The Beauty Bar Blog: CT Hair Styling, Bridal Makeup & So.Cap Fusion Extensions, CT Hair & Beauty Salon

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.

Jennifer Aniston is Living Proof

Can’t get enough Jennifer Aniston? From her breakout role on “Friends” to dating Brad Pitt and setting trends with her fashionable hairstyles, Aniston has been in the spotlight since the early 90’s and with the announcement today of her co-ownership and product endorsement deal with Living Proof hair care she won’t be fading away anytime soon. Living Proof produces a number of hair care products including Prime Style Extender and Full Thickening Cream and has testimonials from Dr. Oz and QVC. Now, with the signing of Aniston, the brand also has arguably the most recognizable actress in Hollywood.

Living Proof CEO Jill Beraud summed up the Aniston partnership by saying, “Jennifer embodies everything we stand for – a unique combination of beauty and brains. She not only has the most fabulous hair but is an amazing and creative talent, and has shown she is a savvy businesswoman”. Beraud neglected to mention that Aniston invented her own hairstyle “The Rachel” that spawned a cult of imitation cuts based on her portrayal of Rachel Green in the hit TV show “Friends”. The bouncy, square-layered hairstyle was created by stylist Chris McMillan and though Aniston disliked the cut and ditched it after season 2 of the show many women fell in love with it and a recent survey found that the style is the most popular cut among British women.

Now, Aniston sports a more traditional long-haired look and will be lending her locks to a company she believes in. “Over the years my hair has been subjected to everything… blow dryers, flatirons, curling irons, colors, extensions, you name it. After using these products, I felt like I finally discovered a solution that works every day,” Aniston said at the press conference announcing her deal with Living Proof. Whether this era of Aniston’s life is as popular as her “Friends” days remains to be seen but don’t expect The Rachel to return anytime soon.

Lady Gaga goes Brunette for Fame

When you’re Lady Gaga every weekend is a big one. However, this past weekend in London was particularly momentous since it was the launch of her new perfume, Fame, and the chance for her to show off her new brunette look. Those who know the antics of the Gaga monster are used to extreme visual displays that have included platinum hair and being hatched from a giant egg but this weekend the showstopper was a bit more reserved since the event was held at the upscale Harrod’s department store in London.

Thousands of fans turned out for the launch of Fame and were also treated to a new brunette hair color and long flowing style that was positively tame by Gaga’s standards. The new fragrance has been some time in the making and the scent is built around three main accords: dark, sensual and light. Lady Gaga was the first one behind the counter where the perfume went on sale and said she was overwhelmed by the thousands of fans who turned out for the product debut.

According to fragrance expert Coty, Gaga’s Fame is infused with dripping honey, saffron, apricot nectar, Tiger Orchid and jasmine that combine to form a fragrance of floral and fruity elements, much like the pop diva herself. Fame is also available in the United States and starting in January Lady Gaga will be performing live for her North American Born This Way tour.

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.

Demi Lovato Claims Bangs are Back

Those tuned in to the FOX show X Factor have been eagerly awaiting the reviews of new judges Britney Spears and Demi Lovato. The two join experienced vets LA Reid and Simon Cowell on the singing contest panel and while the critiques of the pop divas has been generally favorable Lovato has been drawing attention for a different kind of style… her new hairdo.

Taking to her official Twitter account Lovato announced, “Guess what’s back, back, back, back again… BANGS are back, back, back, tell your friends.” The tweet also featured a link to her new hairstyle that showed off her blonde bangs. Interesting that Lovato chose to paraphrase Eminem’s song “Without Me” since he also sported a blonde look before returning to his natural brown.

Lovato, a 20 year-old singer with three studio albums to her credit, says she enjoys switching up her hairstyle as often as possible to express herself. She told People magazine that she uses her hair to experiment with and that “it’s kind of the only way I really act out anymore, I’m unpredictable and impulsive with my hair color. And if that’s the worst it is for me, then I’m totally OK with that.” Seems her fans are too as many have responded positively to the new look.

Some TV critics were skeptical of Lovato’s ability to judge other singers since she has been accused of relying on Auto Tune to polish her songs and one contestant even called her out on it, but so far she has avoided any controversy and seems to be fitting in well with the irascible Cowell, non-nonsense Reid and ratings hook Spears. Whether Lovato will keep the blonde bangs throughout the mentoring stage of the show remains to be seen but based on her past don’t be surprised to see another hair change before the season is over.