I recently had the honor of participating as a makeup artist for Elle Magazine featuring Revlon makeup. Revlon provided all the makeup and we performed “mini makeovers” for the women of Dallas. The experience of using strictly Revlon products let me try and test most of things in their line and I’m proud to say I now have some recommendations!

My Favorite Revlon products:

Photo Ready Eye Primer plus Brightener - This product has a neat little brush attached which makes applying it easy. It’s a great base for creating a smooth palette before eyeshadow application, it also gives your eye color staying power. A word of caution: Once you’ve twisted it to dispense the product, be patient, it comes out slowly and if you keep twisting and twisting till you see product you might have a whole lot of product spewing out.

Photo Ready Concealer - I’m super impressed with this concealer. It goes on incredibly smooth and has great coverage. It’s going in my makeup case as a winner.

Photo Ready 3D Volume Mascara- I’ve been into the same mascara for years so it’s hard for me to give others a fair chance, but this mascara did not disappoint.  With the design of the brush it’s almost impossible to get clumpy lashes which is a huge plus. The formula is pretty good as well, it didn’t flake and definitely made my eyes pop. I prefer it in the darkest black.

Color Burst Lip Gloss- I like everything about this lipgloss including the packaging. The formula is really high pigmented so you get the effect of a lipstick layered with a gloss out of one product. Out of all the shades I found that the color Rose Pearl -014 looked good on every single skin tone.

When I got home I immediately downloaded book 2 and 3 and along with millions of other can now call myself a huge fan!

Of course with all book to movie type of situations, you hope they will capture as much of the true essence of the book as possible. While somewhat disappointed in what was left out story wise ( this would have made it a 4 hour movie) I was blown away by the spot on styling of the cast, in particular the citizens of the Capitol and more so Effie Trinket.

Elizabeth Banks was absolutely transformed and my eyes were in constant delight  while I watched her colorful character dance across the screen! The wigs, the makeup, the nails, the clothes, HOLY COW!!! I’d be downright shocked if this costume/makeup/and hair design isn’t nominated for an Academy Award!

Wow, I’m envios of this work! 

Hats off to the wigs/hair/makeup/nails/styling team of The Hunger Games! Well done. Well done.

Its bittersweet for me to announce that I will be stepping away from taking clients at The Beauty Box Salon.

I’ve recently been offered a position as Beauty Editor of a local publication La Mode Dallas Magazine. While I always considered being a beauty editor when I was “grown up” and couldn’t do hair anymore, my opportunity has come along now. In addition to my new title at LaMode, I will also continue to grow my skills and experience in video production and editorial styling.

I’ll miss the dynamic team at The Beauty Box Salon. Every single stylist and member of the staff bring something unique and wonderful to the daily energy of the salon. There is no other salon, and I mean NO OTHER salon in the Dallas area delivering the caliber of talent and skill in hair extensions. I plan on continuing to be a part of the creative team, and although not behind the chair, I will still be a familiar face.

Most of all I will miss my clients. Clients have been the highlight of work at The Beauty Box. Most days feel like I get to come in, do what I love, and “play” with my friends! It’s with a heavy heart that I hope to help my clients find a new stylist ( that I’m sure they will love) at The Beauty Box Salon.

What the heck is going on with your hair color?  News flash- Grey is not chic, not even close. Although I applaud your intent of being different and fun, you’ve missed your mark. Gray hair ( when it occurs naturally) can be incredibly beautiful and sophisticated,now when you fake it on the other hand it’s just weird.

If it wasn’t bad enough that your hair color is absurd, your extensions don’t even come close to matching. Major fail Ms. Osborne.

So why is gray hair such a bad thing? Well millions of women worldwide color their hair to camouflage such color. Grey hair is actually the lack of pigment in the hair, melanin which produces color in our skin and hair starts to fade with age and when it leaves the hair strand what your left with is the white or gray color we’ve come to hate. Because melanin fades with age, it has become a symbol of youth to have hair that is any color but gray.

I ticketed Rihanna for the red Ronald McDonald look a while back, and you are also being ticketed for the old lady locks. 

Brunette bombshells were the OVERWHELMING majority this year. Although there is a few blonde and red-heads sprinkled in the general consensus among men is they love a sultry dark haired fox.

Another overwhelming hair trend: Long and Loose Waves are preferred. While once again a few short haired beauties  are peppered in, men are holding true to their predictable taste and loving the long locks. ( Women, it’s encoded in their DNA to like long hair, it signals youth and fertility)

I was delighted to see a few fresh faced new-comers making the list but it’s no surprise why men chose the #1 desired woman this year: Sofia Vergara. That woman is damn near perfect, and has long brunette waves I might add!

Random Fact: Did you know Sofia Vergara is a natural blond? She started darkening her hair to be taken more seriously as an actress with a thick Latin accent. Looks like it has paid off big time Sofia, men everywhere would agree.

Want Proof? See for yourself by checking out the Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2012 according to Askmen.com

So you want longer sexier hair, and you know you want it now

But choosing an extension salon is hard, won’t somebody show you how? 

Dallas hair extensions can be tricky, you know they can look bad

But making a wise salon choice  will ensure that your not sad 

When it comes to hair extensions the same old questions arise….

Will they damage? Look fake? Will they complement my eyes? 

Since their conception extensions have come so far

They’re looking very natural, but we continue to raise that bar 

A few words of advice to make your journey a pleasant one

get the hair you want, at the price you want, without coming undone

If a salon only carries one type of extension hair 

run as fast as you can, this is surely a snare

Hair extensions are never ever a one size fits all

choice is the key to keep your hair gorgeous doll 

Clear and simple pricing is a must in this biz

confusion is just wrong, unless your a math wiz. 

Make sure your stylist is confident and informed

if not, please know that you have indeed been warned

Do your research, do the math, and enjoy your long and luscious locks

cause long and sexy hair that doesn’t damage absolutely rocks! 

Most people want hair extensions to look natural and believable, not fake. So how do you avoid re-creating some of Lindsay Lohan and Brittnay Spears worst hair moves?

Well check out the Vid for a few tips :

Hair extensions are a cosmetic service, and yes things can go wrong. Think about other cosmetic services: Breast implants, nose jobs, lipo, acrylic nails, injectables…….haven’t you heard at least one story of these procedures going horribly wrong?

Like most things in the world of beauty you get what you pay for and you should absolutely do your research to make sure your going to a licensed expert. In this short video I share a few of my thoughts on making sure your hair extension experience is not a damaging one.

Easihair maker of Easilenghts tape in hair extensions has a huge presence at New York Fashion Week. I’m sure it’s no secret that most of the models need hair extensions in order to create the beautiful looks the stylists had in mind, stylist love using easilengths because of how easy they are to apply and how great they are to incorporate into a style.  Peter Gray is a hair artist extrodinare and this fun and feminine look he dreamt up for Miss Betsy is one of my favorites!

Check out the video for an inside look on how the style is created: