FOR YALL :) 
OUR AMAZING TEAM OF AUSTIN WEDDING VENDORS WE'VE BOOKED SO FAR! 

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  • Check with your photographer to see if an engagement shoot is included in your photography package! Booking just an engagement shoot could be a good way to test out a photographer you're wanting to book with!

  • Try to take them at your venue or somewhere similar that would tie in the theme of your wedding.

  • Go on pinterest and find images you love and then share them with your photographer!

  • Try to be candid- laugh, spin, and have fun. Your photographer should be able to help with this and lead the shoot. Candid photos are something that is very important to me, especially during a wedding!

 

  • Try to wear your makeup similar to how you're wanting it for your wedding. I did my own makeup and tried to do my best application that I could! If you're not skilled in this area, try to book with a stylist for makeup! (also a good way to test out a look or stylist for the big day!)

  • Don't worry too much about making your hair perfect or wedding day ready. A soft blowout or loose waves should be perfect.

  • Wear fake lashes! AND don't forget the self tanner/spray tan!

  • Find a cute dress and try to coordinate your outfits but keep in mind you don't have to match! I got my dress from Lulus here! > Lovley Light Pink Dress

  • Try to stick to solid colors and avoid patterns, I personally usually stick to neutrals and soft colors for things like this to avoid looking too flashy.

  • Make a day of it! Celebrate- and don't forget the champagne before (or during) the shoot!

 

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Our engagement pictures were soooo much fun. Hope you guys enjoyed seeing our tips and photos! Here's a few more from our shoot!

 

 

BONUS: OUR AMAZING TEAM OF VENDORS SO FAR!! 

I wanted to pop in and share our AMAZING team of wedding vendors so far! I feel SO SO SO lucky to have been given to opportunity to work with these amazingly talented wedding vendors, so I had to share with you all! 

Day of Coordinator- Vanna- Blue Sparrow Events
http://bluesparrowevents.com/

Ok so Vanna is more like god-sent wedding angel who has been way more than a "day of coordinator so far" Lets just say our wedding is 9 months away and she has already been by my side pretty much every other day, and helped me with ideas I hadn't even thought of...(and I only hired her like a week ago). If you have it in your budget to hire Vanna for a planner-do it! I wish we had it in our budget to hire her full time! So far she's been amazing for our "day of" so I can only IMAGINE if we hired her for the entire planning package! I know she is going to be AMAZING during our wedding day and help everything go smoothly. 

Photographer- Honey Gem Photography + Natalie Ebaugh Photography
http://honeygemcreative.com/
http://natalieebaugh.com/

I mean...their work speaks for itself. I seriously think I have the most amazing girls to capture my wedding photos. Follow Brooke with Honey Gem Creative on instagram and get ready to be AMAZED. And you guys have already seen what Natalie Ebaugh is capable of... AH. SO EXCITED. 

Videographer- Paperbird Films
https://www.paperbirdfilms.com/

I am SO excited to work with our videographer!! His work looks so amazing, check it out!!! :) 

Florist- Kelli Rogers- Sweetwater Stems
http://sweetwaterstems.com/

Kelli has been one of my clients for 6 years!! I saw her before she became the amazing wedding florist..and by amazing I mean like literally best in Austin, just won best of Theknot.com. Not to brag, but my flowers are going to be seriously a dream. Check out Kellis photos on instagram or on her portfolio above! She has some amazing ideas for our vineyard themed fall wedding. I can't wait to share with you guys. 

Hair and Makeup- Lola Beauty
http://www.lolabeautyatx.com/

So obviously this one is important to every girl, but especially a hairstylist. I knew I had to book the best here. And Lola is THE BEST. Wedding hair and makeup is no joke and these girls are going to kill it! Even being a hairstylist, and probably capable of doing my makeup and hair on my own/having a little more knowledge in this area than some.. I knew i didn't want that stress the day of my wedding, and wanted to leave it to someone who specializes in wedding hair and makeup! Their pricing also includes a hair and make up trial!  

While I'm recommending Lola- be sure to check out their Photo booth Partner- We just Click ATX!
Their pricing is super reasonable- AND Lola Brides get 10% off. OH and did I mention they have white marble backdrops for your photo booth? Go ahead and thank me now :) 

Bridal Shop- Serendipity Bridal! 
http://www.serendipitybridal.com/

I had an amazing experience at Serendipity! Can't recommend them enough! I never felt rushed, and always felt like Kayte was being honest and using her professional recommendation when it came to my figure and dress choices. They range in pricing, but I am on a pretty tight budget and found my dream dress here! 

 

 

Wedding Planning

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As most of you know, we got engaged on October 6th 2017. We were in San Diego visiting for a trip and went to Point Loma to the Sunset Cliffs, which is where Eric Proposed. It was so special, romantic and beautiful, the best day of my life. 

We initially wanted to do a destination wedding to save money, but later realized getting married outside of the U.S. was just as expensive if not more than getting married here...with no control. 

I was not one of those girls who had her whole dream wedding in mind since I was little. I didn't have a wedding pinterest board started. I didn't know any venues in Austin, dress styles I liked or even really thought about how I wanted my wedding to be before. I certainly knew I would marry Eric, and dreamed of our wedding day and all that it would be, and just marrying him. But I never thought about where, how, when or what. So everything was kind of an overload at first! Now that we're a couple months into planning, I would say I'm getting to be quite the little wedding planner! ;) 

We are trying to plan our wedding as inexpensive as possible but still our dream wedding. I've found a few little hacks along the way to help you guys out! 

One amazing purchase I made right off the bat was The Knots Wedding Planner Notebook! 
I love the knots website for organizing but I love everything laid out in front of me without a computer. I have been printing off every contact to keep in the notebook, color inspiration, and even photos. Its like the wedding planning bible. You can get it by clicking the link below

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Wedding-Planner-Organizer-binder/dp/0770433367

1. Start thinking before getting engaged!
Okay, so don't start planning your whole wedding before getting engaged, but do start thinking about what you're envisioning for your day. Do you want a garden wedding? A ranch? Destination? Church? Vineyard? Romantic? Modern? These are all things you need to know before shopping for venues, and thats one thing I really struggled with when deciding on a venue! I had NO idea what type of wedding I wanted! I knew we wanted the ceremony and reception outside, but didn't know our theme! Theres nothing wrong with thinking and doing a little research in planning out what your dream vision is! I wish I would have had a set vision and been able to look at only outdoor garden weddings before researching literally every single venue in Austin. (if you need any tips let me know haha)

 It was a lot of fun looking at venues, but also really overwhelming because we never really left one feeing like it was "the one" until... The Vineyards at Chappel Lodge! I always said, a vineyard wedding would be cool because we love wine but didn't even know there was something like this so close to Austin! Also after looking at couple venues I loved the idea of getting married under a big oak tree and my heart was set on that! But.. it would have been awesome to just only look at venues like that from day one! However, we did learn a lot about what we liked and did and didn't want each time we saw a venue. 

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2. Don't plan anything until you decide on your venue! BUT FIRST: SET A BUDGET AND GUEST LIST! 
You need to set up your budget and guest list before venue searching! You should always try to stay at 50% of your budget with the venue and catering. So before even looking at a venue thats out of your budget, narrow down how much you can spend and how many people you will be inviting! 

Some tips for venue shopping on a budget: 
*Look at as many venues as you can and ask a ton of questions
*Ask for a discount if you pay in full
*Look for venues you don't need to do a lot of decorating for
*Try to get married on any day but Saturday to save money
*Ask if there are any hidden fees- if you need to put down a security deposit, pay for security, insurance etc. 
*Try to book a venue that you can hire all of your own vendors for! It saves money to hire outside catering and bring your own alcohol! 
*Make sure you like both the inside and outside of the venue-and you're okay with the rain plan

3. Book your photographer and plan an engagement session! 
Start looking for photographers AFTER choosing your venue! For me this was my number one vendor. Photos will last a lifetime! Wait to book your engagement session until you hire your photographer, because most photography packages come with an engagement session! It is also good practice to get to know your photographer! We are working with Honey Gem Creative, and Natalie Ebaugh Photography!

Heres a sneak peak at our engagement pics done by Natalie Ebaugh Photography

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4. Start your bridesmaids gifts
This part was SO fun!

In my boxes I had:
-A bridesmaid proposal Card (from etsy)
-My favorite photo of us
-Champagne
-A hair tie  (from etsy)
-Bath Bomb (amazon)
-Personalized wine glass (from Etsy)
-The cute boxes were from Michaels!


A little advice I learned along the way: 
 I knew who my bridesmaids would be right away, so I started ordering random things on Etsy when we thought we were doing a destination wedding. I ordered some luggage tags, and sunglasses for the beach theme when we thought it was a destination wedding. (Which I later ended trying to return.) So, make sure you know your venue before asking! This way you can have your venues theme tie in with the bridesmaid proposal gifts! I ended up making these super cute gift boxes. I got mostly everything from Etsy and Michaels! 

I "proposed" to three of my bridesmaids while we went dress shopping! It was so special. Also...how funny is it that ALL six of my bridesmaids are blonde...hehe 

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5. Start Dress shopping! 
Once you have your venue, and bridesmaids picked, its time for dress shopping!
A little tip for dress shopping: Try to wear jewelry, your hair how you envision it, and wear your makeup! That way you get a good idea of how you will look on your big day! 
 

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 I started with 2 places in Austin to check out. Serendipity Bridal and Melagne. Serendipity was AMAZING! I highly recommend this beautiful bridal boutique. I even ended up getting my dress for 15% off on Black Friday! WIN!
ALSO! Skip buying a belt and veil at the store and check out etsy! My belt was almost $500 at the store and I found a ton on etsy for less than $100

 Try to only set up 2-3 bridal appointments at a time. I scheduled appointments for these 2 places, 3 others later in the month and a couple in Chicago for late December. I ended up finding my dress and having to cancel all the others. Just take it one or two dress shops at a time! Chances are you will not need to look at too many places, it might get overwhelming. 

Overall yes, wedding planning has been stressful. BUT I've been having so much fun with it! Try to enjoy the planning process, it's probably the only time in your life you will be planning such a meaningful, exciting event. 

Up next on WEDDING WEDNESDAY: 
ENGAGMENT PIC IDEAS

 

What to ask your stylist for to get the color you want: BLONDE EDITION

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Ever sit in your stylists chair and have no idea how to describe what you want? You and your stylist are trying to come to a solution and you feel like a deer in headlights? I've had clients show me pictures of golden highlights when they're saying the want ashy tones, and request a balayage when showing me pictures of a double process platinum blonde. Don't feel bad because it actually happens all the time, and it's not your job to know how to request the right technique.

This is going to be the first of 3 posts, so follow along to learn about the proper terminology and how to get what you want out of your hair color service! This first post is going to be all about BLONDES! All of the terminology I will be talking about below will be based on blondes who are already a level 9 or lighter (being as close to the lightest blonde as possible is the best way to achieve these requests). This post is meant to help you understand and be on the same page as your stylist, not to go into the salon and tell them you want a level 10 ash violet blonde glaze with level 7 lowlights weaved every 3 foil and then root shadowed for 5 minutes...you get the point. :)

Check out this video on how I transformed my clients hair to a bright blonde, with no damage!

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One thing to keep in mind about all the photos below is that every hair color looks different even though sometimes the exact same tones, formulas and techniques are used. Everyones hair is different, reacts differently and has had a different hair history, yeileding different results for each person. 

COOL BLONDE

If you like blondes that have icy, gray, ashy, or pearl tones to them, that means you prefer a cool toned blonde. If your skin tone has more pink, blue or red undertones cooler blondes will look best on you! When asking for a "cool" toned blonde, tell your stylist that you like your color to be more on the ashier side. This type of color usually takes a few visits to achieve even if starting out blonde, because you have to eliminate all warmth from the hair. 

To achieve cooler toned results I do heavy highlights, bring the hair to a level 10 blonde with no remaining pigment or warmth. After the highlights are rinsed I tend to use a toner such a level 10 ash. This type of color is usually somewhat damaging to the hair because you are taking your natural color as light as possible.  

All of the posts below are "ash blonde"

To achieve this pearl blonde color: ask for heavy highlights, and a toner with natural ash base.

To achieve this pearl blonde color: ask for heavy highlights, and a toner with natural ash base.

Slightly more ashy than the 1st color, for this type of result: ask for highlights with a ash toner.

Slightly more ashy than the 1st color, for this type of result: ask for highlights with a ash toner.

Even ashier than both photos above. This client has level 7 ash lowlights with heavy highlights. To acheive this tone: ask your stylist to over compensate and make your color as ashy as possible, almost on the grey side.

Even ashier than both photos above. This client has level 7 ash lowlights with heavy highlights. To acheive this tone: ask your stylist to over compensate and make your color as ashy as possible, almost on the grey side.


WARM BLONDE

First, I want to say that warm blondes do not have to mean brassy. I feel like so many clients are afraid of asking for a warmer toned blonde because of bad experiences or fear of having the unwanted yellow, orange hair color. Golden toned blondes can be very beautiful and also appear brighter, and shinier than ashy blondes. If you are drawn to buttery, honey, golden or bronze tones, you like warm blondes! This color works well with gold, peach or yellow skin tones.

If you're nervous about having a warmer toned blonde, ask your stylist to ease into it. Start with a more neutral color, having neither ash or warm based tones, this is right in the middle. Then I would add just a dab of gold mixed in. You can add more of the gold each time. One tip is to use purple shampoo once a week or every other week with warmer blondes to prevent the color from looking too brassy!

Here are some examples of "warm" blondes. Again starting from the least warm, to most warm. :

A perfect example of a creamy buttery blonde. This color is right in the middle of warm and cool, yet still not super golden. For this color: I did highlights, bringing them to a level 10 but not white. Then glazed her with a level 10 natural blonde…

A perfect example of a creamy buttery blonde. This color is right in the middle of warm and cool, yet still not super golden. For this color: I did highlights, bringing them to a level 10 but not white. Then glazed her with a level 10 natural blonde. I added a little ash to prevent the color from looking too brassy long term.

This beautiful lady has a slightly more golden tone than the previous color. We do highlights with lowlights of a level 8 brown gold. And I glaze her with a level 10 gold toner!

This beautiful lady has a slightly more golden tone than the previous color. We do highlights with lowlights of a level 8 brown gold. And I glaze her with a level 10 gold toner!

This clients hair is definitely a lot more golden! She almost has a strawberry tint to it. We do a ton of lowlights to create different tones, of a level 7 gold, with a few highlights. I then glaze her with a level 10 "brown" gold!

This clients hair is definitely a lot more golden! She almost has a strawberry tint to it. We do a ton of lowlights to create different tones, of a level 7 gold, with a few highlights. I then glaze her with a level 10 "brown" gold!

NEUTRAL BLONDE

Neutral blondes are right in the middle of cool and warm. I like to think of neutral with beige, creamy, or wheat tones. This is the perfect way get a balance of cooler and warm tones! You could also try adding lowlights of a neutral color if you're currently platinum or light blonde. That way you get a mixture of tones, which is a great way to ease into a new shade of color! 

Here are some examples of neutral blondes: 

This client has a neutral tone, with highlights and lowlights! She has a variation of tones with pops of brighter blonde, and lowlights of a level 7. Her overall glaze was a level 10 ash to prevent unwanted warmth from her previous color.

This client has a neutral tone, with highlights and lowlights! She has a variation of tones with pops of brighter blonde, and lowlights of a level 7. Her overall glaze was a level 10 ash to prevent unwanted warmth from her previous color.

This is a great example of a light neutral blonde! This color has beige tones, and was created with highlights and then glazed all over with a level 9 neutral blonde!

This is a great example of a light neutral blonde! This color has beige tones, and was created with highlights and then glazed all over with a level 9 neutral blonde!


DOUBLE PROCCESS BLONDE

Honestly, double process blondes are not my favorite. This involves lightening the hair all over...on the scalp with bleach, no foils. This type of color is as blonde as blonde can be. Bleach is applied directly to the scalp which I believe is damaging, and gives the illusion of one color, leaving none of your natural color. This usually has a harsh line of demarcation when it grows out and rarely looks natural. Personally, I don't believe this is the best type of blonde to request because of damage.

IF this is your desired color, make sure your hair is in the most healthy condition and be prepared for breakage with time.. especially around the hairline. Plan on being in the salon every 4 weeks, spending at least $150+ Make sure your stylist is not overlapping bleach. I would recommend to use cotton between each section to keep the color from overlapping. Double process platinum blonde works well with fair skin and light features. However, sometimes other skin tones can pull this off. Think Kim Kardashian when she went platinum blonde. 

I personally do not perform this service, because of the risk of damage. To request a healthier version of this look: ask your stylist to do very very heavy highlights trying to eliminate most of your natural color in between foils and then glaze with an ash based toner. This will most likely take a few visits. 

This color was done with heavy highlights, little dimension left, and an violet based ash glaze. 

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BASE BREAK OR HIGHLIFT BLONDE

A base break or high lift blonde is similar to a double process blonde however rather than using bleach, hair color is used to "break" up the natural color left between highlights.

A base break is more gentle on the hair than a double process done with bleach, but still doesn't provide a natural outgrowth. This process involves highlighting the hair, processing, rinsing out the highlights, towel drying the hair and then applying hair color at the root for a few minutes to further lighten the hairs that didn't get highlighted in a foil. Sometimes this exposes unwanted warmth, because hair color can not lighten the hair as much as using bleach can. This again, is not my favorite process because harsh outgrowth, however I do have a few clients that request this service!

You might like a base break/highlift color if you're a fan of a double process blonde, or don't like to see ANY of your natural color after getting highlights. This color would be good for you only if your natural color is a level 7 or lighter. I personally would not do a base break on anyone darker than that wanting to be blonde to avoid exposing unwanted warmth in the hair. 

Heres an example of a client who gets a highlift blonde vs. a client who gets highlights and has dimension left at the root from her natural color: 

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Take a look at her root, she does not have any of her natural color, you can see that every piece of hair was lightened. Her natural color is a level 8 and we lighten her with a level 12 ash violet highlift blonde. She gets highlights every 3rd appointment. A beautiful example of a highlift color that is still looks natural and healthy!

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This client is also a natural level 8, we just do highlights all over, and you can see the different variations in tones at the root. No highlift color or base break.


BABYLIGHTS

Babylights are a newer trend that I'm a big fan of! A good way to imagine babylights is to think of a young girls hair. Mostly their natural color, with those perfectly placed natural looking highlights around the face, and brighter towards the ends. This is a good technique for you if you like your natural color, and just want a few sun-kissed highlights or baby fine highlights all over. Babylights are done by weaving very fine ribbons of highlights all over, and placing brighter pieces around the hairline and ends of the hair like the hair has been kissed by the sun. I normally do a root shadow (which we will talk about later) and leave out brighter pieces around the face and ends. This allows for a very natural looking color with a low maintenance outgrowth.

Before and After of babylights! You can see the fine ribbons of highlights, and still quite a bit of the natural color while still keeping the light blonde ends.

Before and After of babylights! You can see the fine ribbons of highlights, and still quite a bit of the natural color while still keeping the light blonde ends.

And another example of babylights. The before photo is a 7 month outgrowth of babylights, and the after was just done with very fine highlights placed all over!

And another example of babylights. The before photo is a 7 month outgrowth of babylights, and the after was just done with very fine highlights placed all over!

A darker example of babylights, but a good example lighteness around the face and ends while keeping your natural color at the base. You could even add a few more ribbons of highlights toward the root for a blonder effect.

A darker example of babylights, but a good example lighteness around the face and ends while keeping your natural color at the base. You could even add a few more ribbons of highlights toward the root for a blonder effect.

DIMENSION

Dimension is always one thing I think clients have a hard time describing. They know their hair is lacking something, but don't know what it is. This is good for someone wanting to see more variations in color. Dimension is good for you if you like to see contrast, or different colors of blonde in your hair. Or if you don't like your hair to be one solid color. I recommend keeping the shades within 3-4 levels of each other to keep it looking natural. 
 

SO many clients are afraid of asking for lowlights because they've had bad experiences with chunky stripes, or the lowlights turn brassy with time. Lowlights do not mean that you're going to have the Kelly Clarkson early 2000 hair color. My little secret for lowlights are always always using an ash lowlight (unless requested otherwise) and never pulling the lowlight all the way through to the ends.

To get the looks below ask your stylist for a multi-dimensional blonde, with 1-2 colors for a lowlight, and low lighting every third or fourth foil. These are different variations of blonde and all done with highlights and lowlights! 

 
FULL HIGHLIGHT VS PARTIAL HIGHLIGHT

A full highlight involves starting the highlights at the nape of the neck all the way around the the front of your head. A partial is starting at the crown of your head to the front. Full vs Partial highlights have nothing to do with how blonde your hair is, rather how consistent your color is from underneath to the top. If you feel like the underneath of your hair is dull, or dark you probably need a full highlight. A partial can be done every other or every 3rd time once the color is to your liking. 

Below are examples of clients who prefer partial highlights: you can see how the color is more dimensional underneath. 

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The client below had been paying for a "FULL" highlight with her old stylist, clearly still very dark underneath. The right is after a full highlight with me. 

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ROOT SHADOW

A root shadow is another trending service right now and one of my favorites! This technique can be as light or as dark as you want and involves highlighting the hair all over, and then tapping down or shadowing the root with a darker color to soften the highlights at the root. Pieces of blonde are ALWAYS left out around the face and hairline to keep those pops of brightness around the face!
 

All of the clients below have different shades, and levels of root shadows! Some are more dramatic than others. To transition to a technique like this ask your stylist to start conservatively adding darker shades each time. I usually start this transition by adding lowlights just brought down about 4 inches from the root, and then doing a root shadow at the shampoo bowl.

TRADITIONAL HIGHLIGHT

If your one of those blondies that just loves the look of a traditional highlight. Just ask for that! No root shadows, no base breaks, just a good old fashion highlight to the root, finished with a glaze, and toned to your preference. Heres what to look for when getting those highlights perfect-o. 

  • Tight foils

  • Brighteness around the face

  • Highlights covered around the hairline

  • Highlights placed all the way to the root

  • A seamless blend of natural looking color

  • The correct tone, not too warm not to cool

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TONER/GLAZE

A toner or glaze is used to create every look we've talked about. It's used for creating cool, warm or neutral tones. Used when doing a root shadow, and also helps prevent the hair from getting brassy in between appointments. Think of a toner/glaze as a top coat for your hair. It adds softness and shine, while sealing the cuticle. 

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A guide to going blonder with your hair

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Can my hair handle it? And if so are you okay with having drier hair and some possible damage?
This is the number one deciding factor of going blonder with your hair. If your stylist says your hair can't handle going blonder. LISTEN TO THEM. I have seriously refused to do services because of damage, and it's in the clients best interest! If you have severe breakage and feel that your hair is currently damaged, I wouldn't recommend going lighter. I don't want to be responsible for your damaged hair, and certainly don't want to make it worse. So, trust your stylist if she says it's not in your best interest to go blonder...they're doing you a favor I promise. 

However, I'm not saying no one can ever go blonde! I do have some clients who come in with  healthy hair, and going blonde in this scenario is fine. If you and your stylist do decide your hair can handle going blonder, plan on having somewhat drier hair, during the process and still possible damage with time. Anytime your lightening from the root, to the ends of your hair, especially over and over again (which is what has to be done with going blonder), it is damaging to your hair. SO, once your to the desired shade of blonde, make sure your stylist is ONLY touching up the regrowth of your hair! This will be the point when your hair won't be as damaged, since the regrowth is the healthiest part of your hair, and untouched with previous color! YAY!

Check out these safe blonding transformations:


Are you aware it might take time to get to your desired end result?
Another huge question to ask yourself. Going Blonde is a process for some clients! Taking your hair lighter in one visit is sometimes not achievable because of damage, or because your current color is starting so dark. Sometimes you see pictures of blonde transformations on Instagram from pages like Olaplex or Guy Tang, but what clients don't realize is that most of those transformations are an all day process. 
Celebrity Stylist Guy Tang for example schedules about 1-2 clients a day, if it is a big transformation like going from brunette to blonde, he'll schedule the client for 8 hours, costing easily $1,000+  So, while yes you can transform your hair in one visit, plan accordingly with your stylist and schedule more than a 2 hour appointment, and expect to pay for an entire days worth of time. 

^^ #TRUTH ^^

 

Are you willing to invest in the maintenance of having blonde hair? 
While going blonder you'll need to come in around every 6-8 weeks during the process. Once your color is as blonde as desired, plan on coming in to get your hair colored anywhere from 6-12 weeks. The longer you go, I would recommend coming in for a glaze halfway between your appointment to help prevent any yellow tones. 

Are you planning to invest in high quality shampoo and conditioners?
Don't even plan on being blonde while using drugstore shampoo. First, why invest so much time and money in your hair and then use $5 shampoo on it? Secondly, blonde hair is the most fragile, and driest hair of all. You have to plan on taking care of it like crazy!!

 YOU NEED TO BE USING THIS COMBO:

-A high quality shampoo and conditioner
-A deep conditioner every week
-A leave in conditioner every time your hair is wet
-Oils for moisture
-Heat protectants every time you style
Here are my favorites: 

 


Will you be religiously using a purple shampoo? 
Purple shampoo is a must for anyone blonde! I use the Blonda Purple Shampoo from Unite once a week for about 30 seconds. This helps prevent brassy tones, and brightens your blonde. I've used soooo many different purple shampoos and this one is for sure my favorite one out there! 



Are you able to lay off the heat daily? 
When your blonde is is important to try and only use heat when needed! Try only blowdrying your hair twice a week. Curl it 4 days a week and wear it up or do a light touch up with the curling iron on the others. It's not good for anyone to blow dry and flat iron/curl your hair every day, but especially blondes! 

 

The bottom line is, only go blonder, or start the blonding journey if you and your stylist decide its in the best interest of your hair! Healthy hair is happy hair!! 

 

FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM TO SEE ALL MY HEALTHY HAPPY BLONDES! 
 

 



 

The Ultimate Travel Guide for Tulum, Mexico

Hey guys! I'm SO excited to share my amazing experience in Tulum with y'all! If you haven't heard of or been to Tulum I highly recommend this beautiful jungle, beach escape for your next vacation. I'll be sharing some essentials that I brought, where we ate, my favorite beach clubs, where to take the best photos, what to wear, how to deal with your beach hair and what to do while you're there! 

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A LITTLE ABOUT TULUM FIRST:
Tulum is about 2 hours south from Cancun Airport. Tulum beach is beautifully authentic and untouched by modernized development like most of Cancun. It is separated by one small road, with the hotel zone on the beach side, and the jungle with bars, restaurants, and shops on the other. We had very little to no cell phone reception while we were there, which is exactly what we were looking for in a unwinding vacation to paradise. We felt very safe over the entire visit, and everyone we met was extremely friendly and helpful. 

GETTING TO TULUM:


Since Tulum is about 2 hours from the airport we were somewhat torn on how to get to our hotel. You can take a bus for very cheap, but it does stop along the way for other drop offs, so it would take a little longer to get to our destination. I'm sure this option is inexpensive and safe from what I've heard and read.

 We decided to rent a private driver from Cancun Airport Transfers so we could get to our destination fast and not deal airport crowds. Our driver was right outside waiting for us ready to go and he had a couple Coronas ready for us for the ride! For the way back home he came right to our hotel to pick us up and dropped us off at the airport at the exact time we wanted to arrive. I'm definitely glad we went with this service, it only ended up costing about $200 round trip, which I felt like was totally worth if for the convenience.

We also thought about renting a car ourselves but I was nervous about driving 2 hours in Mexico never being there before and hearing stories from other people about bad experiences. After making the drive with our driver, I think this would have also been a good option because the road to Tulum was literally a straight shot and a pretty simple drive. I'm glad we didn't do this though, because we ended up renting a moped through our hotel for the entire trip for only $30 a day, which made parking in and around Tulum SO much easier...plus it was so much more fun! :)

WHAT TO BRING:

SUNSCREEN
My fav is Elta MD!

BIODEGRADABLE SUNSCREEN
 
Need this If you plan on visiting the cenotes!

2 CANS OF BUG SPRAY
Use this & Bring it with you at night! We forgot to put it on our last night there and it was the ONLY night we got bit up! 

SWELL BOTTLE
My Swell definitely came in handy at night since our room didn't have a fridge or cold water, we usually just got cold water from the hotel to refill in our swell, which stayed cold all day and night

WET WIPES
Obviously when you're a the beach you get salty, sweaty and sticky. This came in handy for sure before spontaneous meals along the beach

1 BACKPACK/BEACH BAG AND 1 SMALL WALLET BROSS BODY
I didn't even bring my purse for this trip and brought this super cute backpack for the plane ride and beach days, I used my cross body at night for my phone and money
 

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SELFIE STICK-
Touristy I know, but I mean look at all the cute pics we got!

UNDERWATER PHONE CASE
We found this Pelican Marine case on Amazon and totally came in handy for the cenotes, and beach pics!

ALOE VERA AND ANTI ITCH MEDS
OMG totally came in handy after a day in the sun and Mosquito bites!

1 SUNHAT
I brought 3 hats because I'm an over packer and i just wore this one the whole time, no need to bring more if you're trying to pack light! I got this hat from express, I can't find it online anymore but click here for a similar one! 

2 BEACH COVERUPS
I just brought this one below from Buckle, which came in handy for sure! I wore it every day, but I did wish I had brought another to alternate with. Towards the end of the trip this one was pretty salty! 

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2-3 BATHING SUITS
I liked alternating out my bathing suits every day while the other one was drying out. You can never have too many bathing suits! 

DRESSES, ROMPERS, JEAN SHORTS, CUTE OFF THE SHOULDER TOPS AND ONE LIGHTWEIGHT SWEATER! 
I wore jeans on the airplane because I get cold, but other than that I mainly wore my bathing suit and beach coverup during the day and wore my dresses, rompers or off the shoulder tops for dinner at night. I brought one lightweight sweater, I wore it once and probably could have lived without it, but I'm glad I brought it along! 
Heres some outfits I wore during the trip! 

DONT BRING A LOT OF MAKE UP AND HAIR TOOLS
If anyone overpacks makeup and hair tools for a vacation, its me. But in Tulum the restaurants are so dark at night you don't need much makeup, also most of the town is without electricity, making it hard to put makeup on in your room before you leave at night. It was nice taking a break from the everyday life of getting ready for an hour, embracing the laid back lifestyle of Tulum and not doing my hair and makeup everyday.

I also didn't use a blow drier, flat iron, or curling iron one time. With all the sand and salt water there was no reason to spend time blowdrying my hair. My hair is curly, frizzy, terrible in humidity AND I have extensions! I was so worried my hair would look like a mess! 
Heres what I did for my beauty routine: 

During the day: 
Rewet my hair with a TON of
7seconds leave in conditioner and my U-OIL, scrunched it to get a little wave, and put it in a braid, two braids or a top knot. I found that the sea salt from the ocean and shower dried it out enough to help with frizz. 
For makeup I put on a little mascara and my
Elta MD tinted sunscreen and thats it! 

At night: 
Rinse my hair with conditioner if I didn't wash it, and repeat the above. I wore it in 2 braids most of the time I was there. 
For makeup I put on my
RAE Climate control foundation (amazing for humidity) a little bronzer, a little eyeshadow from one of my naked palettes and Mascara! 

WHERE WE STAYED
We stayed at Rosa Del Viento and absolutely loved it! I would definitely stay here again. Our hotel was literally the very last hotel along the hotel strip, about an hour walk or a 10 minute drive up to the main part of the beach. We had a beach front, ocean view room and was absolutely incredible. I would highly recommend this hotel. 


PROS: 
Amazing and friendly hotel staff
Clean, safe and beautiful resort
Free breakfast for hotel guests
Location- Being so far from the main hotel zone meant there was plenty of open beach chairs, no crowds, and basically a private beach
CONS:
Location- This wasn't really a con for us, but I'm sure to some people it would be if you wanted to be within walking distance to the other resorts and restaurants. We rented a moped to get around which I would highly recommend
Food- The food and drinks were just okay compared to other resorts but this also wasn't really a big deal to us since we explored other restaurants and beach clubs anyway. 

FAVORITE BEACH CLUBS 
AZULIK
 My absolute favorite beach club. You MUST go here...that honeymoon suite is on the bucket list ✔
(All of the photos below were taken at Azulik! There is also no access to any other hotels here, so the only people here are hotel guests or visitors. You must spend $40 for access to their beach)


COCO TULUM
The most picturesque beach club with swings aligning the beach! Try to make it there at sunset! 


ZIGGYS BEACH
Ziggys has GREAT service and is also super cute at night! They have comfy chairs and a little fire pit close to the beach. 
 

NOMADE
We went to Nomade on our last night and wished we had gone during the day! This place was a yogi's paradise

FAVORITE RESTURANTS
GITANO 
We loved this place so much we went there twice! We got the Quesadillas, Grilled Avocado and the Ribeye with Salsa Verde and Garlic...both times ;)  Order Kisses in the Car to drink...SOO good! (Ask for it a little spicy) 

HARTWOOD 
Make a reservation wayyy in advance to reserve a spot! Most popular restaurant in Tulum! 


AHAU TULUM
We went here a couple times for lunch as well! They have great drinks, and awesome tacos! 
 


POSADA MARGHERITA
Brunch was great! Never made it for dinner, but it is a popular spot for dinner as well. 
 


CASA BANANA
Get here a little early for dinner, around 6-7. We couldn't get in after 7:00 while we were there, and they don't take reservations!


CASA JAGUAR
Feels like you are eating in the middle of the jungle! An awesome environment but we chose to just get a couple drinks and enjoy the scenery
 


CASA VIOLETA  
Best place we went for Brunch and also the BEST fish tacos I've ever had! 
 


WHAT TO DO IN TULUM

R-E-L-A-X
Literally just lay on the beach during the day, in a hammock, on a beach bed, or in a big beach pillow. The best thing about Tulum is how quiet and relaxing it is. So just find some time to lay out by the ocean waves and unwind. 

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Explore the beach clubs during the day and explore the jungle restaurants and shops at night! 

Feel like a local and take some Mezcal shots with Erik at GAVIOTA

Go to a Cenote
We went to Grand Cenote which is probably the most popular Cenote in Tulum, it was a really cool experience! We had planned on going to a couple Cenotes while we were there, but seeing one was enough for us. Also...the water is FREEZING! Wear a one piece if you can :) 

Check out the City of Tulum
We like to explore, so we drove our moped to the downtown part of Tulum on the way to Grand Cenote, it was fun to see the authentic shops and very authentic restaurants away from the hotel zone. We didn't eat anywhere, but there are a few very authentic hidden gems here. I would ask your hotel concierge for recommendations.

Go to the Ruins
We didn't do this on this trip, lots of crowds and it would be an all day event but if thats your thing. its definitely worth checking out!

Drive a moped down the jungle road or go on a jungle tour! 

And last but not least...the most important thing I learned in Tulum

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I hope you guys enjoyed this in depth guide to Tulum! If you have anymore questions feel free to leave a comment below and to see more of my adventures follow me on instagram @hairbyallyfeezel!

 

 

 



 




 

 

Best Hot Tools by Price

Hey guys! I get so many questions about styling tools so I decided to do a little research and round up the best styling tools out there for yall! I have each category listed by 3 different price points, for any budget. You can click the photo for the direct link to buy. Hope this helps! 

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Blow Dryers: 

I think investing in a good quality blow dryer is one of the most important tools, especially if you have extra thick, frizzy hair. Investing in an "above average" blow dryer will help speed up your blow dry time, and smooth your hair which is totally worth it!

Babyliss Pro ($139) 
This is an awesome deal because it comes with the 1" flat iron too! The babyliss blow drier helps with static and closes the cuticle for smooth, shiny results. It also has 6 heat/speed settings! This is for sure the best deal I've found for an inexpensive, yet good quality blow dryer.

 

T3 Featherweight Luxe 2i ($250)
Next up is the beautiful T3 blow dryer! T3 is getting a lot of hype on social media..I mean who wouldn't want this gorgeous white, rose gold blow drier?! They claim its "healthier than air drying" But what is so great about this dryer other than its beauty?  The combination of T3 Tourmaline® SoftAire™ technology, (responsible for quick, healthy drying,) and an ion generator for its frizz-reducing, gloss-boosting power, results in the quick, frizz free blowouts. 

 

Dyson Supersonic ($399)
And...the Dyson! Did you know it took engineers over 4 years to make this dryer? $399 is not cheap for a blow dryer, but heres why its so worth it...This blow dyer has intelligent heat control technology, which helps prevent heat damage. The temperature is measured 20 times a second and transmits this data to the microprocessor, which intelligently controls the patented compact heating element from reaching extreme, hair damaging temperatures. The powerful tool moves over 13 liters of air every second. Combined with Dyson’s patented Air Multiplier™ technology, air is amplified threefold, creating a high pressure, focused jet of air for controlled, precise, drying and styling. The digital motor V9 is on average six times faster, a third of the weight, and half the size of other hair dryer motors. Due to its compact size, Dyson was able to put the motor in the handle, making the dryer feel balanced in your hands. 

So...in my opinion, I would say its totally worth the investment if you have hair thats hard to manage, or extra damaged...but if you have fine, thinner strands, I would go with the less expensive option.

Flat Irons:

GHD 1" ($119)
How cute is this periwinkle flat iron?! My favorite thing about it is that it has a built in "sleep mode" that turns the iron off on 30 minutes if not used. I'm always guilty of leaving my flat iron on! It has rounded edges, perfect for flat iron curls and always leaves my hair smooth and shiny! It's now 40% off for a limited time! 

T3 Single Pass Lux ($180)
The T3 flat iron has digital "single pass" technology, delivering consistent heat without overexposure..all in one single pass! The ceramic plates give shine and smoothness, and it has a heat setting from 260°F – 410°F! 

 

Unite Pro Systems Flat Iron ($250)
I LOVE my Unite flat iron! It's my favorite for flat iron curls. This is what we use all day at Blonde Faith and it creates smooth, long lasting curls! 

 

 

Curling Irons: 
These are honestly the best 2 curling irons I've used, so I'm just keeping this list to 2 instead of 3 :) 
Bioionic Curling Iron 1" ($130)
I love my Bioionic curling iron! It has Bioceramic heaters for longer lasting curls and waves. I feel like it keeps my hair shiny without damage, and has different heat settings, plus a 1 hour automatic shut off! (P.S. I found this curling iron on overstock for $99)  Click the photo for the overstock link. When buying this iron make sure it always comes with the long clip. 

 

T3 Twirl Convertable 1.25" ($180)
The best thing about this curling iron is that it has interchangeable barrels sold for $85 each... so if you like to play around with different curls this is your best option! It comes with 5 different heat settings and an auto shut off. I personally use the T3 1.25" and never really feel the need to switch out the barrels. But you can buy the wand, clipless barrels in 1'-1.5", as well as different sized clip barrels. 

 

Wands:

1" Hot Tools Flipperless Curling Wand ($40)
Hot tools always makes affordable, easy to use products that seem to last for years. 



BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Conicurl Iron ($50)
Babyliss is another great quality, yet inexpensive tool brand. The Nano titanium plates keep your hair smooth and shiny! 

 


T3 Whirl Converteble ($185)
And...of course! The T3 wand. T3 is an amazing high quality brand, that delivers beautiful results. I added this one because although the price is much higher than the other 2 irons, you are able to interchange the barrels for different size curls. You can buy the whirl trio (4 barrels for $270)

Water Filters: 
 

I know this technically isn't a hot tool...but I wanted to add this one in just for fun :) 

The T3 Source In-Line ($70)
T3 helps with Hair Health and Beauty Benefits
(when compared to using tap water):
49% Reduction in frizz
22% Increase in body
36% Increase in comb-ability
31% Increase in shine

Rain Drop Luxe by 901 Salon ($120)
Distributed from my favorite salon in Cali, 901, Raindrops™ purifies the water in a 6 step filtration process leaving you with nothing but fresh hair and skin as if you had showered in the rain!  

 

 

 

 

So...obviously I'm a big fan of the T3 brand. I also love Bioionic, GHD, and Babyliss. I feel like these are all great quality tools and I've personally used them all in my salon. I hope this helps your styling questions! :) 

 

 

 

 

 

Why I get Botox in my 20's

When I turned 25, I went through somewhat of a "quarter life crisis." It was the first Birthday I wasn't super excited about and it was the first time I felt like I was "getting older." After I turned 25 I not only changed and matured a lot as a woman, I also changed a lot about my skin care and beauty routine. This is when I regularly started seeing an esthetician for facials, getting peels, taking multivitamins, using sunscreen daily, stopped using tanning beds (which I should have done a long time ago I know) started using quality skincare products...and it was also the first time I got Botox

Some of you might read this and think getting botox at the age of 25 is crazy...but is it really? While I don't have profound wrinkle lines, I did have very defined lines when I would raise my eyebrows, or squint my eyes. But thats not the only reason I did it. My amazing P-A Dana Kirk and I like to think of it as, Preventative Botox- injecting botox into areas before wrinkles form. This means, when I'm 30,40,50, and 60 I won't be needing more invasive procedures...because I already got a head start. Yay me! Therefore, by starting earlier I can prevent it from ever happening in the first place. 

Since we brought on Dana to Blonde Faith Salon, I have been receiving lots of questions from clients (between the ages of 22-60+) about botox. So, I did some research and decided to partner up with the amazing Dana Kirk, to answer all of those questions you guys have! 

My First Procedure
I was SO nervous. My hands were sweaty, my heart was beating out of my chest, I kept wondering  if anyone would notice? Would it hurt? What if it looked bad? Can I undo it? Will I look frozen?What are the side effects? Will I keep having to get it done?

Dana made me feel calm, relaxed, and confident with her warm and soothing personality. She analyzed my face, and kept a conservative approach in mind as she does with most clients. The first thing she noticed was my "angry 11's" (or resting bitch face) and the second was my defined lines on my forehead when I would raise my eyebrows. We did a small amount of injections the first time I had it done, about 4 in-between my eyebrows and 6 in my forehead. This would cost about $10 a unit, so $100. 

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Did it hurt?- After the first injection, I was like...oh that was it!? It didn't hurt nearly as bad as I was expecting. It felt like a small pinch, or an ant bite. My forehead didn't hurt much at all, in-between my eyebrows hurt a little more, but it wasn't unbearable. Now after having it done several times, it doesn't hurt at all, I actually look forward to it :) The weirdest thing to me is feeling/hearing a slight "crunch" when she injects my upper forehead area, since my skin is thiner there, but it doesn't hurt. Sometimes I have slight bruising around my temple area, but it's nothing I can't cover up with makeup. 

Did anyone notice? No one would have ever known that I had Botox. Although...my skin looks smooth and clear, my resting bitch face is no longer a problem, and my eyebrows now have that perfect arch. I wouldn't say anyone noticed my actual botox procedure, you just look and feel better after! 

Is it something I have to keep up with? Since my first time getting Botox about 7 months ago, I've had it done about 4-5 times, the first coupe times we added a little more than I did previously...but still not going overboard. Now I just get touch ups. I normally do my forehead, above my brows, in-between my eyebrows and I recently started doing Botox in my upper lip. (More on this later) 

I have probably gotten Botox done more than most people would need to at my age, but that's only because I have access to Mrs. Dana everyday... As a typical client in your mid twenties, you could plan on seeing Dana every 3-4 months for touch ups. 

What is the cost? Minimal injections like mine start at $80 and go up to $200, this would be about 8-20 units. This is for a very conservative approach usually for younger clients just starting. *Botox is not one of those things you should try to find a good deal for*

Will I notice immediately? No. However, Dana says, the younger the skin the quicker you'll notice it kicking in. But It usually takes anywhere from 2 days to a week to notice. 

Everything I love about Botox:

It made it almost impossible for me to scrunch up my forehead/brows - therefore preventing the wrinkles from forming, and also helping me not to frown so much! 

It helped with my headaches and migraines!- I used to get headaches almost daily. Now, I get a headache maybe twice a month, if that. 

My Skin looks clear, smooth and shiny. 

My eyebrows have more of an arch and look more lifted

Recently my favorite is botox in my upper lip. 
-I always hated that when I smiled my upper lip curled under instead of out. I had always thought about doing subtle lip injections, or fillers to get a little bit of an extra plump...but I was nervous. Dana suggested we start with a little bit of botox in my upper lip to help raise it! It was a great start for me, and I loved it. I noticed a difference, but it definitely left me wanting more. The upper lip hurt more than any other injection, but was still bearable. After trying botox in my lips, I was ready to try lip fillers! I wanted it to still look natural, and not too noticeable. So there I was, giving it a try! This was MUCH more painful than anything else we've done. But...150% worth it. I'm literally obsessed. My lips look slightly fuller, and that upper lip under curl is gone!

My Lip filler before and after!

My Lip filler before and after!

While I'm not advocating anyone to start getting botox when they're "too young", it is definitely something I am glad I started doing. As long as you are going to the right PA, and staying conservative with your injections. I don't see any harm in starting Botox in your mid twenties! 

 

 

Everything you've wondered about getting tape in Extensions

I just recently got Hair Talk tape in extensions and I'm seriously obsessed. Not only does my hair look longer, thicker and healthier, but I feel so much better about myself, and my hair! One thing I was nervous about was feeling them in my hair, and I was so surprised that as soon as they were in, I did't even notice them! I can wear my hair up, half up, in a pony tail, braided, and pretty much anything I could do before. If you've been considering getting extensions I would highly recommend tape ins! 

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These are the top questions I get about extensions answered for you guys: 

How long do they last?
 8 to 10 weeks depending on hair growth. This is recommended to eliminate matting, frizzing and tangling, and ensures the extension is always fresh and close to the scalp. The hair itself should last between 6-12 months depending on how often you are re-taping and how well you take care of them.

How much do they cost?
Most clients need between 3-5 packs of hair. Pricing varies by length, tape, amount and type of extensions purchased. Anywhere from $450-1000. The initial application is $200-300, and for the removal/re-tape appointments it is $250. These prices include a cut. You need your extensions re-taped between 6-10 weeks depending on your hair growth, and hair color routine. 

Are they damaging? 
Hairtalk uses non damaging, hypoallergenic adhesive bands. I personally think the tape ins are the least damaging type of extensions you can do. I have also been using less heat on my hair, because the extension hair is so easy to style and lasts a few days! I usually just blow dry my hair on the first day, braid it, and it looks good for a few days! I just add a few curls to the ends every now and then. But I've defintly been using less heat than I did before extensions so I feel like that itself is helping my natural hair become healthier! 

Where does the hair come from? 
Hairtalk extensions are 100% human hair, meaning the cuticle is intact and the hair is placed with the cuticle all facing the same directions. This benefits no matting or tangling. You can also blow dry, flat iron, and curl the hair just like your normal hair! You just want to avoid heat where the tape is placed. 

What kind of products can be used on the hair?
Heavy conditioners are not recommended to be applied near the scale, or adhesive bands. Make sure to focus on the mid shaft and ends of the hair only. Rinse longer than usual, in sections to ensure there is no product left near the scalp. Avoid products containing alcohol, oil or ethanol.  

Can you color your hair with extensions?
our extensions need to be removed before applying color to them. So normal hair appointments are between 6-8 weeks, the extensions need to be taken out at this time, the color needs to be applied and then the extensions can be put back in! The extensions normally take about 30-45 minutes to apply and about 15 minutes to remove. So really you just need to add about an extra hour to your normal color appointment!

How are they removed? 
The extensions are removed by applying a solvent to the tape, and pulling it apart. Its super quick, painless and easy. 

Can I still exercise? 
Hair tangles when dirt and sweat build up so hair must be worn up or in a ponytail when exercising or relaxing in a sauna. Be sure to wash hair after working out, as well as brushing before and after exercising.

Can they fall out? 
It is normal to loose an extension if you get conditioner on your scalp, or if it's close to the time of your re-taping appointment. I've only lost one while brushing my hair, after getting conditioner on the tape in the shower :( oops! But no, they won't just fall out while walking down the street or going about a daily routine. 

The lengths vary from:
10 -12
 14-16”
18-20”
22-24” 

^^^^Check on MY before and after!!^^^^

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER! 
-Do not go to bed with wet hair or let the extensions dry naturally. You want to make sure to at least get the tape dry
-Do not get conditioner on the tape, only put conditioner on the ends of your hair
-Avoid direct heat on the tape
-Avoid products with alcohol and sulfates
-Braid your hair at night to avoid matting and tangling
-Do not wash your hair for 48 hours after the extensions are applied 

Hairtalk also partners with "Friends are by your side" For every purchase you make they donate a portion to women who are battling cancer. 

If you have any more questions feel free to reach out to me at ally_feezel@outlook.com to set up a complimentary consultation.

How I help my clients get longevity between color appointments

Gone are the days where blondes are getting their highlights touched up every 4-6 weeks. Most of my clients are looking to stretch their color appointments out as far as possible! I have clients that can go every ten, twelve to fourteen weeks between visits, I even have some that only come two-three times a year! It's such a great feeling when my clients come sit in my chair after several months of seeing me, and they say, "I really didn't even feel like my color was growing out, it blended so nicely that I didn't even notice my roots growing out!" Sometimes we're even both in agreement that they probably could have stretched their appointment out even a few more weeks! But hey, who doesn't love a visit to the hair salon! ;) 

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Ever since attending my first class with Nine Zero One salon, and then my second bootcamp class with them at their LA location this year, I've had a couple new tricks up my sleeve in order to prolong my clients appointments even further! If you guys haven't heard of these celebrity stylists at Nine Zero One, you need to check them out on insta! @riawnacapri @nikkilee901 @morganparks901 @tauni901, these girlies are seriously AMAZING and I am so lucky to have learned from them for 4 whole days in LA!! 

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So...let me tell y'all how its done!

This technique basically incorporates strategically placed baby lights, then after the foils are taken out a "smudging" technique is done just at the root. This root smudge is done with a glaze, and basically softens the highlight lines you get from traditional highlights placed all the way to the root.

The glaze varies in tones, and colors and can be just slightly darker than your blonde, or as dark as your natural color! Of course, the closer the smudged root is to your natural color, the more longevity you will have between appointments. This rooty look is also great because is keeps all that blonde around your face and ends of your hair and just adds more depth at the root.

Check out this clients hair below! Her color was done in April 2016, this photo was taken 4 months AFTER her color was done and it still looks like it was done yesterday! I haven't seen her since April for her color, and she still says it looks effortless, 8 months later! 

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Here are a few more examples! Be sure to follow me on instrgram and my blog for a special surprise about how I create these awesome curls seen below... coming soon! 

 

 

The best tips for growing out your hair

1. Cut it every 3 months, not every 6 weeks.
If your trying to grow out your hair, my opinion is to just let it grow! You don't want to be getting trims every 6-8 weeks, unless you know your stylist is only cutting off no more than a half inch. Your hair grows about a half inch a month, so if you are getting about a half inch cut off every 6 weeks, you're hair is most likely going to stay at the same length. Instead, I recommend getting a small trim about every 10-12 weeks. If your hair is very fine, have your stylist do a dry cut at 8-10 weeks so you don't end up with stringy ends that need a major trim after 12 weeks. 

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2. Try to go longer in between color appointments
This rule mainly goes for highlights. Instead of getting highlights every 6 weeks, try to stretch it out longer if you can that way you're giving your hair some room to grow before coloring it again. Make sure your stylist is ONLY applying the lightener to the outgrowth, not the ends of your hair. 

3. Lay off the heat
As we all know, heat damages the hair. Try to go natural more often, or if thats not an option try to only use heat on your hair once or twice a week. I have naturally curly and frizzy hair that i NEVER wear natural...so I have to use heat! My typical routine for using the least amount of heat possible is:

Monday Night: Wash Hair before bed and use heat to blowdry straight, don't curl or flat iron until the morning
Tuesday-Add curls or flat iron and wear my hair down. Wednesday-Wear hair half up avoiding heat on the top of my head, only curling the bottom half
Thursday- Wear my hair in a cute updo, and then wash hair and repeat Monday's routine
Friday- Wear my hair straight or curled, down! 
Saturday-I either wear my hair straight or curled down/half up
Sunday-Messy Bun/Deep Conditioning Treatment! 

4. Invest in good products
If you haven't noticed from all of my other posts, products are essential to healthy hair. Use shampoo and conditioner for damaged hair and use a leave in conditioner, deep condition, heat protectant every day. My current favorite is the UNITE 7 Seconds line!

  • The 7SECONDS shampoo and conditioner gives your hair moisture, and shine while protecting it from UV rays and heat damage! The 7SECONDS Masque adds intense moisture, protects and strengthens and restores elasticity

  • They also have a leave in conditioner called 7SECONDS Detangler that is good for tangles, repairs, strengthens and protects the hair from heat.

  • Their newest heat protectant, 7SECONDS glossing spray gives your hair shine and protects it from heat as well

The entire line is amazing for damaged, color treated hair to help restore, add shine, and moisture while protecting it from heat! You will for sure #fallinlovein7seconds

5. Take hair vitamins
I recently started taking SugarBearHair Vitamins and am definitely seeing a difference! I was surprised that my hair actually seems stronger, longer, thicker and healthier in less than a month of taking them! I'm obsessed with the results and it doesn't hurt that they taste like candy! They have lots of essential and effective ingredients in them that include Vitamins A,C,E,B-6,B-12,B-5 Biotin, Folic Acid, and Coconut Oil. Pretty much all the essential ingredients you need for healthy, stronger, longer hair! Click here to view a description of these vitamins and to learn how they help your hair grow.