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

What is an Undercut Hairstyle? Should you Get One?

Since 2015, one trend the beauty world hasn’t stopped talking about is the undercut – and that’s the case for both men and women. No matter how you go about it, the basic foundation involves cutting short – sometimes even shaving – the bottom, from the temples to above the nape, and allowing the top to have some volume.

It may be a difficult look to pull off, however. On one hand, it could blend equal parts punk with elegance, giving you something that’s easy to style yet distinctive in the process. On the other, it approaches half-shaven Skrillex territory. Here’s what you need to know.

For Women

One of the must-try trends of 2016 so far, an undercut typically starts with short to cleanly shaven temples. On top, however, the hair is kept longer and thicker, but length varies. On one end, an undercut can be a start to a Mohawk-inspired look – think Miley Cyrus’ current ‘do – or there can be more disparity in length from the sides to the top – in this case, Ruby Rose’s look is the best celebrity representation, even down to a detailed shaved area.

However, for the practical woman, this cut easily materializes as a mid-length bob with layers on top and a far shorter length toward the bottom.

For Men

Menswear publications tell us the undercut is old news – but that doesn’t mean it still isn’t sought after. Rather, a trend that started on the red carpet with everyone from Brad Pitt to rapper Macklemore can now be found on the average, everyday guy.

While a men’s undercut follows the same framework, the overall look is less edgy and more practical. The top can have varying levels of thickness – an extra inch to a full pompadour – but the shorter sides essentially keep him cool in the warmer weather without compromising his style.

Interested in trying an undercut? Look online for inspiration, and then, have the staff at The Beauty Bar cut it to your specifications.

4 Tips for Fixing a Bad Layered Haircut

Bad haircuts are one of life’s major beauty disappointments. Once you see the result in the salon’s mirror, you feel defeated, to say the least, and you wonder just how the stylist thought this was even a good idea.

Layer cuts, unfortunately, are extremely easy to mess up. On one hand, you could get something with extra volume that flatteringly frames your face. On the other, a truly dreadful layer cut has missing ends or blunt edges, looks mangled, ends up with a “helmet” effect, has too much space between layers, or looks extremely 1990s.

So, at this point, what can you do? Depending upon the damage done, think about these strategies:

Get It Trimmed by Another Stylist

Have another stylist you trust trim it, so that it’s overall softer and shorter. A trim, to improve the cut, should make the layers closer, balance them out, and blend them more. This helps get rid of the unintentionally piece-y effect.

Or, as your hair grows out and you’re wanting more of an even length, have a stylist trim only the bottom layers. Over time, this evens everything out.

Grow It Out and Style It

Speaking of growing it out, you’ll have to wait in the meantime, but can style it to obscure the poorly cut layers. Depending upon your hair’s length and texture, consider:

Disguising the layers with waves
Parting it to the side
Giving it more texture, such as with a texturing cream, mousse, or sea salt spray

Add Volume

Bigger can be better, especially if the cut you got ended up looking flat. If the ends are closer together, add mousse to improve its overall volume, which can temporarily camouflage the layers.

Straighten It

Layering can, as mentioned above, look extremely ‘90s. Think of The Rachel cut from <em>Friends</em> as the paradigm example. But, much of this effect, in fact, comes from curling in the ends. So, to reduce the dated look, straighten everything, so that it seems intentionally piece-y.

Are you looking to change an unflattering layered haircut? Schedule an appointment with our team of experts for a trim or a complete do-over.

Are You Making These Makeup Mistakes?

With so many products to choose from and so much conflicting advice, it can be hard to choose the right makeup. Something that looks great on someone else might not work with your features and skin tone. You could be choosing the wrong makeup colors or applying products incorrectly. Here are some tips to help you select the right products and get the best look possible.

Foundation

One of the most common mistakes is wearing the wrong shade of foundation. You can tell that you are using the wrong foundation if you can see a line between your face and neck or your face looks a different color than the rest of your body. When you are choosing a foundation, put some on your jaw line and look at yourself in a mirror with natural light. You will probably need one shade of foundation for fall and winter and another for spring and summer, when you may have a tan. Blend your foundation well.

Eye Shadow

You should choose your eye shadow color based on the color of your eyes. You should choose a color that is the opposite of your eye color, not the same. If you have blue eyes, you can wear copper, bronze, plum, or terra cotta. If you have brown or hazel eyes, good eye shadow choices are blue, purple, and green.

Blush

Blush should not be noticeable. Using too much rouge can create a clownish look instead of a healthy glow. To apply blush, smile and lightly sweep some on the apples of your cheeks. Blend the blush outward toward your temples so you do not wind up with harsh blush lines that could make you look older.

Lip Color

If you wear lip liner, blend it in well. Choose a lip liner that is just one shade lighter or darker than your natural lip color. You can also use a clear lip liner to provide definition and make your lipstick stay in place. Only apply lip gloss on the center of your lips to avoid a slick and sticky effect.

Other Makeup Tips

If you want to hide bags under your eyes, you should not use a concealer that is lighter than your foundation because it can make the skin under your eyes appear to glow. Use a peach-toned concealer to cover dark circles or try a liquid concealer with light-reflecting particles that is the same color as your natural skin tone.

If you still have dark circles even after putting on concealer, your eyeliner could be the problem. A reddish-brown eyeliner can make your eyes look red and can make you look tired or sick. If you don’t want to wear black eyeliner, you can try gray, navy, or eggplant.

Don’t overdo your makeup. Choose one feature to highlight and make the rest of your makeup more subtle. This will create a balanced look.

Where to Get Your Makeup Done for a Special Event

If you need help choosing and applying makeup for a special occasion like a wedding, come to The Beauty Bar. We can help you select the right colors and products to create the perfect look for your event and give you tips on how to do your own makeup at home. Schedule an appointment today.

How to Get Salon-Quality Hair at Home

When you leave the salon, your hair looks great and feels soft and smooth. When you wash and style your hair yourself at home, however, the results might be less than stellar. This could be due to the products you are using and the way you are using them. Here are some tips to help you get a salon-quality look at home.

How to Wash and Condition Your Hair

The first step is to wash your hair correctly. You need to scrub and rinse well to remove impurities from your hair. You should use a clarifying shampoo from time to time to remove residue that has built up from the products you use to style your hair.

You also need to use conditioner. This will make your hair smooth and moisturized and will keep your scalp healthy. If you find that conditioner causes residue to build up on your hair, it is because you are not rinsing well enough or you are using the wrong type of conditioner for your hair type.

Use the Right Styling Products for the Best Results

You need to use the right products to get your hair to look and feel like it does when you leave the salon. The exact products you choose will depend on your hair type, its condition, and your budget. Some products that are generally helpful are hair oil, frizz reducing/smoothing serum, and blow-dry spray.

Hair oil can hydrate and soften your hair, prevent tangles, and make it smooth and manageable. Put it on your hair after you towel-dry and before you comb it. Apply hair oil close to the ends of your hair. Use it very sparingly from the mid shaft upward to avoid winding up with greasy roots.

A smoothing serum can help even if your hair is not very frizzy. It can make your blowout smoother so you look like you just stepped out of a salon. Apply smoothing serum after you have combed your hair. You will only need a little. You might want to let your hair air-dry a little first so the serum does not thin out from the water in your hair. Rub the serum between the palms of your hands and work it through your hair with your fingertips, then comb your hair to distribute it evenly.

After you have put smoothing serum in your hair, spray it with a small amount of blow-dry spray. Focus on the ends and comb it through your hair to distribute it evenly. The spray will give your hair moisture and shine and will make it feel softer.

When you blow-dry your hair, you will get better results if you use the right tools. You will need a quality ceramic round brush or vent brush and a professional quality hair dryer. You will see a noticeable difference in results if you use these products.

Make an Appointment for a Haircut

Getting salon-quality hair starts with the right haircut and style. If you are due for a trim or want to change your look, make an appointment at The Beauty Bar. We can create the style you want and help you choose the right products so you can maintain your look every day.

How to Keep Your Eye Makeup from Smudging

Humidity, sweat, oil, and tears can make your eye makeup run and smudge. This is a frustrating everyday problem that can be solved by making some simple changes to the way you apply your makeup. Follow these tips to help your makeup stay smudge-free all day long.

How to Avoid Smudged Eye Shadow

Before you put makeup on your eyelids, make sure they are clean. This will prevent oil from causing your makeup to smudge. When you wash your face in the morning, pay attention to your eyelids and wash off any oil that accumulated overnight.

After you have cleaned your eyelids, you need to prepare your skin before you put on eye shadow. Apply a primer that is made to be used on the eyes. This will help your makeup stay in place. If your makeup tends to smudge because of your eye shape or oil, use waterproof and long-wearing eye shadow.

After you have put on your makeup, set it. If you use a creamy product or pencil, use a setting eye shadow powder. If you use only powder, set it with blotting powder. You can put on more eye shadow or liner after if you want.

How to Stop Your Eyeliner from Smudging

You can keep your eyeliner from smudging by choosing the right product. Use a liquid or cake liner that will last a long time. If you prefer to use an eyeliner pencil, draw a line and then apply eye shadow in a similar color on top of it. This should prevent smearing. If you want to be sure your eyeliner won’t smudge, you can put on a clear makeup sealer to protect your makeup from water and humidity.

Always carry some eye makeup remover wipes or swabs with you to clean up any smudged makeup. You should also carry extra eye makeup for touchups during the day.

Makeup for Special Events

If you would like to have your makeup done by a professional for a wedding, a party, or another special event, make an appointment at The Beauty Bar. One of our trained estheticians will help you choose the best look for your features and can give you tips on how to do your own makeup at home. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.