Friday, June 20, 2014

All Kinds of Highlighting!



You want a quick and easy face lift? 
Facial contouring is the way to go and it's super easy!
This post is dedicated to highlighting technique.

What is a highlighter? A highlighter is any product that is lighter than your natural skin tone. A highlighter can have a matte, pearl or shimmer finish. Why should you use a highlighter? A highlighter is used to create an optical illusion. When placed next to a dark color it changes the face structure. When used alone, it adds a fresh, reflective and dewy quality to the skin. The best places to highlight are under the eyebrows, the bridge of the nose, on either side of the nose and under the chin. 

The looks I love the best are more natural. I'm not a huge fan of a heavily made up face for everyday. It ends up looking scary after a few hours and it's really hard to do well if you are new to it. 


Tarte is one of my favorite brands to buy. Above is their translucent powder. If you don't have a translucent powder go and buy one right now! It's one of the most important products in my makeup kit. Translucent powder is traditionally used to set makeup but it's a great highlighter too. Dust a little bit on the bridge of your nose, under your chin and on either side of your nostril before applying your foundation for a little bit of brightness. (This is best done after a primer.)

The Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights is a fantastic highlighting palette. These powders are used after you apply your foundation. This palette offers something for every part of your year. 


If you prefer a liquid to work with, Sun Beam by Benefit is a great product. I mix a tiny drop into my moisturizer or my foundation for a soft simple summer face.

Give it a try and let me know how it goes!



Saturday, February 1, 2014

So You Want to Color Your Own Hair................







I'm not like other stylists. I love it when you color your own hair.Here are the reasons why:

1. I'm super busy, and it's one more thing I don't have to do.
2. It gives me something to look at and criticize/laugh at in my head.
3. I make a lot of money when I help you fix something particularly terrible.
4. It makes me feel really good to help you out.

I know. I am a terrible and wonderful person at the same time.

In all seriousness though, I really don't mind it when people color their own hair. Sometimes it's just a necessity. It's kind of like doing your own home improvement projects. Sometimes you watch a video on YouTube about tiling your own bathroom and it looks so easy you decide to try it yourself. Sometimes this works out and you pat yourself on the back for saving money. Sometimes you just have to call a professional because you accidentally knock a hole in your wall and a bunch of asbestos falls into your tub. You just have to recognize when you're in over your head. (HA!)

There really is so much more to hair color than filling up a bottle and pouring it on your head. Maybe this is why so many stylists resent box color. We journey through a very special level of purgatory called beauty school to get where we are. (How many of you college students could survive pedicures on ninety year old ladies with toenails thicker than the Wall of China for eight hours a day?) After beauty school purgatory we go straight into indentured servitude. This is called being an assistant. (You just hope to get a master who won't beat you too much.)

The point is- we know stuff. Some of us are really smart and know lots of stuff (me).

Next time I will tell you how to know if you are in over your head (HA!).

Mary



Sunday, March 3, 2013

Apocolypse Shoot





I have said before that I think a lot about the apocalypse. It's just so fascinating. This photo shoot came about really spur of the moment. Jake Moreland and I have been shooting a series called Hair History and had planned to do the 1940's this day, but our model couldn't make it. The teens from my drawing class were very eager to help us out. Thank you to Alexis, Kylie, Celeste, Amber and Lexie.
I have thought about it for hours. If the apocalypse happened tomorrow I am pretty sure that within six months the remaining teenagers would still find a way to express individual style. There may not be extra water or electricity but they would find a way to make themselves pretty.
You can see more of our work on my website. www.maryellenleroy.com. As always, a huge thanks to Jake Moreland for his creative genius and awesome artist communicating skills. It's always fun. Visit his website: www.jacobmorelandcom.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

10 Questions





I was asked to speak to a small group of ladies about any beauty topic I would like. I thought I would open the session with the the top 10 frequently asked questions I get when I am working. I was just getting ready to type them up when I thought you might enjoy hearing them too!

1. What shampoo/conditioner should I buy at the drug store?

A: I am not a typical stylist. I am not going to tell you that you must buy a professional shampoo/conditioner from me or from a salon. I will say that most professional brands are formulated to be color safe but I definitely have had bad experiences with products within  the professional range. I try my best to stay with more natural products and products that are Leaping Bunny certified (no animal testing of any kind). The best advice I can give you in choosing a product is to choose according to the condition of your hair. If you spend money on chemical services you absolutely must protect your investment and buy a good shampoo/conditioner. I would recommend a sulfate free shampoo that is labeled "color safe". The brands I most recommend are:
I love this brand. They are a great company to support. You can read about how they are different at www.aghair.com.
This is another great company to buy from. You can read why at www.yestocarrots.com.

2. What are the worst hair products on the market?

A: This is a hard question to answer. The first thing I do to check on a product is to search for it on www.ewg.org. This is the Skin Deep cosmetic database. Their mission is to give information on beauty products to ensure the safety of human health and the environment. Currently there are no regulations on beauty products. It looks like of the products they have reviewed, John Frieda is the most harmful in the drug store category and Biosilk is the most harmful in the professional category. I really stay away from most brands until I know what's inside the product.

3. If I wax my face will my hair grow in thicker?

A: I would say yes and no. No, your hair won't really grow in thicker. Yes, your hair will grow back and you may notice it more. Waxing is really the best hair removal method if you are wondering what to do with unwanted facial hair. Last year I did a really long post about hair removal. Check it out for a more lengthy discussion.

4. Why does it cost so much money to get my hair done?

A: It's hard to believe that people ask me this question, but they do. When you come to see a professional stylist you are paying for several things. First, you are paying for the expertise. If you could do it yourself you wouldn't be coming in to the salon. Beauty school is hard work and costs a decent chunk of change. Most of us really do no more after going through it. We also have to pay for at least 7 hours a year of continuing education that doesn't come cheap.  Second, you are paying for our overhead. We still have to purchase tools, supplies and pay rent/bills. Lastly, most stylists do not have a retirement fund or private health insurance and the work we do is extremely hard on our bodies. We charge more because those things have to be taken in to account.

5. Do I need to shampoo everyday?

A: No. I actually recommend that you wait at least two days between shampooing. Some people can't deal with going more than 24 hours and I understand that. If you love to wash your hair everyday and your hair is in good condition than go for it. If you have dry or curly hair I especially recommend you wait. The natural oils from your scalp are really good for your hair. Buy a natural bristle brush and brush them through. This really is a personal preference though. You aren't going to damage your hair by shampooing everyday, but you may dry it out which will increase your oil production.

6. How fast does hair grow? Is shedding OK?

A: Hair grows on average about 6 inches a year. There are three stages of hair growth. The active stage (Anagen) can last from 2-5 years and is when the hair grows the most. About 85% of your hair is in this stage at any time. How long your hair stays in this stage is determined by genetics. The transitional stage (Catagen) lasts about 2 weeks. During this stage the hair follicle shrinks and the hair strand rests and detaches itself from its nourishing blood supply. The shedding or resting stage (Telogen) lasts 1-4 months. The hair follicle remains dormant. So yes, it's healthy to shed hair. 10-15%  of your hair will be in this stage at all times.

7. How damaging is it to color your hair?

A: This depends on your stylist! No color service has to be damaging. Coloring your hair does change the texture and chemical properties of your hair. Your stylist should explain to you how to care for your hair after any chemical service. 

8. What should I tip my stylist?

A: Again, it's hard to believe I get asked this question but I do, frequently. A tip is appreciation for a job well done. I feel a tip is a gift and never expected. If I had to say, I would say that 20% is customary.

9. Can you tell me what over the counter dye to buy?

A: NO! There are only a handful of situations where I think it's alright to color your hair at home. Sorry ladies but I can pick you out a mile away. Coloring your hair at home may save you money but it isn't doing you any favors.  

10. How often should I get my hair cut?

A: This really depends on you and your hair texture and condition. To me a trim is less than half an inch. If you are growing your hair out and it is in good condition I suggest a trim every 10-12 weeks. If you have just had a perm or other chemical service I suggest a trim every 4- 6 weeks. Trimming your hair every 6 weeks will help you maintain your style.


Sunday, July 29, 2012

A Summer Session

 Airbrush Make-up by OCC in my favorite 80's Caboodle!
- Loose basket weave detail with a twist-
- Chignon at the nape-


Thank you to Katie Pitts and Sarah Throop, my two partners in beauty crime for the day. These images have not been edited to make Katie look perfect, although she is pretty perfect already.
 I like to keep it real!
Mary

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

July 2012

twobirdsphoto.com

I have been a slave to commitments all summer. That is why I haven't kept up with blogging. I am one of those people who can only handle so much before I shut down. The blog is usually the first thing to get cut. 

Thought I would just share a few images from some of my summer work. I have a few fun sessions scheduled for August so stay tuned!

The above photo is hair and makeup for a photo workshop shot by Jonathan Canlas. I really don't know anything about Jonathan Canlas but my friends at twobirdsphotos.com modeled for him. It was fun. The braid I did was a three part french braid. I thought about doing it as I was driving through Nebraska this summer. I am happy with the way it turned out.

I had the honor of doing make-up for this fantastic bride and her party. I have known Stephanie for years and was thrilled to be a part of her day. I also enjoyed the food!
twobirdsphoto.com
My little sister Abigail got married last month. I haven't gotten the professional pics back yet. It was a lovely day. The top picture is my daughter Lucy, sister Arwen and niece Emily. The second picture is my son James. The third picture is my sister Abi, my niece Eowyn and my now Brother-in-law Israel. I worked my butt off for this wedding but the hair and make-up was stress free. Everything turned out perfect.



Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Hair History: 1960's

My current collaborative work with photographer Jake Moreland of Two Birds Photography. www.twobirdsphtots.com.
Thanks to our beautiful and desirable models.
I love my work and I love the 60's.