At last...its Ala's time!

I had been looking forward to getting alicia ready for this important shoot! As you all know Alicia is a good friend of mine, and an amazing photographer herself! After watching three of her good friends plan their big day, it was now time to get hers started! Her and steven are getting married on the 23rd of May, and I cant wait to get her ready for the big day! Those of you who know Alicia know how creative, artsy, meticulous and amazing she is; so I knew this hair and makeup had to be perfect because being the perfectionist that we both are I wanted her pictures to come out flawless! I was extremely pleased with the way it all turned out! I prepped Alicia the week before by retouching her color and giving her an uplifting cut. I was really happy with the way her color looks on film, like a rich deep brown and slightly cool mahogony. I did large strong waves, and lots of teasing to get her hair sexy, done, but not too done! As for the makeup i needed to pick a palette that would complement a series of wardrobe changes, and make sure that it wasnt too much for casual yet important engagement pics! Hope you like...






























all photos were taken by Jasmine Star Photography

For My Bride's to Be

Since Wedding Season is around the corner I thought I would put up some of my favorite looks! Everyone has there own likes and dislikes, but as a professional I thought it would be fun to share my advice with you about my favorites and not so favorites!

Of course all hairstyles and makeup are relative to the persons face shape, hair texture, and color palette, but here are some of my favorite looks in regards to hair and Makeup!




Tips: If you have a narrow small face you want your hair and curls to be directing back...opening up the face.
If your face is on the larger heaviers side the curls/ waves or just blown out layers directing in towards the face will narrow it out a bit.

Partings: If you do not like your nose, I would not suggest middle partings! To play it safe I recommend side partings about 80% of the time.

Bangs: I am a fan of bangs, i think they are soft, youthful and flattering on most women! However you do not want them to be overpowering or dramatic on your wedding day, so a longer flowing bang is usually my number one choice for brides. If you have a larger forhead it is a must!








Hair accessories...

If your dress allows for flowers and if you are a flower type girl then some simple flowers like orchids can make a wonderful statement!

Jeweled Broches, pins, and or swaroski crystlal barrettes always are an excellent way to catch the eye and draw some attention to your hair!

I really loved the way Jessica Simpson placed hers on her wedding day...



When It comes to the reception, If I have been hired by the bride to be her stylist for the entire day, I usually like to change the hairstyle when it comes time for the reception! I think it adds a nice little touch to enter the party with a different do! My favorite look for a bride who has worn her hair down for the ceremony is to pull it back slightly like these two pictures! This is fresh, not too done, but extremely Romantic! Perfect for the rest of the night, dancing and drinking...you will not be fussing with your hair!






Just because I havent mentioned up-do's yet...doesn't mean I don't like them!

On the contrary, Up-do's have always been and i think will always be the classiest way to go! However before I convince a bride to go in this direction I discuss a lot of options with them, being completely honest of what I think looks good, and what I think is just totally outdated!

My Opinion for 2009 brides, I dont think curly loosy updo's are relly in style right now. When It comes to pulling the hair up I am seeing very clean, bold pinned, structured do's! However these do's are not puny little nothings, they are so groomed that the clean large lines and bigger pinned curls are really what catches your eye! If your having trouble imagining what I'm describing here are some examples of up-do's that I think are in for this year.



I absolutely love the volume in this updo above, and i wasnt crazy about the babys breath flowers at first...but the more i look at it , the more i like the softness of it!

Here's a modernt twist on a 50's style do! Love it!


This style would be good for a bride or a bridesmaid in my opinion! If the Bride is a blonde with lowlights this would look really good, or it could also work for bridesmaids Hair as well... because it's pulled back intricately but not too flashy!


Another gorgeous updo, optional for bride, bridesmaid, or mother of the bride. I like the big and softness of it for a bride, it is simple enough for a bridesmaid, and I feel like theres a bit of maturity and sophistication to this do, which makes it mother of the bride appropriate! I feel it has a regal feel to it*


This up-do is beautiful but simple! I would recommend it for bridesmaids; I don't feel it has enough "umph" for a bride, and it is too small for the M.O.B!


Here's a beautful example of floral placement for an updo like this! I love the flower choice, the placement, and the proportions of the whole thing!


I am not crazy about this one personally but i think its because the hair looks like it has too much hair spray! But the actual updo is nice, soft, and out of the ordinary!


Now this up-do is very different from what I think is going to be the trend for 2009, but I realaly like it! I like the oversized flower and the placement of it! The hair is messy and pretty curled.. but the way this do is done caught my eye! I would recommend this for a maid of honor, or mother of the bride who really wants to be noticed!



Okay now lets go back to what I was talking about before with ig, but bigger pinned pieces...Heres an example of that! This is a gret choice for mother of the brides! I like it...and i like that it will work for practically all hair types! and if you don't think you have enough hair for it...we put some pieces in no biggy!


Brides pay close attention to this: " If you have a bridesmaid that has short hair like this picture, PLEASE do not make her pull it up into tiny little knotts! Let her show of her cute cut, and just incorporate whatever hair accessory all your other bridesmaids will be using! She will love you, and your pictures will look much better than having tiny little spiky ponytails coming out of her haid!


I could not put up this page without showing all of you MY PERSONAL favorite wedding hair! this is most likely the type of hair I want on my big day! Hope you like them :)















I couldn't do this page without touching up on makeup for a bit!

General rule of thumb! Do not get a crazy heavy shadow crease on your wedding day! You do not want to hide your eyes! you want to bring out your eyes! So accentuate them! DONT COVER THEM!
#2 Your skin! Make sure that your coloring for that day is healthy looking! Its bright, hydrated, and acne free (as much as you can) Tans look good and healthy but don't go overboard! (...i cant believe im actually posting this on here buut...okay here it goes!) If you are tanning, and or using a bronzing cream...share some with your fiance!) You want both of you to look good together as a couple! So help your man out, and try to make both of you look your best! ;)

Blondes: I recommend natural bronze, sands, copper and beiges usually for eye shadows especially if you have blue eyes! the orange pigment will make them pop!


Brunettes: I recommend lilacs, mauves, fusias, and violety browns for eye shadows especially if you have brown eyes! The purplish pigment will bring out the green!


This has been so much fun sharing all of my Do's and Don't with you all! Hope you've enjoyed it!

A Valentine's Wedding

Erica and Adam February 14th, 2009

I wanna start this blog by congratulating the newlywed couple! Erica and Adam have been together for over seven years and finally sealed their love this Saturday at Los Willos Venue in Fallbrook Ca. This month was a month of preparing not only the gorgeous bride, but all of her closest loved ones! A wedding is sooo much more than just a morning of prepping! its a year of planning for the family, and a month of prepping for me the stylist, cuz i really careand want everything to be the way you imagined! I got Suzie aka M.O.B (mother of the bride) hair extensions which were simple clip ins for the day; however simple may be a bit too light of a word, because her 100% human hair extensions were custom blended by mua to match suzie's hair color to the T, highlighted, low lighted the whole enchilada! As far as the Bride was concerned we colored and trimmed her hair about 2 weeks before the event, and then matched and ordered her 100% human hair as well. Once we got her hair we did a full set of 18" sewn in extensions. Erica has long hair naturally, but she and I wanted to hair to be the fullest and biggest it could possibly be for the big day, so soultion was ....EXTENSIONS! In addition to the bride and m.o.b i got a few other close relatives and friends ready for the big day...cleaned up father of the bride, a bridesmaid, and wedding planner/ close family friend!
So in short words ...I have been looking forward to this day for quite some time now, and am super excited to show you guys a few of the pictures that her photographer has finished!

I've found my Resolution!

For the past four years I have made my resolutions based on getting fit, loosing wieght, eating better, and trying to be healthy...ya these are all positive things but theres a huge problem; they are only about me! This year I wanted to make a change, not only with myself, but actually have more of an impact in helping those around me. I am so very fortunate that I have the ability to impact the lives of so many people, especially those closest to me. So with all of that in mind I decided to start 2009 with a new open, driven, giving mind.
My boyfriend Ariann's little cousin Kimberly was visiting us over the holidays from Monterey Mexico. She has extremely curly, frizzy out of control hair. All of us girls know what its like to be 15...Not Easy! Trying to fit in, keeping up with the trends, trying to grow into a young lady, while all of these changes are going on throughout your mind and body! Well when Kimberly saw me she told me that her dream would be to have straight hair! I was with her practically every day while she was out hear and she would wake up early to blowdry and flat iron her hair to try and tame down her curls. I analyzed her hair and figured that the japanese straightening system would be the best solution for her and her hair type. Two days before she left she asked me if I would do her hair, and I said of course!
I had little time, the only day I could do it would be New Years Day, but i thought what better way to begin my new year then to start helping those that i love. So hangover and all my favorite co-worker, robin and I opened the salon and did the 5 hour process leaving Kimberly's hair permanently straight and her heart permanently happy!

A Happy Girl for a Happy New Year

One of the best parts about my profession is being able to work on people like this! For those of you who know Anely, know that not a minute goes by without laughter, and you cant help to be all smiles while with her!...Hence Robin's nickname for her "smily"! I was delighted when Anely asked me to get her ready for her annual big Cuban Clan New Years party. She wanted 50's style hair with my spin on it, and sexy makeup! I ended 2008 with laughter and joy thanks to this girl! Here are some pics she sent me, enjoy!

before...


after