Glitz and Glam is a must for the Holidays. Between the shopping and the celebrating, you don’t have much time for pampering yourself. Here are a few quick steps to look and feel “Fabulous” while on a budget for time and money.

• Let it shine ~ Sequins, rhinestones, and metallics can be worn with almost anything. Figure out your most comfortable feature and dress around it. If you have great arms?….wear sleeveless. Great legs….mini dress. Let your best assets help you look and feel fantastic.
• Gold accents ~ This is a hot trend that looks ultra expensive. You can take an ordinary outfit and just add some gold jewels to make it glam.
• The great shoe ~ I don’t care what you wear, it will always look better with a great shoe! This is where you can splurge a little and get something comfortable but yet trendy.
• Fuzzy wuzzy ~ Top your great out fit with a faux fur. Cuddly and warm but uber sexy. Fur vests are really cute with a casual look of jeans, metallic blouse and hot boots.
• Great hair ~ Learn to do your hair!! Practice one fancy style, like an up-sweep, or just a curly do. Hot rollers give a great glam look in just minutes. Now a days, you can youtube anything even a hairdo. Or just bring in a pic to your stylist and they can give you some pointers.
• Red lips ~  This brings an instant brightness to your face and a glam style to any look. Use a lip primer before applying to secure that it won’t run.

With all that said, I’m sure you will look extremely sexy and ready to partay! Go enjoy….Kiss~Kiss

How many times have you bought a “Hot” pair of shoes and you have nothing to wear with them? Or they are too high to walk in sooo….. you leave them in the closet for decoration? Ha…I do this all the time! I’m guilty…I love shoes! The first step to recovery and successful shopping is know where the problems is. The solution is to buy shoes on sale or with a discount.

It is Cyber Monday and this is where you can save some serious dollars. Thanks to Jessica Simpson and Heels.com, I just bought myself a grey and black bootie and a great pair of high heel platforms. Using the discounted links on the right, I saved $89! Yes, enough for one more pair!!! (ohhh noo)

So take advantage of these Fantastic deals so you can still splurge without the guilt.

Happy Shopping =)

I know that you are all guilty of not washing your hair everyday and most people don’t have to. Sometimes 2nd day hair is better than day one…why?

Depending on the texture, dirty ‘is’ better. Especially for curly hair, the natural oils from the scalp help calm down some fly aways and frizzes. When I do an up-do style, I always ask the client to wash the hair the night before. This makes sure that the cuticle of the hair is completely locked down and with those naturals, it’s a perfect canvas for hot irons. Usually the style holds better when there are layers of products and greases keeping it slick.

What do you do on the second day? A great way to recycle a ‘do’ is to be creative with styles. It’s amazing how you can throw a braid into a style and change your look. Pony tails and buns are trendy and chic with a great headband or scarf, you can’t go wrong with a few bands and pins.

Up is not your thang? Put a sprinkle of baby powder on your brush….comb the scalp at the the crown where you want some hight. Back combing that powder helps grip your tease and gives great volume. Don’t forget to spritz your locks with sweet perfume…ya never know who you might run into ;)

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Today is a day to appreciate what has blessed your life and the obstacles that you’ve overcome. Some are thankful for life and love, and some are thankful for food and warmth. Do yourself a favor and stop to enjoy this Holiday and the people that are in your life that support you.

Instead of running out at midnight  for the ‘Black Friday’ madness, and taking special time away from you and your family, use the internet to your advantage. I understand about saving a buck but you can get some great deals right here on line. My sponsors on the right side of this page have given discount links that can help us save this weekend. Just click on the link for the codes.

Time goes by so fast and things can change your life in a blink of an eye. Choose how you spend your time wisely.

A life well lived is priceless ….Happy Thanksgiving =)

Style comes in many phases…it’s not just fashion,….it’s not just hair….it’s also Home. It’s amazing what a little paint and some loving touches can do to a room.

I have a little cottage home on Long Island for about 12 years now and every holiday season, I try to do a project in my house that makes me happy all year round. Last year I decided to do a ‘mini’ make-over on my kitchen with spending less than $150. Colors can change your mood and feel about the space.

2 gallons of paint = $58.35

ceramic tile backsplash = $62.80

extras =  $28.65

$149.80

Here are before and after pics….

Before

After

Before

After

After

As the cooler temps roll in, we are all looking for some warmth. We tend to wear more layers, richer fabrics and deeper colors. So does the trends in hair color. Think of melted chocolates, warm brownies, caramel almonds, and toasted apricots when thinking of warming up your hair color. There are many ways to give yourself a lift and a new look without breaking the bank.

Find pictures of what you like! Stylists love when you bring ideas and are willing to do something a little different. A semi-permanent gloss is a fantastic way to deepen your color while adding shine and reflection.

Spice up your old hi-lites with creamy toffee tones. I use the term ‘re-cycle’ when I gloss all the hair except for a few strands around the hairline. This brightens your face and looks like you went on a vaca, and have a sun kissed look. Adding mahogany or root beer hues to washed out ends can revive your locks and make it look healthy and thick again.

There is a whole color wheel of possibilities when you are in the world of color. I highly advise you “don’t try this at home” and find yourself a reasonable stylist that you are comfortable with. Leave it to the professionals when chemicals are being used because the integrity of your hair is at stake. Playing with boxes can led to spending more money if you run into a problem and damage to your hair that can take a long time to fix.

You deserve to treat yourself and look your best.

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Natural curls are a blessing (not for the ones who have it) but it needs to be nurtured. Especially on rainy, humid days…there is no chance that it will stay straight and silky (even if ur stylist did it for you). It’s not as easy as wash and wear but here are a few tips for Curly Q’s to tame the mane and enjoy going natural.

• Lets start from the beginning….curly hair is often very dry and rarely ever looks greasy. Shampoo can moisturize, or calm down the cuticle of ur hair resulting in less fly aways. Sulfate free shampoos are great for chemical treated hair and won’t strip away the oils. I recommend switch off every other time with a moisture shampoo so ur strands stay hydrated.
• Intense conditioner is a must for ur locks. I always recommend a hot oil treatment or ‘mask’ once a week to keep the curls sculpted and supple. Don’t feel dirty if you skip a day of washing. You can rinse and re-condition, your hair will stay calm and soft.
• Products are ur friend! Start off with good professional products such as frizz oils, sculpting gels or creamy curl balm. Depending on the level of hold you are looking for, choose 2 and mix them together. By mixing the products first, helps you to distribute it evenly thru out ur head.
• Air drying is probably the best for ur ringlets but if you have to, use a dryer with a diffuser. On a low setting, cup ur curls in ur hand and dry softly. Don’t just blow it all around, you will look like a wooly monster!(lol) Be nice and gentle, less drying is better for keeping the ringlets sculpted.
• Get a good haircut and you will love going bare. Long layers are the way to shape ur curls and distribute the weight. Also keeping it longer will help if your mane tends to get full. There are stylists that specialize in creative cuts for Q’s like you so shop around. Find someone with curls also so she can relate to ur needs and issues.

Being free and organic with what ur mama gave you will be liberating!    Embrace your beauty and enjoy =)

Don’t ya just love a great haircut and professional blowout? Have you ever wondered why you can’t do that at home? I will share some tricks of the trade that we do in the salon everyday.

1. Prepare your hair = Shampoo is very important to a great blowout. This can clean, calm, or pump ur hair depending on what you need. Alway condition those ends for a smooth and shiny look.
2. Cocktails = This is a mix of your favorite products. I always suggest using a frizz oil with a mousse or gel depending on the finished style and level of hold you want.
3. Take the water out = Whether you air dry it first or just blow it around till 90% of the moisture is gone.  Then section and style. Use a good brush, I like the ceramic and bristle brushes ( they grab and curl at the same time ) This cuts your drying time in half and is less damaging.
4. Air stream = Treat yourself to a good dryer with a stream nozzle. This is a cap for the end of the dryer that condenses the air to a stream of power. This is controlling the air so it doesn’t disturb the rest of ur head and helps smooth little hairs down.
5. Cool it off = Ever wonder what that ‘cool button’ is for? This gives you great shine and smooths the hair while styling. If you are trying to curl, wrap hair around the brush, hit it with a warm blower for 20 sec then hit the cool shot for 30 sec. Trying to keep it straight? Follow ur brush facing downwards with a warm dryer for same time , follow with the cool and you will see instant shine.
6. Spray it up = Find your favorite spray that can help that great blowout stay for a while. Put a spritz of perfume on your brush so you smell like you just walked out of the spa.

Try these tricks at home and let me know how you did….Practice makes perfect….and you can always look camera ready and feeling great  =)

Every season there are new trends but how do you pull in a trend with out overkill? If you have a basic wardrobe of simple yet stylist clothes, trends are a great way to accessorize. Think of bags, scarfs, hats or coats when in a business or work environment. This is not the place for bold, bright and overwhelming colors or fabrics. Even keep you hair and makeup a little subdued, you don’t want to be talked about at the water cooler.

When you wear trends, try to do one at a time. I’ve seen this too many times where someone absolutely loves cheetah and insists on wearing in from head to toe….ewww…you don’t want to look like a crazy cat lady! Or someone who loves the trend of feathers so they have feathers in their hair, feathers on their shirt with feather earrings…too tacky!

Hair is a fantastic accessory but should it follow a trend? When the “pob” (or Posh bob) came back around, I saw sooooo many people chop all their hair off to just be trendy. Some looked Fantastic!! But some needed a paper bag! Just because it is a trend, doesn’t mean that it is good for everyone. And shame on the stylists that did the same cut on every single person that walked in.

Try to do trends a little more subtle and you will see how it accents your style. For instance if you are going to wear a trendy top, keep the rest of you neutral and add a great bag. Or keep you colors neutral and pop a colored belt or necklace to pull in some style. Take it easy and you will be surprised how trends can make your style classy and up to date.

My Mom in the 70's

Growing up on long island with a family of hairstylists, I had no choice but to follow in their footsteps. When I was about 3, my family bought a salon, my grandmother ran it and my mother was the star stylist. You didn’t just get your hair done, you had a good laugh, gossip with the neighbors, even bagels on saturday and maybe a cocktail by the afternoon.  I remember the marble stations with the red velvet and gold wall paper, red sheers in the window and the circle style pictures on the wall behind the dryers. Everyone came for their weekly wash and set along with great advise.

My grandmother was a style queen. She was dressed from head to toe, everyday, even to go grocery shopping. My grandfather was a business man in NYC and was so in love with her. When he came home from work, they would spend the first hour alone together, just having a drink and conversation. Her greatest advise to me as a child was to “always look better than ur husband’s secretary”, lol..and I never forgot it. I think this is when my obsession for beauty was born.

Living on my own since 17 left me on a budget that none of my friends had. While everyone was buying fendi and LV, I was paying rent and trying to get my career off the ground. Money was tight but I learned to make due and shop for bargains. Being creative with my style and knowing what to splurge on was my biggest struggle. At 23 I bought my first salon and it was a great success and experience. I can give style tips and tricks for being creative with what you have because I lived thru it. Thru every struggle is a lesson and now it is my strength.

There is a power within us that creates your reality. When you find your power, you find yourself. That’s why I’m here to help.