The Beauty Bar Blog

Category: Weddings

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.

Wedding Preparation: Eyebrows

At the Beauty Bar we want you to look your absolute best when the day of your wedding arrives so we offer some helpful tips for bridal hair and makeup that will make a big difference. This week we focus on the eyebrows and provide some tips for eyebrow shaping that will create luxuriously groomed arches any bride will die for. Some women have naturally full eyebrows that can be easily shaped by a trained makeup artist but there are many women who lack thickness and for them we offer some tips on shaping that will add depth and fill in any gaps.

When shaping eyebrows it is important to take a long, realistic look at your face. Longing for something that isn’t there won’t help you any so it’s best to accept the face you have and then work on shaping your brows to fit your particular angles and curves. Aligning the front of your brow with the upper bridge of your nose is the first step. Before plucking your eyebrows fill each in with a slanted pencil and use a spoolie brush to get lift and volume. Now that you have full eyebrows to work with you can remove unwanted follicles with a tweezers. Step back from the mirror periodically to get a big picture look at your shaping.

When using a pencil to fill in brows try to avoid sticks that are too waxy since this can lead to dark and heavy brows that may stick and clump. Also be careful about trimming since the more you trim the harsher new brows will grow in and if you notice any hairs that are obviously longer than any others snip those carefully. Aim to have the tops of the brow arches to be at the same point and always comb brows at an upward angle, in the direction of the brow. For outstanding eyebrow shaping prior to your Connecticut wedding, contact the expert stylists at the Beauty Bar in Southington, CT.

Should you Tan for a Winter Wedding?

Every winter bride wants to look her best for the big day and in some cases believe a tan is necessary for the occasion. Before you go scheduling a tanning session or spray tanning appointment keep a few things in mind to prevent a mistake. First off, you want to look great but you also want to look natural. If you don’t have a dark skin complexion it doesn’t really make sense to get a fake tan that will look out of place. Also, the lighting in winter is different than summer and spray tanning can cause your skin to have an orange glow instead of a healthy brown tint. You want to look healthy and natural for the ceremony and photos so give yourself plenty of time to prepare so you get a nice even tan.

Remember that winter dries skin out faster than any other time of year so if you are thinking of tanning you will want to be very careful in your approach to using a tanning booth or spray tanning product. Dry and flaky skin can complicate a tanning process so be sure to exfoliate your skin before tanning to remove and dead skin. When tanning start off slow and work your way up to a natural looking color. Don’t go for broke all at once since that will create an unnatural look that will clash with the white colors of your wedding dress. The same with spray tanning create a base and even it with careful layering that doesn’t overdo it.

Another tip is to start tanning weeks before the wedding. Rushing a tanning job days before the ceremony doesn’t leave you much time to correct any problems that may occur and you certainly don’t want to walk down the aisle hiding a bad tan job. Even if you are going with a spray tan, try it out well in advance so you can see how it looks when in your wedding gown to ensure the look is healthy and natural. For expert bridal makeup and tanning services contact The Beauty Bar.

Tips for Winter Wedding Makeup

As the days grow shorter and you get ready for a winter wedding it’s time to start thinking about ideas for wedding makeup that will help you look your radiant best. Winter presents a challenge for brides since the lighting is different and more blue which means you need to play to your strengths and not fight the tide. Many brides make the mistake of combating the light with bronzing gels and powders which tend to make skin look orange in December and January. If your skin is pale you can use that to your advantage.

Using crisp colors for lips such as red and berry shades as well as soft apricot and coral for blush will create a natural winter glow that will highlight your facial features. You can also bring out the color of your nails by going with bright colors that will contrast nicely with the pale complexion of your skin and the white wedding gown. Finding ways to accentuate your natural skin complexion is much better than fighting it.

Also, during the winter skin dries much easier and you need to use nourishing moisturizers to help exfoliate skin. Your lips are also prone to drying much quicker when can create chapped lips that may show up in wedding photos. Choose a lipstick that not only has the shade you want but also is formulated with moisturizer to keep your lips looking soft and healthy. Be sure to moisturize skin regularly in the weeks leading up to the wedding since the better your skin looks the better the make-up will look. You may also want to have a professional facial done prior to the wedding to keep skin clear and gleaming.

Lastly, be mindful of the skin on your hands. From holding the bouquet, being fitted with the ring and taking your partner’s hand your hands will be on display most of the day and you should keep hand cream nearby to continually moisturize the skin so it looks healthy for all those photographs. For more tips on how to prepare make up for a winter wedding contact the experts at The Beauty Bar.

Ideas for Fall Wedding Hair

If you have an upcoming wedding in October and want to make your bridal hair shine consider some easy tips for creating a fabulous look that will fit in perfect with the season. Connecticut in the autumn is a beautiful time with trees displaying gorgeous yellow, red, orange and brown colors and if you are walking down the aisle at an outdoor wedding try adding red or brown tones to your hair color to match the scenery. Finding the perfect auburn hue that fits your natural hair color will be a chic touch that will shine radiantly in the October sunlight and give your bridal look a natural seasonal shade.

Many early fall weddings take place outside since the weather is still mild. However, wind can still kick up and you don’t want your new hair-do being tussled and ruining photographs. A good option for securing a bridal hairstyle is to use bobby pins that feature fall theme decorations such as leaves and pumpkins in classic fall colors such as gold and orange to accent your hairstyle and continue the fall motif. Not only will these stylish pins look great it will also help keep your fresh hair cut in place so you can concentrate on the wedding.

Another simple but tasteful idea to highlight fall bridal hair is to add a flower. There are plenty of flowers that feature striking fall colors such as red, orange and yellow that will give your hair a beautiful accessory that fits the season and your natural hair color. If you need more ideas for styling your hair for a fall wedding contact the Beauty Bar in Southington and get ready to look your very best.

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