Are you ready for another sweatastic summer? I never am, but at least I’m getting a jumpstart by getting some much-needed laser hair removal. If you’re thinking about giving it a go too, here’s what you need to know.
1. Yes, it works. A lot of women (and men, too) don’t want to take the plunge because of a fear it won’t work. Here’s what to keep in mind: it is hair reduction. Not complete removal. Because of the growth cycle of hair, a simple hormone fluctuation (like, let’s say, pregnancy) can easily bring in a new wave of hair follicles that weren’t targeted by the laser. I’ve had my legs done and shave maybe once a week at most and am currently going in for underarm treatments. Thus far, I’ve only had two treatments and am already noticing a difference in how often my hair grows back.
2. Sure, it hurts. A little. It’s like a pinch, or a sting. But no, it’s not any worse than waxing or nicking your knee with your razor blade every time you shave.
3. Research, research, research! Please ladies, do not fall prey to just any laser hair removal Groupon; did you know that in the state of Arizona laser technicians can be certified in just two weeks?! That’s scary stuff! That’s one of the reasons I was so impressed with Dr. Tattoff Laser & Skin when they invited me in for some treatments; their technicians are all Registered Nurses, it’s not just anyone wielding a laser at my skin.
4. Stay out of the sun! You shouldn’t be soaking up the sun anyway, it’s horrible for your skin. But if you’re planning on lasering your legs right before you set off to Miami for a bikini-clad beach vacation, just don’t do it. Do another area of the body that won’t be exposed to the sun or wait until fall/winter instead.
By the way, the nice people at Dr. Tattoff are offering an exclusive deal for StyleSizzle readers! Just mention you heard about them on StyleSizzle and with any laser hair removal package, you can buy one and get one FREE. It’s a fabulous deal!
Have you tried laser hair removal? Were you happy with the results?
New York Fashion Week is in full swing! And besides the fashion, there are plenty of hairstyles to lust after, like this Regal Fishtail Braid seen on the models at Christian Siriano’s Fall/Winter 2013 presentation. Aveda’s Global Creative Director, Antoinette Beenders, came up with the looks. Here is what she has to say:
“This collection is inspired by the golden age of Russian Opera and Saint Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre. The clothing is rich and opulent so we designed a sophisticated, feminine look to properly complement it. From the front, the look has a lovely roundness. The braids at the back evoke refinement and glamour, reminiscent of a Russian Girl dressed for an evening at the opera.”
Although it was shown on the fall runways, braids are virtually seasonless and would look great incorporated into your spring or summer looks. If you’d like to give it a try, here’s a quick hairstyle tutorial so you can get the Regal Fishtail Braid by Aveda seen at Christian Siriano’s show.
Make an inverted fishtail braid on each side of the head. Start at the crown and work your way to the back of the ear. Secure the end of each braid with an elastic band.
Fold the braids over one another across the back of the head, just above the nape so that they crisscross. Secure with bobby pins and tuck loose ends underneath. Finish with hairspray!
Do you have any favorite hair looks from New York Fashion week yet?
Stay tuned for more hair and beauty tutorials inspired by the trends seen at New York Fashion Week!
You’re invited! This Thursday, January 17 is the official Grand Re-opening of Rolfs Salon at Gainey Village in Scottsdale, and I hope to see you all there!
As many of you know, Rolfs Salon is responsible for the ultra-glamorous looks seen on myself and my bridal party on my wedding day. (You can watch the Behind the Veil wedding video series here.) The salon recently underwent quite the luxurious makeover which should absolutely be celebrated! If you haven’t had a chance to stop by the salon, here’s a sneak peek at their gorgeous interior.
Gorgeous, don’t ya think?
That last photo is of their new bridal suite, the ultimate luxury suite for brides and their bridal party. Plush purple seats, beautiful lighting and (most importantly) a private space for you to relax and enjoy the day with your bridesmaids on your wedding day is all a gal really needs. That and the hands of the super-talented team at Rolfs Salon!
Will you be going to the Rolfs Salon Grand Re-Opening Party?
Everyone wants to know the secret to the perfect salon blowout. Is it in the product? What about the hairbrush? Or is it merely practice and technique? Fashion and makeup I can handle but when it comes to blowdrying my hair, I have no patience. And just like everyone, I wish I could recreate the unbelievably bouncy and shiny tresses I get at the salon with a great at-home blowout.
So I was super excited to meet with Alli Webb the creator of Drybar, the national chain of blowout-only salons, when on assignment for Latest Hairstyles. We chatted about how to recreate one of their most popular styles, The Cosmo-Tai (you can find the tutorial at Latest Hairstyles, here) and secrets for how we can get the perfect blowout at home!
Q: How can I make my blowout last for days?
WEBB: First and foremost, I always tell people to start with really clean hair. It’s something that’s really important because a good blowout won’t last on hair that’s dirty. So use a really good cleansing shampoo and conditioner and make sure your hair is residue and product-free.
Q: Speaking of products, do you have any specific recommendations?
WEBB: We have a great “blowout” shampoo that’s coming out, so funny you should ask! Just make you’re sure using a great shampoo, like a clarifying shampoo. Sometimes it scares people that it will strip their hair color but to use a few times a week isn’t going to hurt. It’s an important tip because if you really want your blowout to last 3-4 days, it needs to be really clean.
Q: Let hair air dry a little or dry right away? Which is best?
WEBB: At Drybar, one of our philosophies is we don’t rough dry the hair very much because you get the best result from hair when you’re drying it from wet. Not dripping, but wet so you can really manipulate the hair to do what you want it to do versus the hair starts to dry and take on its own curl formation. People at home tend to want to get through their blowouts faster which is another thing I always tell people: plan on spending 45 minutes to dry your hair. Most people want to get through their blowout in 20 minutes at home and it just takes longer!
Q: I’m one of those people. There really are no ways to trim blow dry time?
WEBB: If you’re at home and you’re pressed for time it’s not bad to let it air dry a little bit, rough dry it maybe 30%. I really wouldn’t go over that because you want to maintain control of what you’re doing to the hair because once hair starts to dry, it’s really hard to change the way it’s drying.
Q: What kind of tips do you have for technique?
WEBB: Make sure when you are blow drying your hair you are working in really thin sections. You’re not overwhelming yourself by putting too much hair into the brush at once. Work in 1- to 2-inch sections and make sure they’re completely dry before moving on to the next section. If you’re getting your blowout done in half the time, guaranteed there’s frizz in it. Even 99% dry isn’t enough, it needs to be 100% dry.
{Hangin’ with Alli Webb, post Drybar blowout}
I, for one, am absolutely guilty of rough drying my hair in my impatience. But since this interview, I’ve been trying my hand at a little bit a patience and can see a difference. Maybe one day, practice really will make perfect!
Have you tried any of these tricks for blow drying your hair at home? Or maybe you already are a blowout pro? Share your secrets below!
When I travel, I’m not one to take all my liquids and spend the time pouring them into tiny tubes. Instead, I’ll either buy something already packaged small or bring my life-size bottles with me. But the Lather About Face Kit takes all the trouble out of packing for a honeymoon for me. The kit comes with some of my favorite Lather products like:
ultra mild face wash 2 oz
citrus balancing toner 2 oz
bamboo silk foaming face scrub 2 oz
ultra light face lotion 1 oz
white clay deep pore cleansing mask 0.5 oz
licorice root eye treatment sample pack
I chose the “combination skin” pack because even though my main concern is combatting oil when on a tropical vacay, the Lather beauty experts say you should treat the way your skin normally is, not the way it is in the new climate. The ultra mild face wash and ultra light face lotion are two of my favorite products since they are (just like their name!) ultra light and non-greasy formulas, perfect for staving off excess oil. And if the humidity does start to become bothersome, it’s nice to have a small white clay deep pore cleansing mask to reset your skin back to normal.
The kit is small enough to fit perfectly inside my new Mini Kittour Jetsetter or, leave in it’s clear zip package so it’s TSA friendly! It would also make a great bridesmaid gift for your gals, especially if you’re having a destination wedding so they can have all of their beauty essentials with them.
What is it with expensive face creams that smell like old lady? I feel like the steeper the price, the more the cream has this floral, perfumey smell that I just can’t stand! Personally, I hate rubbing anything on my face that’s got too intense of a smell. If I want perfume, I’ll wear perfume but I don’t see why something so potent should be on my face. If you’re looking for a non-drugstore night cream that isn’t stinky, give these four a try.
1. La Mer Créme de la Mer
Starting at $150 for just 1 oz ($1,900 for 16 oz.) , I wanted to hate La Mer Créme de La Mer. Really wanted to. But I didn’t. It was soft, not too creamy, non-greasy and very light scented. If you have yet to try the “Miracle Broth” but aren’t sure you want to take the price plunge, I’d recommend stopping by a local Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue for a small sample and giving it a go. Just be forewarned, you may love it. There’s a reason this cream wins the “Best Of” award year after year.
2. VENeffect Anti-Agining Intensive Moisturizer
New to Neiman Marcus (and my beauty stash) is VENeffect, a great line of anti-aging beauty products that “reduces the signs of hormonal aging”. So far, I’ve been using the VENeffect Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF 15 and love the results. It’s also non-greasy and doesn’t leave behind white marks or a horrible sunblock smell. But, we’re talking night creams here and the VENeffect Anti-Aging Intensive Moisturizer makes this list. It’s loaded with peptides and proteins to boost collagen production, reduce fine lines and even out skin tone. It’s $185 a jar but no old lady smell here!
3. Orlane Night Cream Absolute Skin Recovery
I hate to say this but I really expected Orlane beauty products to have that awful, highly floral smell. Especially since a jar of Orlane Paris Repairing Night Cream Absolute Skin Recovery costs $300 a pop. I was wrong, and found myself scraping the bottom of my sample…
4. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair
I know this is a serum and not exactly a night cream, but this one made the list for two reasons: First, the product has received rave reviews from pretty much every beauty magazine and secondly, Estee Lauder products can sometimes be, well, a bit old lady smelling. So if you’re hesitant on pulling the trigger on Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair because of that, know that the scent is light, the serum is light and it’s purported to help repair skin damage.
Have you tried any of these luxury beauty products? What did you think??
I pretty much gave up on ever taking carry on luggage with me when they changed the airline rules to no liquids over 3.5 oz. Of course, this was before I was sent the Mini Kittour Jetsetter, which is the perfect accessory for stashing all of my beauty products for my honeymoon and other long trips. It’s an 18-piece deluxe luxury train case that keeps all your beauty loot organized while looking stylish. Just take a peek at mine!
You’ll see there’s 6 leak-proof bottles (all TSA-approved) that’s perfect for liquids like shampoo, conditioner, lotion, body wash, eye makeup remover and hair product. The compartments hold each individual bottle upright so you don’t have to worry about spills but just in case, the entire case is lined in PVC.
You’ll also find:
2 medium size jars (I’m thinking lotion, sunscreen, lip balms, night cream and powders are great for this)
1 matching quilted passport cover
3 dual-ended professional makeup brushes. A brilliant idea so you can leave your home set….at home!
A self-standing double-sided mirror
4-well pill case
Mini notepad, labels (for your jars) and pen to take notes
Plus, there’s plenty of room for you to throw in makeup and other bath products in here too.
It’s a little big for short trips, but for longer vacays like a honeymoon or a trip to Europe, the Mini Kittour Jetsetter is perfect. They also have a few other collections like “The Daily” and “The Overnight” that are great for shorter trips. I’m excited to test this baby out! As I’m sure it’ll help make organizing my makeup disaster stash much easier.
It’s still too hot for me to be thinking about fall fashion, but that doesn’t mean my nails can’t get a head start. And this fall, it’s all about texture: hello sequins, tweed, velvet and satin! At least that was the inspiration behind the Butter London Fall 2012 collection. They’ve got fun names too, translated below.
Shag: Brit speak for getting laid.
Dodgy Barnett: A bad hairdo. Think: the mullet!
Trustafarian: “A spoiled rich kid who pretends to be a happy but still goes home to the mansion on the weekend.”
Lovely Jubbly: Excellent!
Gobsmacked: When you’re totally speechless.
What do you think of the collection? I have my eye on that Gobsmacked!
Sure, I like to complain about the summer heat, but it’s also one of my favorite times of the year. The snowbirds are gone, returning my favorite restaurants to me once more. Traffic has died down and we can just relax and enjoy the Valley’s slower pace again. And if you’re looking to unwind and have some fun with friends, you’ll have to check out one of my favorite promos of the year, Arizona Spa Girls’ Summer Spaah Series.
We’re talking cocktails, foods, mini spa treatments, beauty gift bags, what more could a girl want?! Oh yes…
These oh-so-lovely pics, by the way, are from Spa Avania, which so happens to be tomorrow night’s event. Tickets start at $110 and include everything I mentioned plus a charity raffle and a gift certificate for you to use toward one full spa treatment at a later date.
If you can’t make it to tomorrow’s soiree, here’s the full lineup of events this summer:
June 15, 2012: Spa Avania at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch
July 13, 2012: Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa at Wigwam Golf Resort, Litchfield Park
July 27, 2012: Arizona Biltmore Spa, Phoenix
August 10, 2012: Agave, The Arizona Spa at Westin Kierland Resort, Scottsdale
August 24, 2012: Amara Spa, Sedona
A percentage of tickets sold will also benefit Fresh Start Women’s Foundation. You can purchase tickets here.
Will you be going to a Summer Spaah Series event? I hope to see you there!
How hot is this? No really, let’s take a good look at the Ciaté Caviar Manicure, coming to Sephora soon.
It’s billed as the first 3D at-home manicure of its kind and it’s coming in fun DIY kits to Sephora in white, black and multicolors soon! Check out the video below which shows you how to do it yourself.
What do you think? Will you give this nail trend a try??
and blowdry straight. Create a center part using a tail comb.
. Really wanted to. But I didn’t. It was soft, not too creamy, non-greasy and very light scented. If you have yet to try the “Miracle Broth” but aren’t sure you want to take the price plunge, I’d recommend stopping by a local Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue for a small sample and giving it a go. Just be forewarned, you may love it. There’s a reason this cream wins the “Best Of” award year after year.
costs $300 a pop. I was wrong, and found myself scraping the bottom of my sample…
because of that, know that the scent is light, the serum is light and it’s purported to help repair skin damage.
>