Monday, June 14, 2010

Trials


Summer is the busiest time for weddings and with that, trials are necessary. A trial (some people call it a test, preview or a consultation) is an appointment where the artist meets with the bride to 'try' out the look or several looks for the wedding day. This meeting is VERY important and I do not suggest skipping it. This is your time to nail down the look you have always been dreaming about for your wedding.

When Should I Do the Trial?
Some ladies choose to book and then meet for a trial and others book only after meeting with the artist. If you are going to book before meeting the artist, make sure you are absolutely confidant in their work and have read enough good reviews from other brides.



How Far in Advance?
A great artist who works on weddings usually gets booked pretty far in advance (especially in the wedding months April-November). So, I recommend that if you find someone who's work you love... don't wait and set up an appointment.



Hair - I always recommend that you bring photos of the type of hairstyles you have in mind. The more pictures, the better! Also, if you have your veil or any accessories, bring those too!
Makeup -You should also bring photos of the type of looks you have in mind, or just the type of makeup you really like regardless of ethnicity, or skin tone. If you are a makeup wearer, bring some photos of yourself with makeup on.

Be Honest!!!!
A trial is your opportunity to communicate everything, so don't sit back... be honest with the artist about what you like and don't like. The artist cannot read your mind (unless she/he is psychic) so talk, talk and talk some more! The worst thing is if you walk out hating how you look and not saying a word. And if the artist has an ego and doesn't take your coaching... then I recommend working with someone else.

Take Pictures
Take as many pictures as possible in as many different lights as possible. Inside, outside, with flash and without. Not only do you want to look flawless in person, you want to make sure the makeup and hair translates well in pictures and video. Your photos will last a lifetime, so make sure you will look perfect and don't have surprises on the wedding day. Also, it helps the artist to remember what look you decide on and how to recreate it.



Monday, April 12, 2010

Yana Beauty Studio will be featured on a TV Show!!!

We are thrilled to announce that Yana Beauty Studio will be featured on a
new television show for a major cable network! If you book your bridal hair
and makeup with us, your wedding could be featured on the show. Contact us today
for details! 323-630-5645

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Mia

I have been meaning to post these photos for while now..but only got to it now when the wedding craziness has slowed down.
Meet Mia. She got married on August 1st, 2009. She came to meet with me in March and we instantly connected.
On the wedding day, I did Mia's hair and makeup and had a few assistants help me with the rest of the bridal party. Everyone looked stunning! Mia's hairstyle was very modern, yet classy. It was great for dancing and the heat. We decorated with fresh orchids to make it look feminine.
For Mia's makeup, she wanted a natural look. Since she doesn't wear makeup on a regular basis, I wanted to make sure she felt comfortable and like herself...just prettier! So, I used light and medium brown tones on her eyes with a winged eyeliner. Then I used individual lashes to open up the eyes and give a more dramatic effect. Of course, I airbrushed the foundation and blush. For the lips, I went with a soft peachy-pink tone that really complimented her beautiful complexion.
Mia was so easy to work with and was so great that I felt re-energized for the whole day (even after working for since 5 am until 3pm without a break!)
Thank you for that, Mia :)

Monday, January 4, 2010

Winter Beauty: 101

Say “I Do” to these bridal beauty skin savers!

The weather outside may be frightful, but your skin can look delightful -- if you follow the correct beauty regimen in the days and weeks leading up to your wedding. Wintry conditions can make it hard for you to look your best when you’re battling dry skin, chapped lips, and flyaway hair. Find out what you need to do to look your best when you say “I do.”

Winter Beauty Dilemma: Dry Skin

Too many brides-to- be come to me expecting a miracle, but unfortunately if your skin is dry and flaky, it is very hard to make even the greatest foundation look good.

If you are feeling drier during the the cold months of winter, it is important to keep your skin hydrated and your regular moisturizer might not do the trick! Read the labels carefully. Keep in mind that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a rosy glow. Cetaphil (a nonirritant and fragrance-free line that’s dermatologist-approved) has a number of products for every skin care need and can be found at your local drugstore. FYI: Don’t forget your hands! Winter brides should take special care to fight dry hands and fingers. Most likely, this is one part of your body that will be heavily photographed on your wedding day. Treat yourself to a paraffin wrap at your local salon or spa a day or two before your wedding to ensure that your fingers are as soft as velvet.

Winter Beauty Dilemma: Chapped Lips

It’s hard to kiss your groom if your lips feels like sandpaper, not to mention that lipstick won't help.Start early and moisturize your pucker with products that have a combination of proven moisturizers like Vitamin E, aloe, shea butter, and beeswax. The Body Shop’s Lip Butter line of lip balm contains many of these ingredients, is specialized for specific skin types, and costs under $10.

Winter Beauty Dilemma: Flyaways and Staticky Hair

Dry, cold air sucks the moisture out of your hair. If you want to avoid having your hair stand on end when you walk down the aisle (literally), start using a deep conditioner every time you wash it. If your hair is naturally dry and coarse, opt for a leave-in conditioning treatment. Make sure you stay away from hair care products that list alcohol as one of the main ingredients -- alcohol is a drying agent and can make the situation worse. Specialized hair care lines like PHYTO include many natural conditioning ingredients to improve the quality of your hair. If you’re still concerned about flyaways on your wedding day, store a few dryer sheets in your purse and gently smooth one over your hair prior to your wedding photos.



Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Friends Wedding

This weekend was the wedding of one of my dear friends, Tanya. Tanya and I go way back...17 years to be exact! And this Sunday, I saw her get married to the love of her life, Ben.
It's so special for me to make my friends feel and look beautiful. I get the privilege of not only making up all of the girls, but to laugh and cry with everyone and be a part of the day. And since I went to their beautiful wedding, I got to see the end result and how beautiful and happy she was throughout the night.
Tanya has the most beautiful green eyes...like a cat! I wanted to make her eyes stand out from mile away without making them too dark. So, I used one of my favorite pigments from MAC called 'Tan". I also accentuated her crease with 'swiss chocolate' from MAC. I put a lot of individual eyelashes on her and finished it off with lots of black mascara from YSL.
Tanya has a really beautiful skintone that I also wanted to accentuate. I used a smashbox dual luminizing primer on her cheeks to give her a nice glow in the light. It really makes a difference on pictures. And of course, I airbrushed her with the Dinair foundation. Her skin looked absolutely flawless and even when I wanted to touch her up at the party...she was still looking as fresh as she did when I did her makeup!
I hope to be a part of many more of my friends weddings!!!

All About Airbrush

What do celebrities use to have a flawless complexion? The magic of airbrush makeup. This makeup is long lasting, smudge and cry proof, and looks amazing on pictures. Celebrities and brides seek out professionals that are masters in airbrushing and if you are wondering what the big hype about airbrush is....read on!

What is airbrush anyway?

Airbrush Makeup is a liquified form of makeup that is applied with an airbrush very similar to those used by car makers. Although it sounds daunting, Airbrush Makeup looks fantastic and lasts for hours with absolutely no risk of caking or streaking.

Why Airbrush?

  • Flawless Coverage, Yet Natural Looking
  • Water Resistant & Smudge Proof
  • Long Lasting (up to 15 hours!)
  • Custom Blended Foundation Colors
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Looks AMAZING on Photos and in Videos
  • So, if you are saying to yourself "WOW! This sounds great, I want to try it!" (I don't blame you!)
If you are having a makeup trial for your event, I always try the airbrush at no extra charge so you can see how you like it. And of course, if you want your makeup done for any special occasion or for your wedding...airbrush makeup is just an additional $25.

If you have any questions, please post them here!


Choosing a Veil

Matching your veil to your desired wedding-day hairstyle isn't difficult; there's a beautiful look for every style.

All Swept Up

The formal updo, with its clean lines and timeless elegance, is a favorite wedding day look and works well with a variety of veils. If you've got your heart set on an updo, remember:

  • When choosing a hairstyle and veil, take your face shape into account. If you have a rounder face, sleeker styles with longer veils will look best on you. Fuller styles and veils flatter narrow faces. Talented stylists can adapt most styles to suit the shape of your face.
  • Veils that hang longer than your waist, like the fingertip, chapel and ballet styles, are heavy. Tighter styles hold up better under all that tulle, so if you are wearing a long veil, choose a coif with less volume up top. A chignon, where the hair is gathered into a roll at the nape of the neck, is a good bet. Another option is the Juliet topknot, where the hair is twisted into a tight coil at the top of the head.
  • Do you love the drama of intricate updos, with lengths of hair woven into an elaborate creation on the crown of your head? This style CAN work with a longer, heavier veil -- instead of covering your hair with the veil, consider piling your hair on TOP of your veil. The veil will cascade down your back, adding romance and sweetness to your style.
  • The French twist, where the hair is gathered into a low pony tail and then swept into a roll along the back of the head, is a classic and versatile look. Bride s who choose the French twist are in luck -- this style looks gorgeous both with long veils and with shorter styles, from the floor length veils to the wispy flyaways, which are only about a foot long.

Letting Loose

If you've decided to leave your long locks down for that romantic look, remember that tousled shouldn't mean tangled. Be sure to set your hair and use either hairspray or gel to give it structure and prevent flyaways. Hair left down can work with most any length of veil, but the rule of thumb is that your veil should always be longer than your hair so you don't look messy.

Also remember that the longest veils may be too heavy for hairstyles with lots of body, so try a sleek look if you're wearing a long veil.

Updo or Up Don't?

A good compromise between the sweetness of hair left down and the elegance of updos is any of several in-between styles, where the hair from your crown is swept back and the rest of your

hair is left down. Whether you gather the hair from your crown into a bun, or pull the top layer back with twinkling combs, an in-between style is a lovely compromise in the great debate between up and down. And if you are still undecided, remember that more and more brides are
wearing an updo to their ceremony and taking their hair down for the reception.

Chic Short Cuts

Styling is key for brides with short hair. Shorter styles have a tendency to look messy, so whether you iron it, dress it, or slick it back, make sure that you win the fight against bed head. One look we love for cropped cuts: Tiny crystal-tipped hairpins strategically placed throughout the hair to add sparkle.

Brides with short hair look especially lovely with short veils. Picture a tuft of snowy white tulle fluttering from the crown of your head. But don't think a smaller veil is your only option -- cascading veils can look fabulous, too. Dress your hair up with a tiara or halo of flowers, and you'll be gorgeous in a veil of any length.

Topping It Off

Tiaras are still the hottest accessory for bridal hairstyles, but combs, clips, barrettes, jeweled hair sticks, and hairpins are popular as well. All accessories can look great with a variety of hairstyles and veils, but remember to use them sparingly. Too many twinkles can distract from your most beautiful feature -- your face!