Beauty School Directory Blog

Sex and The City (Part 3 of 4): Get the Look of Samantha Jones

Posted on: May 29th, 2008 by Beauty Schools Directory No Comments

Samantha Jones is a brash, bold PR executive who knows what she wants out of life. Although she has a voracious appetite for passion, she is extremely loyal to her girlfriends and would never choose a lover over them. That said, she likes to know that she can still attract whomever she wants – men and women alike.

If you want to make sure that you’re the center of attention in every room, take some style cues from Samantha!

Make Up
If you’re going to wear revealing clothing like Samantha, it’s a good idea to pare back your make up for a more mature, classy look. Samantha’s make up is fairly natural and soft.

Samantha’s standout features have always been her eyebrows. They are meticulously groomed, the perfect frame for her beautiful face. If you don’t have the resources to get your eyebrows professionally shaped, don’t worry! You can do a great job at home. Just make sure that you are in a well-lit room with good slanted tweezers. The most important rule in brow shaping is to follow your natural eyebrow – don’t overpluck! Only tweeze hairs outside of your natural browline, and your face will look more open, awake and fresh instantly!

Hair
For much of Sex and the City’s run, Samantha was the epitome of a blonde bombshell. Her face-framing platinum bangs were feminine without being fussy.

That is, until Samantha received a bombshell of her own. She was diagnosed with cancer. Samantha took the diagnosis in stride, and with the help of her friends and boyfriend, she shaved her head.
From then on, Samantha either rocked her closely-shorn hair with confidence and a beautiful face, or she had fun with wigs – including long pink ones and others that mimicked her natural hair.
If you want to model your hair off Samantha’s, there is one important fact to remember. No matter how long your hair has been a certain style, or good it looks on you, your hair does not define you. So have some fun with it!

Clothing
Samantha’s outfits are not for the faint-hearted. Luckily, Samantha gives plenty of opportunity to imitate elements of her style, while remaining slightly more reserved.

For example, Samantha frequently dresses in one color from head to toe. Think bright red, orange, pink or electric blue. This monochromatic look is confident and sure to draw attention.

At work, Samantha gravitates towards slightly 1980’s-esque power suits that accent her figure.  For this look, choose structured jackets, pencil skirts and wide leather belts.

In the evenings, Samantha wears silky, skin-grazing fabrics, down-to-there necklines, and animal prints. Simple clothing without too many buttons, ties or zippers is perfect for a woman like Samantha.
Last, She never forgets that what goes under her clothes is just as important as the clothes themselves. Her undergarments always accent her outfits, and are never boring. If they’re there at all, that is.

Accessories
When it comes to jewelry, Samantha big hoop earrings and bold, chunky necklaces that draw the eyes downward.

Women like Samantha know that wearing high heels doesn’t just dress up an outfit. The right heel make your legs look longer, your tush look higher and your posture appear more confident. Samantha takes that knowledge to the extreme, and wears sexy stilettos everywhere – including to the beach.

Samantha chooses bags that can go from career to evening … and possibly even to the next morning. This means that her bags need to be sturdy and structured enough for work, yet large enough for everything involved in an impromptu sleepover.

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Sex and The City (Part 2 of 4): Get the Look of Charlotte York-Goldenblatt

Posted on: May 27th, 2008 by Beauty Schools Directory 1 Comment

You’ll never see Sex and the City’s Charlotte York-Goldenblatt in a down-to-there halter like Samantha, or a tutu and t-shirt combo like Carrie. Whether this “Park Avenue Pollyanna” is at a wedding, jogging in Central Park, or summering in the Hamptons; she always looks sweet and feminine.

Charlotte’s dreams of being the perfect wife and ideal philanthropist are expressed through her preppy, proper style. Born a blue-blooded Connecticut princess, Charlotte takes her duties as an upper-class woman very seriously. It’s really an art to look like Charlotte – always expensive, but never showy.

Want to perfect the look before the May 30th premier of the SATC movie? Here’s how!

Makeup
A woman like Charlotte probably has a train case full of expensive cosmetics, yet looks fresh-faced all day long. Don’t you wish you could claim the same?

The most important element of achieving a sweet, Charlotte-like make-up look lies under your make-up. An impeccable skin-care routine ensures that your complexion will stay smooth and even, so you can get the put together make-up that blends right into your (seemingly) perfect skin.

Cosmetic essentials include naturally soft skin and rosy pink cheeks. Make your eyes stand out with soft liner and curled lashes, so that you look bright-eyed and awake, but never over-done. Finish off your look with glossy pink lips and rounded, natural nails polished in neutral and light pink tones.

Hair
Charlotte isn’t a woman to buy into trendy styles like short bobs, braids or bold highlights. In fact, her hairstyle will probably remain constant from now until the time she goes elegantly gray.

Achieving a polished coif like Charlotte’s doesn’t require much creativity, but it does call for regular maintenance. Charlotte maintains the health of her hair through regular trims that include face-framing layers for body and bounce.

To keep your long hair smooth like Charlotte’s, use a styling mousse and a round brush while blow-drying to curl your ends under. Looking to add a bit of preppy pizzazz to your hair? Stick with low ponytails, graceful twists, or wide printed headbands.

Clothes
Charlotte prides herself on exuding a feminine sex appeal. Her clothing is form-fitting, but not risqué. She shows off her rockin’ curves in understated ways. By wearing dresses and blouses that accentuate her décolletage and flouncy skirts that showcase her tiny waist, Charlotte is always in style but never a slave to the trends.

Want to look as effortlessly polished as she does? Look for classic cocktail and shift dresses in vintage floral prints and Lily Pulitzer brights. These preppy-chic pieces never go out of style.

If you’re going out on the town looking to attract some attention, your propriety doesn’t have to fall by the wayside! Choose a slinky black dress that accents one of your best features – not all of your features. Paired with some peep-toe pumps, you’ll look cute and classy.

Accessories
Charlotte knows that accessories make the outfit, but that too many accessories can overwhelm her natural beauty. So keep it simple! For everyday looks, a neutral bag and coordinating shoes are a must.

Pearls are a staple of Charlotte’s jewelry collection, but she isn’t afraid to put on some sparkly diamonds when she’s dressing to impress. Of course, even though Charlotte’s a successful gallery manager, it’s clear that her most prized accessory is her bling-ing engagement ring.

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Sex and The City (Part 1 of 4): Get the Look of Miranda Hobbes

Posted on: May 23rd, 2008 by Beauty Schools Directory 1 Comment

Miranda Hobbes became one of our favorite HBO Original ladies of all time from the moment she uttered her first brash, realistic statement. What we love about Miranda is how hard-nosed she is. She’s a pioneer. A no-nonsense, driven businesswoman.

But no matter how hard she tries to hide her emotions, we know she’s got that soft, feminine side that we love to see come out from time to time. And her look complements her attitude perfectly. Do you want to achieve Miranda’s look just in time for Sex & The City to hit the big screen? Well, read on:

Makeup
To achieve her professional day look, use pink, neutral and shimmer eye shadows with a brown liner for a soft look. Keep your complexion looking fresh and natural like Miranda by using a lightly tinted moisturizer as your base. Add a splash of color by using a neutral pink or peach toned blush to highlight your cheekbones. Bring the whole look together with a clear or light pink lip-gloss.

In the evening, Miranda will tend to go a bit edgier, but not over the top. Take the intensity of your eye color up by applying a smoky eye technique. You can also turn up the dial of your evening look by applying a brown-based lipstick.

Hair
Miranda achieves her beautiful, timeless look by maintaining a timeless hairstyle – the bob! If you’re going for Miranda’s hairstyle, your hair should be shoulder length or shorter. Layers add drama, interest and body, as well as acting as a frame for your face. To style your bob, use a blow dryer and a large round brush to dry your hair so it is straight and manageable. Run over it with a flat iron to make sure you get your hair completely smooth and sleek. Finish by applying a small amount of shine serum to smooth down flyaways and give your hair a beautiful sheen!

Clothing
Miranda takes “dressing for success” to the next level. For her daytime work as a hard-nosed attorney, she sticks to classic, elegant suits. To achieve her look, hunt for the basics – a nice pin-striped pencil skirt and a silk blouse. Miranda’s fashion screams elegance and sophistication during the day.

After hours, though, Miranda’s personal fashion sense is unleashed. What we love about her is her ability to still look so put-together while having real fun with fashion. Her feminine side really comes out through her flirty outfits. She likes rich, earth-toned clothing with bold prints. And if all else fails, basic black is always a winner… with the right accents.

Accessories
Miranda’s true style comes out through her accessories – she’s not afraid to push the envelope. When you’re working toward achieving Miranda’s look, add interest through your accessories. Keep an eye out for brighter earth tones (pinks or purples aren’t her thing!) and geometric shapes on handbags. Go bold with funky jade or turquoise earrings or necklaces.

Miranda also likes to draw attention to her more muted outfits with chunky bracelets or interesting belts. And let’s address the most important thing last: The shoes. For your daytime look, make sure to wear classic shoes like pointed-toe black pumps. But put on the sexy, strappy, boldly colored shoes for an unforgettable evening look!

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Acupressure Massage

Posted on: May 21st, 2008 by Beauty Schools Directory No Comments

Dating back 4,000 years to ancient China, acupressure is increasingly recognized as beneficial and therapeutic in the United States today. Acupressure can often cure various ailments, boost a person’s immune system, increase energy, and relax an individual. This form of massage uses channels (called “meridians”), which are present in everyone, to allow energy to flow evenly throughout the entire body. When this flow of energy is interrupted, it creates acute health ailments and many common problems. Acupressure is used to benefit the common ones by restoring the energy flow, thus relieving discomfort and lessening the ailment.

You can learn how to do this and other types of massage professionally at one of our massage schools

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Celebrity Style – Nail Trends

Posted on: May 7th, 2008 by Beauty Schools Directory 3 Comments

We at BSD like to make sure that we stay current on celebrity beauty trends. What’s in, what’s out, and who looks the craziest trying it?

So I was surfing the Internet earlier this week, and ran across a People Magazine Online slideshow on celebrity trends. It shows 13 celebrities and their “trendy” nail polish.

Here’s the run-down:

• Baby blue (Rihanna)
• Gold (Eva Mendes)
• Black (Debra Messing)
• Buff (Katherine Heigl)
• Gunmetal (Mischa Barton)
• White (Scarlett Johansson)
• French manicure (Victoria Beckham)
• Pale pink (Hilary Duff)
• Natural (Selma Blair)
• Orange (Fergie)
• Rose pink (Rihanna again)
• Dark red (Jessica Alba)

So … am I supposed to see a pattern here? I don’t see any sort of summer polish trend, other than ‘somewhere over the rainbow”. It seems to me that this summer (and maybe always) “trendy” polish is just about being true to yourself and your style.

Those of you in the nail and cosmetology business: what do you think? Are there any polish shades that are really “in” or “out” this season?

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Dos and Don’t of Prom Hair

Posted on: May 5th, 2008 by Beauty Schools Directory 7 Comments

It’s that time again. Everyone is getting ready for the big event – prom! So you have your dress, but what about your hair. It is just as important, if not more. You can tie in your theme with the right hair and make your prom unforgettable.

But how far should you go? You don’t want to turn your big night into a nightmare because of your hair. Here are some helpful tips for you and your hair.

Remember that simple is elegant. You can finish off your look with a graceful, sleek hair design.

It is a statement of elegance. If your dress is overpowering, it is best to go minimal on the hair. This hair design is easy and you won’t have to worry about your hair falling halfway through your favorite song.

If you want your hair to stand out more – then messy is in! Just remember not to go overboard. Here is a great design for your night on the town.

Rachel McAdams Prom Updos

Courtesy of jbach via Flickr

You don’t want to look like you stuck your finger in a light socket. Sometimes messy doesn’t equal glamorous.

 

If you want to try something that is daring and unique – try and be reasonable with your hair. You don’t want to look like a bird that has lost its way!

 

Try to find good ways to mix modern with the past. Grecian-inspired hair designs will always be flawlessly beautiful and classic.

 

Now that you have some dos and don’ts of prom hair, you can start looking for your own design.

If you want to save on some cash for your prom look, try getting your hair done by cosmetology student. Some schools offer a student clinic so future cosmetologists can practice their new skills and it can be more than half the price of going to a salon.

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Skin care for any season

Posted on: April 24th, 2008 by Shana 1 Comment

“Finally, here is a skin care line that is inspired by and responsive to the seasons, so your skin can adapt seamlessly to nature’s cycles.” – Perianne web site

As we dive full-force into spring, I’ve noticed that my winter skincare routine isn’t going to cut it much longer. I apply the heavy moisturizer I used through the cold months, and I feel like I need to mop it off with a paper towel 20 minutes later.

It’s time to switch from 3 different kinds of heavy creams to a toner and a light moisturizer. I started my search on the Internet, and thank goodness! I ran across what is probably the most genius beauty invention since the false eyelashes.

Let me introduce you to Perianne skincare. Perianne has specific lines of products that correlate with the seasons, so that your fall/winter routine and spring/summer routine work together in harmony, without failed attempts at finding the next great brand. Best of all, the products are all natural and organic. Way to go green, Perianne!

Here’s some of what founder and creator Cora Michael has this to say on the Perianne web site:

“No single line offered what I needed, which was basically two versions of itself: one for spring/summer and one for fall/winter. But switching products and brands too often led to unpredictable results, and at worst irritation or allergic reactions. My skin was always confused, and the cost of trying all those new products was high!

I created Perianne to answer these problems. Finally, here is a skin care line that is inspired by and responsive to the seasons, so your skin can adapt seamlessly to nature’s cycles. This is especially important in today’s world, with climate change leading to more extreme and unpredictable shifts in temperature and weather.”

Right now, only the fall/winter line is available for purchase online. I’ll be checking back often to see when I can buy the spring/summer line! Once I’ve tried it, I’ll give you all an update!

Looking for more information on the Perianne skincare line? For The Love Of Beauty blog has a question and answer session with Perianne Skincare Founder and Creator Cora Michael. Check it out!

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Formal Up Do Tutorial

Posted on: April 21st, 2008 by Beauty Schools Directory 1 Comment

Looking for a quick and easy way to create a formal up do? We can show you how in a few simple steps! You can also watch a video tutorial of this style.

how to do formal hair style

Here we have Becca; she has gorgeous hair and needs some up do ideas to make her wedding photos special.

Formal hair Before

If you have someone with a lot of hair like Becca you need to start by placing the back sections of hair in pony-tails. If you want more volume on top you would back comb the hair prior to putting it up.

ponytail hair style

Next put a touch of pomade in the remaining hair. Take a section of hair underneath the bottom pony-tail and place it across the head, securing it with a bobby pin.

homecoming hairstyle

Do the same on the other side.
Formal updo

Start taking sections of hair and make loop shapes, securing these with bobby pins as well. It works best to tame fly-aways with a touch of hair spray along the way.

updo

Continue the loop design around the head, checking symmetry along the way.

Hair style for prom

After you have completed the back section, take some sections from the front, pull back loosely to create volume on top and secure.

wedding hair how-to

Do you have the advantage of having long, swooping bangs that can be shaped like Becca has? You can use these to create a wonderful, elegant curve to this up do by securing all the bangs to one side.

Bangs

Now, don’t forget to use plenty of hair spray. This style has to hold through hours of weather, mingling, dancing and photos!

Prom or Wedding Hair style
Isn’t she gorgeous? Who wouldn’t want to look like this on their wedding day?

Wedding hair style

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Chi Nei Tsang Massage

Posted on: April 21st, 2008 by Beauty Schools Directory 1 Comment

Chi Nei Tsang is an entire system of Chinese deep healing that makes use of the energy flow of the five major systems in the body: vascular, lymphatic, nervous, tendon/muscle and acupuncture meridians. With this practice, one is able to increase the energy flow to specific organs through massaging a series of points in the navel area. Chi Nei Tsang frees the energy blockages in the navel and then guides the healing light energy into other parts of the body. Chi Nei Tsang was brought to America by Master Mantak Chia.

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Be Featured in Elle

Posted on: April 17th, 2008 by Beauty Schools Directory No Comments

What makeup artist wouldn’t want to be featured in ELLE magazine? Talk about exposure!

If your cosmetology training has given you the skills to take your career to the next level, then enter this makeup artist competition! It’s sponsored by ELLE magazine, Dior cosmetics, and Macy’s. The winner will be featured in the January 2009 issue of ELLE.

All you need to do is grab a friend who makes a great blank canvas, and head to the Dior counter at your local Macy’s with a digital camera. Make over your friend using the Dior products available at the counter, then snap a picture of your work!

E-mail the picture to ArtistInAction@Elle.com to enter. Here are more details on the contest.

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