Pretty in Academic Regalia

The big milestone days of our lives are often accompanied by a frenzy of complicated make-up, over tulled dresses, and fussy hair styles. The milestone days, are the days that matter: where life happens on schedule. They are always seemingly picture perfect. Graduation, is big deal, and a cause to celebrate.

Graduation, unlike the other "big" days is not the time nor place to experiment with complicated looks. When my the tassel makes the symbolic flip, or my cap gets thrown in the air,  I  don't want to worry about  my mane getting caught up in the excitement or make-up smeared and melting  all over my face.

For easy Academic Regalia beauty the secret is to keep your hair and makeup simple (kiss). 

Wear your hair down in loose curls or gentle waves. Stephanie Kocielski, the VP of education for Paul Mitchell warns grads against hyper straightening their hair. The Cap and Gown, are bulky and a super sleek/straight hair style will draw attention to the frump of the gown. A middle part with wavy curls will complement to gown, by reducing aesthetic inconsistencies.

Stephanie recommends:

prepping hair with:  "Awapuhi Wild Ginger Hydrowhip Cream."  Apply to damp hair starting at the scalp. 

Part your hair in the middle. The part does not have to be straight; but should align with your natural part. 

Comb they hydropwhip  through as you blow out you hair.

Once you hair is dry spritz in some "Awapuhi Texturizing Sea Spray." Curl your hair with wide barrel curling wand (for easy volume tips separate hair into pigtails).  

With a bobby pin, pin each curl up to cool.

Graduation day is like stepping into Lindsey Lohan shoes for a few hours. Cameras and flashes are everywhere. You might be a live " La Lohan mess"; but with all the family and faculty present it is important to give the illusion of holding your grey goose together. Pick neutral colors that complement your gown ( browns of blues, plum/mauve for purple, pinks and reds for black), and your natural coloring. 

Choose matte pigments for your eyes, and skin. The matte colors will reduce the appearance of shine. Grad gowns trap in sweat and humidity. Too Faced makes a great "matte eye kit," and eye shadow insurance makeup primer. 

Pack a mini makeup bag to take with you. Include powder, eyeliner, and lipstick.

If you, like me, enjoy standing out in crowd, amp up your academic regalia look with a statement necklace, and bold shoes.

 After all it is your graduation; why not show off your personal style.

Congratulation Grads!

Beauty: Hair RX

My hair is just coming out of a "recovery crisis." I put my hair through a lethal injection of peroxide, products, and hair extensions. I'm not stylist; and before my hair OD I new almost nothing about hair care. Now, Thanks To Stephanie Kocielski, and Paul Mitchell Systems, I'm learning to take better care of my hair through preventative action, and gentle styling agents. 

I'm a huge fan of Paul Mitchell, because the vast majority of their products are vegan, and environmentally progressive. Paul Mitchell uses a lot of natural oils, like tea tree, to enhance their products. I miss having super long (fake) hair. I want my hair to grow. Ideally I would like my hair  to be Marcia Brady steezey long. I asked Stephanie Kocielski, (VP of education for Paul Mitchell), if there was a way to make your hair grow faster, and here is her advice:

Hair growth, starts with health. To promote healthy hair use  natural based product. Stephanie recommends: the Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Shampoo. The Tea Tree oil invigorates the scalp; and will tingle pleasantly like a  low-cal peppermint patty. Then condition. For optimal hair revival: Give your self a break from  the daily shampoo routine. Try washing your hair every other day, or once every three days.

Healthy hair, is a reflection of overall health. For luscious locks, it important to eat a diet rich in proteins, b vitamins, and omega oils. Some of the best vegan proteins include: Arborio rice, tempeh, tofu, quinoa and mushrooms. 

To really get the "Marcia Brady" look, you have to do the Marsha Brady OCD hair brush routine. When you really brush your hair, you increase the circulation in you sculpt. Most hair oils gets stuck at the roots. Which is why, often hair will look greasy at our roots and crocodile dry at our ends. (Yes, ombre is in style, and is sticking around for spring but Ombre is about shades not effed up textures.) A good hair brush, along with a good brushing, helps pull down the natural oils from our scalp to our ends to help quench their dehydration. 

You can still get great style out of your hair, even when the wash isn't fresh. Stephanie shared with me this amazing cheat to amp up style after: a day on the slopes,  a workout,  house work, etc. This trick provides  easy volume, at no effort. 

Beauty: Easy VaVaVoom Hair

Last week, I shared my new go-to trick for fabulous after sweat hair. This week, the trick, gets a little bit fresh, and vamps up your after gym hair even more. This trick, (courtesy of Stephanie Kocielski hair artist extraordinaire and  VP of education for Paul Mitchell Systems), will blow your flimsy flat hair off and away to Neverland.

 You will need to start with some Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Lemon Sage Spray, a comb, and a blow dryer. Follow the Steps for sweat proof hair: After your workout/ rendezvous, spritz some of the lemon sage spray into your hair. Then flip your head upside down and comb out the tangles. Once you are satisfactory de-tangled, and some heat and blow dry. 

The Tea Tree Spray is crucial for achieving this look. The spray sucks up all the excess oil from your scalp and strands, which makes your hair look and feel shower clean. Big Bodied hair, always looks best  when fresh. 

For Exxxtra Body, a la Celeb Steeze, put your tea-tree-ed hair back up in:

A.) A super high pony tale. (If you have long hair)

B.) High Pigtails, (if you have long medium hair, or what exxxtra body)

C.) In sections (if you have medium length hair)

Take a large curling iron, and set the tail in sections. 

Clip each curl with a bobbie pin, and let cool. While you get dressed and dolled up. 

Take the pins out,  gently toss your hair, and enjoy the feeling of Dulce Glam!

Beauty: Sweat Proof your Hair

I always go the the gym looking cute in my lulu-lemons, and leave looking like a swamp monster. It is a pretty incredible transformation. After a great sweat sesh, I can usually easily "clean my self up" with fresh make-up and a change of clothes. My hair after a workout is, well, just typically unfixable. If I take the pony tail out; I'm left with a huge crimp where my elastic was, and if I leave the pony in place; I'm stuck fighting with all the fly-a-ways. 

In need of a solution, I contacted Stephanie Kocielski, and amazing stylist and the VP of education for Paul Mitchell systems. She was kind enough to share some tips of gym proofing your hair.  She says that after a workout it's about reducing oils, and moisture from your hair. Her after sweat hair trick is simple, and takes maybe 5 minutes. 

After a workout, take down your pony tail and flip your head upside down. Comb out the tangles, and apply Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Lemon Sage spray. The spray works like a dry shampoo. It freshens up the scalp, smells delicious, and sucks up the excess oil from your hair. Once the spray is on, quickly add some heat. If your at the gym, flip your head under the hand dryers ore use a normal blow dryer. This will activate the product, and make your hair fresh for re-styling. Once the product is dry, style it as you wish! 

Before..............

After......

HUGE DIFFERENCE! SO impressed. This trick is quick, easy, and AMAZING. The only product I have in my hair is the Tea Tree Spray. 

Thanks Stephanie, I know this trick will be my after workout staple from now on.