Archive for July, 2008

Psstt … cosmetologists. Want to know the easiest way to get ahead at work?

Recognize that there’s more to being a successful cosmetologist than just cutting hair. Of course, you want to express your vision and your creativity – but that’s no way to impress your boss. Especially if you’re a new graduate. Step up and take on some of the other responsibility that it takes to run a successful salon!

Students who refuse to be on front desk duty, do laundry or other tasks won’t get ahead very fast. These jobs aren’t the most fun or the most glamorous, but stepping up shows responsibility, work ethic, and dedication to your profession.

In fact, this shouldn’t even be considered extra work. Part of your job as a beauty industry professional includes being on time, adhering to the dress code, taking out the trash, being at the front desk, taking difficult clients, and managing the calendar. Even if your manager doesn’t come right out and ask you to help out – volunteer! It could do a lot for your career.

Those of you who are living in this situation – what do you think? Is the dirty work a part of your job? Beautyschoolsdirectory.com wants to know!

As a beauty industry professional, you can get to know your clients pretty well. And when they come back to your chair month after month, they trust your professional opinion.

The best beauty experts keep their clients looking and feeling great long after they’ve left their chairs. Now that summer’s in full effect, with the sun beating down and the humidity at it’s highest, your clients may want some tips on staying pretty in the sweltering heat.

So what kind of advice can you give your clients on summer beauty outside the salon? The kind of advice that’s easy to follow!

Easy summer beauty tips

•By now, your clients should know that it’s important to wear SFP every time they go outside – not just in the blazing sun. A good way to accomplish this is by using a light moisturizer with SPF 30 in it, and a non-greasy SPF lotion in place of their regular morning lotion.
•It’s not just skin that needs protection! A leave-in hair conditioner with a UV filter (like Kiehl’s) will protect hair from sun damage while keeping it smooth and shiny in the wind.
•They can further protect hair from wind and chlorine damage with a shine glaze that coats the hair shaft and binds silkiness to their strands. A glaze like Fredrick Fekkai Salon Glaze Clear Shine Rinse won’t weigh hair down.
•Summer’s the time to toss thick foundation and replace them with light, even-coverage powders and portable make-up sticks. In the hot summer months, most people can get away with SPF moisturizer, a smooth concealer and a dusting of tinted powder.
•For times that they want a bit more color, your clients might want to look into multi-purpose makeup that can be applied with their fingers. A peach color stick can do triple-duty as an eye shadow, blush, and lip color. Top it off with some waterproof mascara and they’re good to go!

We recently had a reader ask for our advice on eye makeup - she has dark hair and eyes and uses black eye liner, but has been getting not-so-rave reviews from her friends and family. She may have the kindest heart, but her entourage says she looks evil!

This is a common problem when using black eyeliner - it’s easy to get out of control and end up looking more like Marylin Manson than you had ever hoped. So here are a few tips we’ve learned through our years of experimenting with makeup that we’d like to share with you!

1) Less is more: if you want to use black eyeliner, go easy on the application. Lightly line the outside corner of both lids instead of evenly lining all the way across. It draws subtle attention to your eyes, without that scary look. Another option - line only your lid near the upper lash base, to give your lashes a boost.

2) Try an alternate color liner, such as brown, like one of my faves from MAC. Lighter color liners will still give you the definition you seek, but are more natural looking and less noticeable as makeup.

3) Use eye shadow and a fine tipped brush instead of eye liner. Use a deep charcoal or brown for more dramatic effects, or medium toned shadows for a more natural look. If you’re wearing a brightly colored top, try a bit of brightly colored shadow to line your eyes to set things off a bit more. My trick for applying shadow to my lower lash base is to wet a fine tipped brush before dipping in the shadow. This ensures a clean application and you don’t have to worry about the loose, excess powder sprinkling down your cheeks!

Hopefully, by experimenting with some of these, you can change your look from goth to glam!

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.