MG Hair and Makeup :: Beautify, Simplify and De-Stress

The Knot's Best of Weddings 2011

2011-01-28T19:23:00.001-05:00

We are very excited and honored to be named as The Knot's Best of Weddings 2011 for hair and makeup in New York, Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul!

"Lights, Camera, Fashion" Sweepstakes by Maggie Sottero

2010-12-19T18:18:00.000-05:00

We can't wait to see who wins the amazing "Lights, Camera, Fashion" sweepstakes by The Knot and Maggie Sottero, Kleinfeld, W Hotels and MG Hair and Makeup!

http://content.theknot.com/sweepstakes/maggie-sottero-dress-giveaway/

The Knot's 30 New Wedding Hairstyles

2010-12-03T07:24:00.001-05:00

See our work on The Knot's 30 New Wedding Hairstyles!

http://weddings.theknot.com/ODB/themes/realweddings/detailview.aspx?STOPREDIRECTING=TRUE&type=3&id=73414&STOPREDIRECTING=TRUE&wedding%20details=hair&pageIndex=1&ODBTHEMENAME=Real-Weddings&MsdVisit=1

The Knot's Virtual Hair Makeover Tool

2010-11-28T11:12:00.000-05:00

The Knot's Virtual Hair Makeover Tool is up online now on The Wedding Channel's website! Upload your photo and try on hairstyles by MG Hair and Makeup!

http://planning.weddingchannel.com/wedding-hairstyle-makeover-tool/makeover/model/41

The Knot Chicago: Top 8 Bridal Beauty Questions--Answered!

2010-11-28T11:09:00.000-05:00

View my answer to the "Top 8 Bridal Beauty Questions--Answered!" for The Knot Chicago:

http://wedding.theknot.com/local-wedding-vendors/chicago-weddings/articles/chicago-hair-makeup-top-8-bridal-beauty-questions.aspx?page=2&MsdVisit=1

The Knot's Ultimate Night of Beauty Dallas: November 17th, 2010

2010-11-28T10:54:00.001-05:00

I had the pleasure of again partnering with The Knot for another amazing event in Dallas on November 17th, 2010. This was their second Ultimate Night of Beauty and over 500 brides and their guests came out to enjoy the event.

I spoke again about how to choose a bridal look that looks like you and also did the models' hair and makeup. We again did mini-makeovers for the brides as well.

Amazing gift bags included products from Make Up For Ever, Alcone, Eve Pearl Beauty, Bliss, Victoria's Secret Beauty, and many more.

http://wedding.theknot.com/local-wedding-vendors/dallas-weddings/articles/dallas-ultimate-night-of-bridal-beauty.aspx?page=1

Photography by Tracy Autem & Lightly Photography

The Knot's Ultimate Night of Beauty Chicago: October 25th, 2010

2010-11-28T10:31:00.002-05:00

I had the honor of speaking at and doing the models' hair and makeup for The Knot's Ultimate Night of Beauty in Chicago last month at the W Chicago City Center.

Amazing gift bags included products from Tarte, Make Up For Ever, Alcone, Eve Pearl Beauty, Bliss, Victoria's Secret Beauty, and many more.

http://wedding.theknot.com/local-wedding-vendors/chicago-weddings/articles/ultimate-night-of-bridal-beauty-w-chicago.aspx?page=1

Photography by White Shutter Photography

Blog Love for the Wedding TrendSpot Fashion Show

2010-10-20T18:48:00.004-04:00

See the pics and read the reviews of the Wedding TrendSpot Fashion Show:

Martha Stewart October 17, 2010

Weddings Unveiled Magazine – Pictures of all dresses

WED The Magazine

RIMA BEAN Photography – Amazing Photos

The Knot Gala Event 10-18-10

2010-10-20T08:18:00.000-04:00

Last night was The Knot's Gala Event for Bridal Market held at The New York Public Library, and I had the pleasure of doing Carley Roney's (CEO and Founder of The Knot) hair and makeup for the event. The first 3 pics were taken by the talented Christian Oth courtesy of The Knot. The other two were taken by me--and again, I am not a professional photographer!

Wedding TrendSpot Fashion Show 10-17-10

2010-10-20T08:13:00.001-04:00

Tricia, Erika, Nicole, Cathy, Carla, Stephanie, Jade, Rehnuma, Asma, and I got the models ready for the Wedding TrendSpot Fashion Show for Bridal Market this past Sunday! More pictures and video to come soon!

The Knot Photo Shoot 08/13/10: 360 Online Hair Tool

2010-09-27T18:14:00.003-04:00

The Knot will soon be debuting its new 360 Online Hair Tool where brides can try on different hairstyles to an uploaded picture of themselves. We were honored to be one of the artists and stylists chosen to participate in this shoot as we did Britney's gorgeous curly hair in different down, half-up, and updo styles.

Here are some of the pictures taken by the amazing talent, Keith Lathrop, and courtesy of The Knot:

Gorgeous August Brides!

2010-09-22T09:53:00.001-04:00

Check out some of our gorgeous August brides!

Here's Felice's slideshow from her amazing photographer, Eric at Be Creative Photography:
http://www.becreativephotography.com/yourpictures/felicematt

And here are some pictures of Jen's wedding from the insanely talented, Mike at Ash Imagery:
http://ashimagery.com/blog/wedding/jen-ron-married-at-the-rittenhouse/

The Knot Photo Shoot for The Today Show Facebook Page

2010-09-09T05:39:00.011-04:00

Yesterday Erika Franco and I worked on the models' hair and makeup for the Today Show's Facebook page where viewers can vote on the bridesmaid dress for the show's wedding giveaway.

Obviously I am not a photographer and you can see the images by visiting The Today Show's page on Facebook, but here are some previews of the gorgeous models.

Check them out at: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39151674/ns/today-today_weddings/

Yes, We are Finally on Facebook!

2010-09-08T05:22:00.000-04:00

Ok, so we finally did it...we are on Facebook!

Search for us "MG Hair and Makeup" under the Pages tab.

We'd love to have you "Like" us!

Carley Roney at The Romantics Premiere

2010-09-08T05:10:00.003-04:00

Last evening I had the pleasure of doing hair and makeup for Carley Roney, CEO and Founder of The Knot, as she walked the red carpet at The Romantics premiere in NYC.

I did an understated "end of summer" look with loose, beachy waves, a shimmery copper eyeshadow, lightly flushed cheek and soft lip.

Didn't take much work to make her look gorgeous! See other photos at: http://community.theknot.com/cs/ks/blogs/wedding_style_file/archive/2010/09/08/wedding-movies-carley-roney-with-the-cast-of-the-romantics.aspx

The Knot Photo Shoot

2010-08-13T21:20:00.002-04:00

We (William Miranda and I) just finished a fun-filled day at a photo shoot with The Knot for their new 360 online hair tool which will allow brides to upload their photo and then try on different hairstyles.

William and I did hair and makeup for Britany--isn't she the cutest?

Well, here are some preview pics before the real deal comes out on The Knot's website.

The Makeup Show NYC

2010-05-18T20:55:00.000-04:00

We just finished out The Makeup Show NYC 2010! We have been a part of this from the beginning, so it is great to see the growth and development of the show from then to now.

Amazing pro products, seminars/workshops, and tons of industry friends to see and new ones to meet.

Makeup is such a vast wonderland with products and tools for every corner of the industry: beauty, fashion, editorial, bridal, special fx, and more.

We will be reviewing some new products we learned about in the coming days, so stay tuned for the inside scoop!

They Did It Again!

2010-05-06T20:23:00.004-04:00

The Wedding Guys® honored with three prestigious BSPi Star Awards!

Since 2003, MG Hair and Makeup and our sister company, Bridal Beauty Artists Network, have been working with The Wedding Guys creating the gorgeous hair and makeup for the models of their main stage and couture runway shows.

The Unveiled Wedding Event produced by The Wedding Guys, Matthew Trettel and Bruce Vassar, received three Bridal Show Producers International STAR Awards for Best Show Marketing, Best Show Program and Best Show Television Commercial at the 2010 BSPI Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 1, 2010. The BSPI - STAR Awards are designed to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts, performance, and outstanding contributions in the bridal show industry.

The BSPi STAR Awards were presented to The Wedding Guys, in recognition of a mark of global distinction and the highest level of professional acknowledgement within the bridal show industry today with their national show tour of the Unveiled Wedding Event in Dallas, TX and Atlanta, GA. To date the work of The Wedding Guys has been honored with a total of eight (8) BSPi Star Awards.

The Unveiled Wedding Event is a national show tour created by The Wedding Guys redefining the typical bridal trade shows. "People communicate and interact differently in today's social networking world," said The Wedding Guys, "and the market needs to respond in the same way". No longer do brides want to walk down rows and rows of exhibits, they want a fun and exciting shopping experience. They want an experience of interacting with their wedding service providers. "As much as technology has changed how people communicate today, perhaps some traditional events such as weddings still require that face to face experience that only a bridal show can offer."

"Unveiled is the best bridal experience we've ever participated in! From the very beginning to the very end the Unveiled Team created a modern chic "New" approach to the way a bride should view their wedding experience. RSVP Special Events & Design will be there every year, to support this incredible show! Thanks Unveiled for staying true to the essence of the modern bride! - Mrs. Randi Moore, Owner, RSVP Special Events & Design

The Wedding Guys® looking to redefine by design the state of weddings, have found themselves launched into the international wedding scene more then they have ever been before. 'Each year the bar has been raised, but now it's been raised even higher," said Trettel. Partnering with local wedding service providers, The Wedding Guys created the Unveiled Wedding Event - a wedding trunk show experience with everything a bride could need for her wedding. As one bride said who recently attended their show in Atlanta, GA, "I loved the wide assortment of vendors. I have been planning my wedding for 18 months and didn't expect to find anything new, but I found a lot! I have completely changed many elements of my wedding based on what I found at your show. "

Upcoming Unveiled events are October 10, 2010, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, TX and November 14, 2010, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. Show information is available at UnveiledWeddingEvent.com

Photo credits: Solvara

The Knot Live (Season 2, Episode 10)

2010-04-23T07:16:00.007-04:00

The Knot Live (Season 2, Episode 10)

See us on the "Sprays for your Day" segment where I talk about the best hairsprays and methods to use them.

To read more about the segment, visit the page featuring the details:

http://wedding.theknot.com/special-wedding-features/the-knot-live/articles/the-knot-live-season-2-episode-10.aspx?MsdVisit=1

The Makeup Challenge

2010-04-01T07:10:00.012-04:00

On March 22nd, makeup artists from all over NYC and beyond gathered for the Spring 2010 Makeup Challenge. Amazing talent was seen by all the contestants.

I was honored to be one of the judges along with Anne and Charles of Rouge Makeup Studio and Sahara Davenport, former contestant of RuPaul's Drag Race.

The artists were hard at work...

And here are the models...

Photography by Gregory Routt

Top 10 Beauty Mistakes to Avoid Surrounding Your Wedding Day

2010-02-05T06:48:00.002-05:00

We are excited to announce that we were interviewed for The Knot's Beauty Week coming up February 15th - 21st! They asked for our Top 10 Beauty Mistakes to Avoid Surrounding Your Wedding Day.

As a special preview, we thought we would share our Top 10 with you:

1. Try things out at your trial. If you are unsure about the way you want your hair and/or makeup for your wedding day look, be sure to try out different styles and looks at your trial run through to make sure you are comfortable with whatever you choose. Choosing a hairstyle that is more formal than your everyday look is a delicate process, and choosing a style from a picture and then seeing it on your head with your amount of hair are two different things. Remember that the model, celebrity or bride in the picture may be wearing extensions, may have a different hair type than yours (i.e. you have baby fine hair and she has thick coarse hair), and don't forget that your head shape/face shape may be different as well. All of these factor into if the style will "look like it did in the picture".

2. Have an idea of how you want to wear your hair prior to purchasing your veil -- unless your veil is a specific item that your hairstyle choice will work around. Veils come in many different lengths, materials, details (or lack thereof), and some are meant to be worn under your updo and others are meant to be worn above the style on the top of your head. This is especially true when the veil has a blusher. You want to be sure of your purchase--especially as some bridal salons will not take back veils or headpieces after you buy them.

3. Choose a hairstyle that you will be comfortable with the whole night through. If you are the type of person who may start the day with your hair down but puts it up by the end of the day, you will want to choose an updo or some kind of modified half-updo style so your hair is away from your face and off your neck. You don't want to have your reception pictures with you in your dress and your hair thrown back in a ponytail, especially after you just spent all that time and money getting it done.

4. Make it last. At your trial run through, really "test-drive" your makeup. If possible, try to schedule your trial run through for a morning so you can see how the makeup lasts all day long. This will help you understand if you need touch-up products or not. Ideally, you would want to have the makeup last with little to no touch-ups required being that once you have your dress on, the rest of the day goes by in a whirl—you have people to see, pictures to take, vows to make, dances to dance—and the touch-up products end up being forgotten until you empty out your purse the next day.

5. Do not try any new products the week or two prior to your wedding day. This includes facial cleansers, moisturizers, toners, serums, creams, treatments, shampoos, conditioners, styling products, makeup, etc. Your hormones can make your skin more sensitive due to your stress level so close to the wedding day, and you definitely don't want to deal with a major breakout or reaction on the day of your wedding.

6. Gather together an emergency kit. There are adorable kits available for purchase, but in reality, you can pull this together with little to no money. Get a makeup or toiletry bag and designate it for your emergency day-of kit. Include safety pins (small gold, small silver, regular sized), double-sided sticky tape, needle and thread/small sewing kit, small scissors, tide-to-go pen, bobby pins, hairspray, gum/mints, razor, deodorant, band-aids, small packs of tissue, nail polish remover, clear nail polish, emery board, nail clipper, makeup remover wipes, tampons, etc. Be prepared for what can go wrong so it doesn't ruin your day.

7. Don't be deceived by the makeup counter salespeople who tell you that you need every product and powder because "you want to make sure you look good in the pictures". It is important to be aware of the lighting and environment of your wedding so that you understand how it will affect the way you (and your makeup) look in pictures. However more does not always equal better.

8. Get rid of the old…skin, that is. Exfoliating your skin on a regular basis leading up to the wedding will make a dramatic difference in the way the makeup sits on your skin. Applying makeup to a fresh layer of skin versus a dry layer makes the makeup look more like your own skin and less like makeup. Don't forget about exfoliating your lips as well. The best time to do this is right before you get out of the shower, take a washcloth and a mild face scrub and gently rub your lips pulling them taut as you go as if you were applying lipstick. Don't scrub too hard or you will end up with raw lips. Afterwards, make sure you apply a lip conditioner/balm to keep the new skin layer fresh and moisturized. Your lipstick/gloss will look a million times better!

9. Designate someone as your point of contact for the wedding day. Generally it is best if this person is not in your wedding party or a mother as they will have other things to tend to that day. Give this point person all your vendor information, phone numbers, schedule and any other information to help this person act as you would when you are in "wedding planning mode". Make sure you also give your vendors that person's phone number to call in case of emergency, if they are lost or need directions, etc., as well as the information where they should go to once arriving at the venue or hotel and who they should ask for. This will hopefully prevent the bombardment of phone calls and inquiries you need to deal with on the day of—you certainly have enough else to do that day!

10. Remember that this is a personal day of celebration that will be documented in pictures. If you are uncomfortable with the amount of makeup you are wearing on your wedding day, it will be more unflattering than if you wore no makeup at all. These are your friends and family who have seen you in all different stages of life and amounts of makeup—not to mention blue eyeshadow and 80s spiral perm with high-sprayed "wall" bangs and side "wings". They will know if you are unhappy—and a happy bride is always the most beautiful.

Don't Underestimate the Power of Natural Makeup

2009-12-21T16:24:00.005-05:00

Now, I am going to be honest...I love the idea and concept of natural makeup--especially for women who are not able to wear most makeup due to chemical sensitivities, allergies, etc. However, that said, I am one to still love my tried and true chemical makeup products that do the job. My skin is pretty tough--both in terms of being able to handle chemicals as well as tough to find things that work on it the way they're suppose to work. And I have tried some natural/mineral makeup products in the past that were an absolute waste of time/money, so before trying these, I was a little skeptical...although these were from Tarte, which I loved before I knew it was natural makeup.

So I first lined my eyes upper and lower inner rims with the emphasEYES liner in plum. I loved the very thin, no-need-to-sharpen tip that glided on the skin without a tug. It was fairly light on the first application, so I added a couple more layers which intensified the look. This seems like it would be a great choice for those who are afraid of eyeliners, can't draw a straight line, don't like the harsh look of a liner, and those who hate sharpening their eyeliner. I really loved that it went on so nicely without the thick line.

I also used Tarte's Lights, Camera, Splashes 4-in-1 Natural Waterproof Mascara. Ok, this is seriously one cool mascara. Not only is it waterproof and give you added volume and length, it has beeswax and carnauba wax (from a plant) and the packaging is biodegradable and recyclable. And did it mention the super cute anchor/marina theme?

And then around my midday shine, I used their T-Zone Travel Natural Shine Control To-Go Kit. I first used the blotting papers (yes, I did have to use multiple sheets being that my face contains more oil than the Middle East), and then I used the super cute brush to dust my face with the shine control powder. I was seriously impressed that the powder did not make me look like I had flour on my face and it kept my natural glow (a.k.a. didn't interfere with my bronzer too much). I will definitely be using this on a regular basis--not to mention, again--how gorgeous is the packaging? I feel like I want to take this and the mascara out to use in public just so I can show off how cute the packaging is. And did I mention that the powder has a ton of good-for-you natural extracts in it? No wonder Kristen Bell and Rachel Bilson love this so much!

Welcome to the Land of Hair Accessories!

2009-12-05T09:40:00.007-05:00

Welcome to the Land of Hair Accessories!

Yesterday I had the absolute pleasure of working with Madame Melange, a new company online that sells the most gorgeous and amazing array of hair accessories! Everything from headbands with large, colorful bows to vintage jeweled pieces to feathers, glitz and glamour on pins and combs.

As someone who (loved! and) lived through the '80s (translation: yes, I had and proudly wore the large lace bow headbands as seen on Madonna during the Material Girl era...), I have a deep appreciation for these hair pieces.

Madame Melange should be opening its cyber doors within the month (don't worry, we will let you know when!) to the world wide lovers of hair accessories. I had the pleasure of doing the hair and makeup for these fab pieces and worked with the owner, Chenenne Woods, the most fun, gracious and wonderful woman, and George Delgado, the extremely talented fashion photographer! I cannot wait to see the photos from the shoot (and you all will get first view once I get them back!) and will post my favs soon.

Pictures from The Knot Event at Pronovias

2009-11-24T14:16:00.013-05:00

As promised, here are some of the fabulous pictures from The Knot's event at Pronovias on November 17th, 2009. There was quite the crowd as you can see.

The team from MG Hair and Makeup gave mini-makeovers to the brides attending.

There was also the fashion show, hosted by Heather Levine, the fashion and beauty editor at The Knot. We also had the pleasure of doing her hair and makeup as well!

The gowns were amazing--you really do need to go to the salon to see them in person!

And these wonderful pictures were by Jen Huang Photography. To see more pictures from the event, click here. To go to her blog and website: http://www.jenhuangphotography.com/

The Knot, Pronovias and MG Hair and Makeup

2009-11-19T09:29:00.004-05:00

If you were one of the 200 brides at the event, you know what we are talking about. The Knot hosted an event at the amazing Pronovias flagship salon in midtown on Novemeber 17th, this past Tuesday. It was an amazing event complete with a fashion show, custom sweet treats, champagne, and of course, mini-makeovers by MG Hair and Makeup.

More pictures to come soon!

Headpieces, Veils and Poofs--Oh My!

2009-11-05T09:55:00.022-05:00

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of being part of a wedding on Halloween (pictures will come in another post later). At the trial run, the bride had a myriad of different headpieces in hand and was still searching for her perfect one online and in stores.

It is a never-ending search sometimes. The hair jewelry is the missing link between the earrings/necklace, the dress and the hairstyle. You want to make sure it complements everything, doesn't outshine anything and yet adds that extra "oomph" to give you the wow-factor you are looking for.

There are so many things to consider when choosing a headpiece. First of all, you want to decide if your hairstyle will determine the hair jewelry (and veil) you choose or vice versa. This is one of the most important and yet most forgotten/ignored criteria in choose a piece. Generally, the bride is at the bridal salon trying on dresses, she finds one she likes, the salesperson puts a veil on her head (and/or a jeweled comb/tiara) and the bride, overcome with the emotion of "I'm getting married! I am a bride!", says "yes" to everything--the dress, veil, and headpiece. Only later when she has her trial run through does she realize that the veil and/or hair jewelry may or may not go with the style she wants for her day.

There are headpieces (and veils) to complement every hairstyle--a low bun/chignon, a high mound of curls on top of your head, slicked back, loose, elegant and simple, romantic and artistic, half-up or all down, straight or curly, gold or silver--so don't be discouraged if the piece you chose isn't working with your hairstyle vision you had in mind. Be sure to check with the bridal salon (before removing the tags!) to see what their return policy is on headpieces and veils. You may be able to exchange or return it if you decide differently. Check out one of my favorites, Tigerlilly, for some great headpieces. And don't forget about the beauty and versatility of flowers (fresh or fake) in the hair!

The other important thing you want to decide is regarding your veil. Do you want to keep it in all night long or do you want to take it out? Do you want a blusher or no blusher? Do you want it above the style, below the style, on the top of your head or near the back/crown of your head? The reason you need to be aware of these things before choosing a veil is because veils are made differently and not every veil is able to be placed just anywhere.

For instance, if there are sequins, jewels, pearls, etc. on one side of the veil, that is the "up" or "out" side. Depending on how the veil is attached to the comb, this will determine whether the veil can be worn under the hairstyle with the "out" side facing out so you can see the embellishment.

The same goes for blushers. If you have a shorter blusher on your veil (note that blushers can be purchased separately from the longer veil if you so desire), wearing the veil under the hairstyle will cause the shorter blusher layer to be underneath the longer layer. You can still do it this way and wear the longer layer as your "blusher", however it will be a long blusher and may look awkward depending on where it ends on the front part of you and your dress.

Whatever you decide, try to do your best in restraining the giddy, emotional purchases before determining the return/exchange policy, your hairstyle and what components of your bridal accessories are important to you.

Photo credits: Jenn Barnett, Perspective Studio, Life on Prints, Lina Jang, Scott Dahlseid, Dietrich Gesk, Olive Juice Studios, Michael Edwards, Daniel Coyle, Gene Higa, Tom DiBella

Unveiled in Dallas

2009-11-03T10:40:00.011-05:00

So here are some pics from the Unveiled wedding event October 4th, 2009, in Dallas, Texas! It was an amazing show, produced by The Wedding Guys, sponsored by Stardust Celebrations, Texas Monthly, Get Married, Dallas Brides, Hakimsons Films, Cort Event Furnishings, --if you missed it, March 6th, 2010 is your next chance--don't miss out!

For the models' makeup, we did a smokey gray eye, luminous skin, flushed cheek and berry stained lip.

For the hair, we did loose curls in a romantic updo that is flattering on everyone regardless of face shape or hair type.

You can also see one of the big trends in birdcage veils this year--the veil has clips on both sides, some have flowers or feather poofs on one or both sides for added drama. The clips make it easy to put in and take out if you desire.

And here are the models backstage getting ready to go out on the runway!

Once we get other images, we will be sure to post those for your viewing pleasure as well!

Wedding TrendSpot Press Fashion Show

2009-10-27T09:15:00.024-04:00

MG Hair and Makeup is proud to present to you video from our work with The Wedding Guys at the Wedding TrendSpot Press Fashion Show at The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel from Bridal Fashion Week, also known as Bridal Market, in New York City October 18th, 2009! The show featured the work of Alisa Benay Bridal Couture, ARIA dress, Casablanca Bridal, Toni Federici, AKAY Bridal, Pixton Couture Bridal, Katerina Bocci, Valena Valentina, AcQuachiara, Augusta Jones, Karen Hendrix Couture, Beth Elis, Jorge Manuel, Debra Moreland is Paris, and Martinez Valero.

We have been going non-stop with the premier of the Unveiled wedding fashion show at the beginning of October in Dallas, Bridal Market two weeks ago and this past weekend The Wedding Fair fashion show in the Twin Cities. All looks were slightly different and images will be posted to our website soon, however we wanted to share our work at Bridal Fashion Week with you now. These images below are by Paul Newland of Solvara. More images can be seen at the links below the video links.

For the hairstyle, we did large barrel curls and pulled it back for a romantic half-up look.

For the makeup, the skin was fresh and slightly bronzed with a little shimmer. We used a copper shadow on the eyes with a sheen to keep the look from going to dark. The lip was a bitten berry stain with a sheer bright pink gloss on top.

Images by Shawn Punch:

http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/shawnpunch/gallery/Wedding-Trendspot-Spring-2010-Runway-Show/G0000lJ_oMHhLrHU/P0000dBhoxSgvPKk/

Images by Solvara backstage: http://media.solvaraphotography.com/Fashion-Shows/Viewing/10025303_xZRRX#686456525_6E6bT

Images by Solvara runway show: http://media.solvaraphotography.com/Fashion-Shows/091019-wts-show/10020257_WTcff#685964604_j4tV8

The Trend Wedding 2009

2009-06-08T20:11:00.038-04:00

This past weekend, Friday, June 5th to be exact, one of the best weddings of the year just took place--The Trend Wedding produced by The Wedding Guys, Bruce Vassar and Matthew Trettel. We had the pleasure of being a part of this amazing event again as we did the hair and makeup for the bride and bridal party. To see the details and read the story of this incredible wedding, see the soon-to-be-out Summer 2010 issue of Inside Weddings Magazine. The bride and her bridal party were a fairly low-maintenance group, however, as The Trend Wedding winners, we had to have them step out of their hair and makeup comfort zone of ponytails and chapstick, even if only for a day.

We decided to go with a romantic, loosely tied back updo with twisted sides and the curls cradled in the back of the style for the bride's hairstyle. We decided on a modified version of this for the bridesmaids based on the hair type and amount each bridesmaid had.

One bridesmaid even got the pleasure of receiving an entire head full of temporary extensions. We offer temporary extensions over permanent ones mainly because it allows the client (bride, bridesmaid, mother, etc.) to have the hairstyle she wants with the length and volume where she wants without being stuck with a full head of hair (that can be painful to the neck when one isn't used to the additional weight), which is often times undesired for the honeymoon--especially when the honeymoon is to a warm, tropical island.

Before even starting the makeup, we went on brow patrol--completely reshaping some and cleaning up stray hairs on others. While no one thoroughly enjoyed the "beauty is pain" speech in the midst of the plucking, everyone ooohed and aaahed at the results, thoroughly happy with what they saw (and/or didn't see!).

Next was makeup. Most who don't wear makeup on a regular basis (and even some who do) dread this part--being in the hands of a makeup artist and fearing that they will end up looking like some version of a clown or a stripper. While I have nothing against clowns or strippers, generally the type of makeup they wear is not the type one would think of for her wedding day look. Now being that this group of ladies generally didn't wear any makeup, any amount of makeup would seem like a lot at first until they got used to it. This is very common among many of our brides, which is one main reason they hire a professional--because they don't do makeup on a regular basis, they don't know where to start for their wedding day. One thing I do, and have trained all of our artists in, is use certain products and techniques to ensure not only the longevity of the makeup but also to ensure that it feels lightweight on the skin and that it looks like real skin (not makeup) in person and in pictures. This is done through the use of particular products I have tried and tested to know work on an individual based on the skin tone and type as certain brands and product lines may work great for some but not others--especially when it comes to lasting for 30 hours and still feeling lightweight on the skin. The bride agreed and ended up being quite surprised and pleased that the makeup didn't feel cakey or thick as she had imagined it would.

For the makeup look, I started with a long-wearing crease-resistant, waterproof creme-to-powder eyeshadow from Senegence called Candlelight. This brightened the eye area and also served as a great primer for the bronze crease color I used. I also highlighted the lid and under the brow bone with a lighter shimmer shadow to mimic light reflecting from those areas of the face. The eye was lined with a dark brown waterproof eye pencil on the top and a black one on the bottom. Waterproof black mascara was a must however sans any clumps. Her face was contoured with some bronzer and a light rose blush was used to give just a hint of color. Her lips were a combination of Praline Rose and Rose Ice Senegence Lip Colors and topped with the Senegence Glossy Gloss.

With her hair and makeup done, the bride was almost like a new person, giggling and reveling in her beauty. Brides like this always make my job worthwhile, seeing their face when they see their outer beauty match their inner beauty. It really is like my 6 year-old son says--my job is to help Cinderella get ready for the ball to meet her Prince. And on June 5th, 2009, that she did.

Photo credits: Coppersmith Photography

Not a Zit, Not Now!

2009-05-23T19:12:00.010-04:00

Stress does things to us. It can make us gain weight, lose weight, make our hair fall out, but perhaps worst of all, just when we NEED our skin to behave, it can give us a blemish. So what is a girl to do? This is a question many brides ask us.

Well, first of all, as tempting and somewhat satisfying as it might be to squeeze and pick--don't do it. Not when you have an important event or your wedding the next day. Mainly because makeup over broken skin is just difficult to make look nice and natural.

So, what should you do? First, if you have a clarifying mask, a good clay mask, something with salicylic acid in it, apply that product to your blemish and/or problem area(s). Good practice is to do this before you even have a breakout days before your event to help prevent a breakout in the first place. That being said, somethings are impossible to prevent and will occur inevitably.

My personal favorites to use for spot treatment are Astara's Blue Flame Purification Mask and Mario Badescu's Drying Lotion. I also like Neutrogena's Clear Pore Oil-Eliminating Astringent. Apply one (or more) of these products and wait overnight to see how it will work its magic overnight.

All this being said, just remember that no matter what, provided you have a great makeup artist (or are one yourself!) pictures can always be retouched very easily and no one will even remember (except for you) that you ever even had a blemish!

The Makeup Show

2009-05-19T20:34:00.019-04:00

We just spent May 17th & 18th with almost 4,000 artists at The Makeup Show NYC at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City. Wonderfully exhausting as always. We have been a part of the show in New York City since the beginning in 2006 and thoroughly enjoy speaking with artists from across the country and around the world.

It is always a great chance to see and try new products as well--and there were plenty to see and try this year. Being committed to finding the best products available to ensure the longevity of the makeup we apply, it is a neverending search for a better product to work well on every skin tone and type. One of our goals in makeup application is that it will last for 16-30 hours touchup-free on most every skin type and that it will also look natural--like your skin--while not feel like a mask. Obviously, this is a bit of a process.

The first product we tried is the Nurturing Force Blot Out Offensive Shine + Control Cream. It is a great primer--both for brides as well as HD work. It is a bit tacky when it goes on, but once rubbed in and smoothed over, it has a nice matte finish. This would be a great product for guys who have oily skin but are opposed to makeup or other "girl" products for oil control. Nurturing Force is also an eco-friendly product line, which is always an added benefit. It is also paraben-free, silicone-free and contains aloe vera and antioxidants so it is great for those with sensitive skin.

The next product we have known about for the last year and learned more about it from The Makeup Show 2008--it is Make Up For Ever's HD Microfinish Powder. This is a wonderful, colorless powder to set any makeup and provide a nice matte finish to the skin.

Make Up For Ever's Mist & Fix is another great product. After applying your makeup, before heading out the door and into the world, spray this mist generously all over the face to set your makeup. It is important, especially if you have oily skin, to spray enough of this product all over, let it dry and reapply powder if desired to ensure maximum makeup wear. A common problem with makeup setting sprays is that often times individuals don't spray enough on the face to actually "set" the makeup, however make sure you don't spray so much on the face that it starts to drip off--you don't want to drown yourself in it.

Another great Make Up For Ever product is their waterproof mascara, Smoky Lash. It is a great waterproof, smudgeproof product while not being too thick. That being said, it can be layered to create a thicker lash, however it gives you the option to stop at one coat to leave you with a more believable "these are my natural lashes" look. It also has volumizing fibers to add volume and length as well.

The last product we tried for the show was the Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner. This liner is a great alternative to gel liner--especially for those who have trouble using a flat eyeliner brush with gel liner that is often packaged in a small pot. It comes in Mat Black 0L as well as Star Black 1L, which is black with a slight sheen. Of course, there are a ton of other colors as well. This liner stays put well for those with normal eyelids but for those with oily lids, depending on how oily their lids are, this liner may move and end up a bit messy under the eye after a while. Generally for oily lids, MAC's Powerpoint Waterproof Eye Liner and MAC's Liquidlast Liner are both better options for lining severely oily lids. Be sure to also set your liner and shadow with the Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder.

If you have questions or comments about these products or others, drop us a note at: info@mghairandmakeup.com and your question might be posted on our blog!

Welcome to our Blog!

2009-05-16T20:49:00.007-04:00

Welcome to our blog for MG Hair and Makeup!

MG Hair and Makeup is the nation's premier on-site hair and makeup service. We provide services for brides and bridal parties on the wedding day as well as provide hair and makeup for a variety of other events. We also do fashion, runway, print, commercial, tv, film, beauty lessons, personal image consultations and corporate seminars.

We hope to give you a look at the various aspects of hair and makeup to help you with decisions you make for your special day or everyday!