The Beauty Bar Blog

Category: General

Who’s pulls off the Short Hairstyle?

Every year stars and celebrities captivate the fashion and style world with how they choose to wear their hair. Entire websites are devoted to chronicling the up do’s and donts of the Hollywood and A-list elite and at The Beauty Bar we occasionally like to chime in with what we think is working. It’s always a treat to see a celebrity take that jump and shear their long locks in favor of a short cut that can be punk, avant-garde and chic all at once and be a liberating look for someone who has had to conform for a role or an album.

Miley Cyrus – The former Miss Hannah Montana has broken from the control of daddy Billy Ray and is making no secret that she is her own woman and will do what she pleases. Part of the Miley makeover has been the cutting of her Montana hair that featured long blonde/brunette locks and the occasional curls. Now Miley is rocking a short bleached blonde look that is part Brigitte Nielsen with a dash of Pink. The look is fun but edgy and we think Miley is doing just fine.

Charlize Theron – The actress who has never shied away from a controversial role or confrontation on set has the perfect attitude for a daring short look. With women it’s a stereotype that long hair is more feminine but that thinking makes short hair a deviation from the norm so it will always be considered edgy. With Theron, however, the edge is a place she is quite comfortable with. Theron won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in her role as Aileen Wuornos in Monster (2003) and has always been viewed as an outsider to the status quo so her persona is ideal for a short hair style.

Halle Berry – The X-Men actress known as Storm never has to worry about windy weather. Berry has been sporting variations of short cuts and styles throughout her career and is fearless when it comes to her flexible hair. Called the “Queen of the Pixie”, Berry has used this popular fashion as a foundation for her ventures into spiky looks and several color changes that always keep this beauty fresh and original.

Prepare Skin for Sun Exposure

It’s been a long, drawn out winter and many people are chomping at the bit to get outside and soak up some rays. Whether you have the type of skin that tans easily or need SPF50 and higher to protect against blisters and sun burn, you’ll want to prepare yourself before exposing your skin to the potentially harmful UV rays of the sun.

Much like people who go on vacations to warm tropical places in the middle of winter, you need to gradually prep your skin before simply spending an entire day tanning your body. Your skin has been kept from the sun for a few months now and going out unprotected the first chance you get is asking for trouble.

During the winter the UV rays of the sun are of a lower intensity and don’t affect the skin as powerfully as it does in the summer when the sun is closer to the earth. During the winter months the skin will regain its natural coloration and this makes the skin more sensitive to sunburns during the summer. To prepare your skin for the summer follow some helpful tips that will avoid painful burns and uneven tans.

A good start is to exfoliate your skin about once a week to remove all the dead skin cells from your body. Removing the dead skin will promote healthy skin regeneration and this will ensure a uniform tan. If you don’t exfoliate your skin you could wind up with dark spots and uneven tan lines that look awkward.

After each exfoliation treatment remember to moisturize to prevent dry skin. Moisturizing helps reduce dry skin symptoms and makes it easier for your skin to handle intense UV sunlight. The more you moisturize, the healthier you r skin will get and this is necessary when exposing your skin to the sun.

Don’t lie out for several hours the first time you go tanning. It’s always a good idea to gradually expose your skin to the sun in timed increments that get longer each time you spend time outside. Too much exposure too soon can lead to sunburns that may cause skin cancer and premature aging skin.

Makeup Tips for Pale Skin

Spring starts this week and hopefully the sun will follow. It’s been a harsh winter in New England and many people are itching to get outside and soak up some rays that will give them a healthy looking tan. Of course, there are plenty of women who aren’t so fond of the sun due to their pale skin complexion. Not only is the sun harmful to their skin but instead of tanning, most pale skinned women only end up turning a painful red. If you like to keep out of the sun but still want to glow this summer consider the following tips to avoid looking like a cast member of Twilight.

Tinted Moisturizer – Pale skin beauties need to be careful about exposure to direct sunlight. Too much sun and you run the risk of skin cancer, not enough and you get funny looks. A good idea is to use a tinted moisturizing skin cream for your face that will provide a just the right hint of color for your skin to avoid translucent properties. Look for a tinted moisturizer that also has UAV and UVB protection.

Bright Lipstick – Pale skin does have its benefits. If you enjoy sporting luscious and bright lipstick colors know is your time to shine. Lipstick hues that run the fiery red gamut will bring out the coloring of your skin tone and of course draw attention to your lips. As we’ve said before in other makeup tip posts, turn your negatives to positives and revel in the fact you can get away with bright lipsticks and more exotic looking eyeliners and eye shadows.

Blush it Up – If you have a pale complexion and don’t use blush you may appear washed out and tired. Not exactly the fun look you want for summer. One trick is to always use blush and to find colors that aren’t too deep or dark. Light peach and pink colors work well on pale skin and you can find a whole galaxy of shades in these colors that will suit your personal style.

Tips for Winter Skin Maintenance

It’s no secret that the cold air of winter can dry out skin. Women often dread the winter months due to the uncomfortable and unappealing effects it has on their skin. Another problem is that many of the skin care products that offer treatment for dry skin can cause allergic reactions which leads to itching, red splotches and coarse patches.

At The Beauty Bar we understand how hard it can be to get healthy looking and comfortable skin when the mercury drops so we offer some helpful tips that will allow you to brave the cold and dark days with radiant skin.

The cold temperatures create conditions that lead to dehydrated skin. Nothing will dry your skin faster than a lack of moisture and when the skin barrier, the top layer of skin that protects you from the elements, is dry and flaky it breaks down making it easier chemicals to penetrate and cause damage. Protecting this barrier is essential to keeping your skin hydrated. Though hot showers and baths are very tempting in the dark days of winter the hot water will further dehydrate your skin and dermatologists recommend using lukewarm water to prevent skin from drying out.

It’s also recommended that you use a moisturizing product within three minutes of bathing. Locking in hydration while the skin is still damp is crucial to preventing dry and flaky skin and you should look for moisturizing creams that hold water well. Eucerin, Curel and Aveeno are a few of the more popular moisturizing creams that will help your skin stay healthy in winter.

Lastly, try removing scented items from your beauty kits. Dermatologists say the top cause of allergies in skin care products is fragrance and if you have sensitive skin it is wise to steer clear of fragrance laced creams and moisturizers that can lead to allergic reactions and dry skin. Perfumes are usually synthetic and the chemicals used to create the pleasing fragrances can be damaging to your skin, especially in the cold winter months, so be careful about what you use to treat your skin.

For more tips on how to keep skin healthy and radiant contact the Beauty Bar

Watch for our Work

What snow storm? This week the exceptional hair styling and makeup skills of the Beauty Bar will be featured on two television shows, a wedding trend feature on NBC WVIT Channel 30 in Hartford and on a special segment of TLC that will include Jessica Watcke of Bliss Bridal in Cheshire. We’ve worked with Bliss Bridal on several occasions and are thrilled to have been called on again to beauty up the gals for their show focusing on wedding planning. Our bridal makeup is known throughout New England and the Tri-State area and now we get the chance to show local and national viewers what trends will be seen on brides this year.

On Wednesday, February 13th our makeup specialists will be at the NBC-30 WVIT studio in Hartford for a special segment on new wedding trends. Hair and makeup are crucial to a bride’s wedding day look and we’ll be showing off some of our most creative work to give brides-to-be great ideas for the upcoming weddings.

Then on Valentine’s Day Jessica Watcke from Bliss Bridal in Cheshire will be featured on TLC for a show about new look bridal gowns for 2013. Jessica’s hair and makeup will be done by the Beauty Bar staff and we are proud to say this is the 4th time Bliss Bridal has asked us to prepare them for their TV time. If you’re stuck inside because of the snow make sure to tune in to NBC-30 on the 13th and TLC on the 14th to see what hairstyles and makeup the Beauty Bar is capable of creating.

Airbrush Makeup is great for girls to use when getting Senior Portraits done. No more retouching makeup in-between outfit changes!