The Fashion Face

2011-12-05T07:54:00.000-08:00

Okay, so some fun news to pass along...I have moved my office! I am in the process of re-doing my own studio in a building that is on my property. I will be posting pictures of the progress...however, in the meantime I have a little room/office at the Daffodil Hill Day Spa (which happens to be two doors down from my house!!). It is an absolutely beautiful place! Everyone there works for themselves, but the spa works together as a group for many different events. So now that I'm working from the spa, I will also be offering massage and body soaks! Yes, I will still be focusing primarily on hair and makeup, I just have more things to choose from now!! So, to keep everyone updated, here is what I'll now be offering to all my wonderful clients:

Hair

Bridal: $70

Special Event: $60+

Styling: $50

Makeup

Bridal: $60

Special Event: $60+

Airbrush: $120

High Fashion/Editorial: $70+

*all makeup services include false eyelashes at no extra cost

Extras

One hour of touch-up (after wedding) for photos/reception: $60

Touch-up kit (please order in advance): $50

Touch-up kit (please order in advance): $100

On Location Pricing

A standard fee of $20 is applied to all on-location events. Depending on location, price may increase.

Waxing

Brow Shape: $15

Brow Cleanup: $10

Chin: $10

Sideburns: $15

Face: $45

Underarm: $20

Half Arm: $20

Full Arm: $40

Chest: $40+

Stomach: $15

Back: $50+

Bikini (outside panties only): $35

European (slightly inside panties): $45

Toes: $10

Half Leg: $30

Whole Leg: $60

Massage

30 Minute: $30

1 Hour: $60

90 Minute

Scalp, Neck, and Shoulders (20 min): $20

Lower Leg and Foot (20 min): $20

Deep Tissue: $75

Hot Stone: $75

Chair: $1/minute
Reflexology: $45

Body Soaks

Basic Package (25 minute mineral soak, sparkling water, chocolates): $45

Luxury Package (25 minute essential oil and mineral soak, fresh rose pedals, red wine or sparkling water, chocolates, and a scoop of our handmade luxury soak to take home): $60

Feet

Happy Feet Soak: $25

Mineral Soak: $35

Business Massage Packages

If interested in having my business partner, Holly, and myself come out to your place of business or organization...we will gladly set something up with you that fits your company needs! So don't hesitate to ask!

I do still have hair and makeup product that I sell, along with lotions and soaks.

So, there we have it. I will be posting photos of the spa soon. If you are interested in purchasing gift certificates for Christmas, or anything else for that matter, just let me know and I will get you set up!

2011-11-21T21:02:00.000-08:00

HEY EVERYONE!! Yes, I know...it has been ages since I've updated this thing...but I'm really

back this time! So, let me get you up to date here. Yes, I am still doing hair and makeup, in fact I've been quite busy! I won't be updating you on every shoot and sho
w I've done in the past year, but here's a brief overview.

In the past year, I've gotten to work for ABC's, Extreme Makeover:

Weightloss Edition, doing hair and makeup and working with an amazing team.

I also had the privilege yet again work with the Bethel Foundation (a non-prof organi

zation helping single parents, abused women, and children) with their fundraiser and working

with So You Think You Can Dance's, Mary Murphy, doing hair, makeup, and styling for her, along with the amazing ladies who run the Bethel Foundation.

I also managed to get to get to do a few extra fun things as well...like a Christmas in Poland, vacation in Vegas with my sister, colored my hair a deep/dark purple-ish, celebrated my daughter's 4th birthday, celebrated my 30th (wow) birthday, remodeling my very own studio, and even managed to buy a house!

Several photo shoots and wonderful opportunities have made the past several months

AMAZING! Wish I could go back and share everything, but I can at least promise to keep this

updated MUCH more often. Many things are in the works, so get excited for that! Here are a some sampling of photos from the past year-ish. Enjoy!!

Poland (above) = COLD

The purple hair of 2011...if you can even tell here

Okay, I'm not going to going photo crazy with my entire absence here...but after many comments about my lack of updating, I hereby commit to updating this blog much more often! Start checking in and looking for the many projects and updates in the works!!

Thanks for the patience!

2011-01-12T12:38:00.000-08:00

HEY!! Yes, I know it's been a while...but a LOT has happened. I am back! this is not going to be my usual blog post, but here's a quick update. Still have my office/studio in OKC. Am excited about working with the ABC network this season on one of their popular series! I am also getting to work with PURE magazine, who is new in town from Dallas. Many fashion shows and shoots coming up, so be prepared!! Many exciting blogs to come!!

2009-12-10T08:11:00.000-08:00

Makeup Workshop!!

It's that time of year! If you are interested in signing up, now is the time! There is limited space, so sign up quickly!
Here's the info:
Date: Saturday, February 6th
Time: 8am - 12pm
What: Fine tune your makeup skills
Hands on training with your own personal model
Photos of your best work
Gain resources into the industry
Hear tips from well known fashion & bridal photographers
Get tips and training from Hair & Makeup Artist: Rachel Hart
Your own makeup kit to take home with you
Where: Rachel Hart's studio in NW Oklahoma City
Cost: $200 per person

Cost must be paid in full 2 weeks before the workshop.
Cash or check is accepted.
If for some reason you are unable to attend, you will receive a $150 refund
Spots are limited!!

If you are interested or have any other questions, please contact me at rachelahart@gmail.com

2009-11-20T09:44:00.000-08:00

If you ever hear me complain about my job, I give you full permission to hit me, or at least yell at me. I love my job! This week, I got to work with two lovely ladies! After a morning or hair and makeup, we went out to a lovely house for some photos. I can't show them off too much yet, but here is a little sneak peek.

I couldn't resist taking some photos of the dogs :)

Okay, I'm afraid this is all I can show you for now. I will post more later on.
Thanks ladies for the great afternoon!

2009-11-07T08:09:00.000-08:00

It's not very often that I get to work with someone that I love so very very much! I got to do hair & makeup for my cousin, Jessica!! First of all, I can't believe she is old enough for this, but she had her senior photos taken by the lovely BRC Photography artist, Benita Cloward. Here are some photos from the shoot...The photos turned out AMAZING!! There were so many photos, and if you want to see more check out Benita's site:
www.brcphotography.com

2009-10-22T06:06:00.000-07:00

It finally happened! The lovely Benita Cloward and I worked together once again! Actually we worked together twice this week, but today I will only blog about one. Our model? Corinna Feidt! She is a beautiful and amazing model from Germany. And if you don't know Benita Cloward (of BRC Photography), she is a photographer, who is also here from Germany. She has got some major photography skills and I love getting to work with her!

Monday was a bit windy, which for those of you who live or know Oklahoma, shouldn't be too surprised. Aside from the wind, and the slightly freezing chill in the air, the photos turned out to be amazing! Corinna is a pro in the modeling world and turned out some killer photos. Here is a little taste of what we did...
So ther it is. A little tast of what Monday held for us. If you like this, you can check out more of Benita's work on her site:

www.brcphotography.com

2009-10-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

I consider myself very blessed when I think of the people I get to work with! About 2 weeks ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to work with couture designer and boutique owner, Meg Guess. I did hair and makeup for two models which will appear in several ads! I cannot show those photos YET, but I can and I WILL show some photos from her couture show...in which I also did hair and makeup for. ColorBand Photography shot the show and did a little photo shoot after the show of some of the models. If you haven't checked out ColorBand Photography, you should!

www.colorbandproductions.com

Anyway, here are some photos from the show (and after the show). Enjoy!

If you are getting married EVER, you should seriously consider Meg Guess for just about all your needs! From couture gowns, custom made gowns, in-store/handmade hair accessories, shoes, jewelry, and amazing attention to detail and service! You will not regret it!
www.MegGuess.com

And yes, I will one day post photos from the amazing shoot we did as well, but you'll just have to be patient...until then go to her site and see her amazing stuff and get your fill of ColorBand photography.

Makeup Workshops

2009-09-14T11:44:00.000-07:00

I am now offering makeup workshops!! No, not a school, a workshop. Workshops for everyday women wanting to perfect their style as well as makeup artist wanting to perfect their skills. Interested? Here's the skinny:

Professional Makeup Introduction Workshop:
For the professional makeup artist, or someone who is interested in starting up a career as a freelance makeup artist.
The workshop includes a makeup kit:Hands on experience with a professional model provided for you.
One on one training with photographers and makeup artist (myself)
Well known photographer, Bryan Kannowski, will have a mini-photo shoot with your model and you will receive a CD with edited copies of your best photos.
You will also receive handouts with resources for Oklahoma makeup artists, tips, how-to worksheets, and much more.
Cost for this workshop is $800 per person

Bridal Makeup Workshop
For the professional makeup artist AND for anyone wanting to learn tips and tricks to bridal makeup. This workshop includes:
Bridal Makeup Kit
Bridal Makeup Kit
Hands on experience with a professional model provided for you.
Handouts and worksheets to help you understand Bridal makeup and perfect it!
Work with photographer, Bryan Kannowski, and get a CD of your work.
Connections to Oklahoma's finest Bridal Couture.
Cost of this workshop is $200 per person

High Fashion Makeup Workshop
This is for the professional makeup artist who is interested in entering the high fashion industry of makeup. This workshop includes:
High Fashion Mini-Makeup Kit

Hands on experience with a professional model provided for you.
Work with photographer, Bryan Kannowski and receive a CD of your best work.
Resources for high fashion makeup artists.
Handouts and worksheets to help you along your way.
One on one training with professional makeup artist (myself).
Learn what works best in photographs from photographers in the high fashion industry.
The cost of this workshop is $300 per person

Runway Makeup Workshop
For the professional makeup artist interested in learning more about runway makeup.
This workshop includes:
Runway Mini-Makeup Kit
Hands on experience with a professional model provided for you.
Advice and tips from designers.
Work with photographer, Bryan Kannowski and get a CD with photos of your best work.
One on one training with professional makeup artist (myself).
Handouts and worksheets with tips and resources for the professional makeup artist.
Resources for the Oklahoma makeup artist to local clothing designers statewide.
Cost for this workshop is $200 per person

If you are interested in taking any of these workshops, please contact me or go to my website: www.hair-n-makeup.com

Space is limited and spots are filling up FAST!

2009-09-13T19:22:00.000-07:00

Yes! It is that time of the year again ladies! Not only Fashion Weeks galore, but wedding time! No, not for me...but for thousands of beautiful girls everywhere wedding bells are ringing. So this, my friends, is a little bridal resource blog. Starting next week, I will be working with Meg Guess Couture doing photos shoots and runway shows highlighting the latest (and timeless) looks of the bridal fashions. If you haven't yet checked out Meg Guess, you should!

www.megguess.com
She carries just about everything you need to make the "big day" exactly what you dreamed it would be. Not only will she have everything, but she is wonderful to work with as well.
Here are a few photos from Meg Guess Couture:I know, you are going to need more than a dress to pull this thing off. So here are a few more resources for your big day.
Photographers:

www.bryankannowski.com

www.kevinpaulphotography.com

www.beautifuldayimages.com

www.huntingtonphoto.com

Bridal Couture:

www.megguess.com

www.kennethpool.com

And of course hair & makeup:

myself!! My website is about to be updated and completely changed, so be patient!!
www.hair-n-makeup.com

So those sites should take you far! Here is a little inspiration for you as you plan:

2009-08-20T08:01:00.000-07:00

With fall just around the corner, (and apparently it's RIGHT around the corner) fall trends are about to hit the racks! With that being said, fashion week(s) are also right around the corner. School is starting up and moms are going crazy looking for the sales and best deal for back to school clothes for the kiddos, but what about THEIR clothes? Being a fellow mommy, I vowed not to slip into the "mommy frump" which so many seem to slide into without the slightest fight. So to all the moms out there who are in my boat...our time has come to set sail! And for those of you who are in the "frump", but are trying to get out? We'll throw you a life boat.

Here are some of the things you will see on the runway this fall:

Over-the-knee boots are the must-have item for Fall 2009; but those daring enough will find the tops of their boots creeping up even higher with thigh-high boots also making it mainstream. From elegant suedes to darkly futuristic wound-and-bound leathers, the options are many and various.

Capes. Just the thought of the word sends my thoughts to Zorro and Superman. I can't say that capes have been in the mainstream since the oh so humble poncho come to protect us from melting. However, you can indeed put capes on the agenda for the Fall 2009 line up. Yes, I was one of the first to doubt this "trend", but with a modern twist to the hero frock, I think you might just change your mind.

I have to give a shout out to my AMAZING designer friend, Erika Hendrix. Planning to take Paris Fashion Week (at least in my opinion) by storm this October, has a truly romantic collection that I MUST let you see!! Not only are her clothes all handmade by Erika herself, but they won't cost you your body parts just to lay your hands on a piece! Here's a little look at what she has in store:

To see more of her stuff (and to get your hands on it), visit her site:
www.erikahendrix.com

So, now you can take a little time for yourself (what's that?), and feel fab dropping your kids off for their first day of school. Good luck and happy shopping!

Tiki Doll Runway Show

2009-08-19T10:52:00.000-07:00

That's right! The time has come for the Tiki Doll Runway show! This year will be her second show ever, so you don't want to miss out. The show is Aug. 30st at 7pm at the downtown farmers market (311 S. Klein Ave., OKC) . Here is the flyer for the show:

If the flyer is a bit of a challenge to read, here's the scoop:
$20 in advance
$25 at the door
$40 for VIP tickets
August 30th @ 7pm
Where? OKC Farmers Market

VIP room opens at 6pm the night of the show with complimentary food, drinks, and gifts. The band Monkey Gun will be performing live during the show. There will also be a surprise designer guest featuring several items.
For more information and ticket information, please contact me!
Here are some photos of Tiki's Spring 2009 clothing line:

Unlike her spring line, the fall 2009 line will be more rock and roll/grunge with a romantic feel. You won't want to miss this show!

High Fashion/Runway Makeup Workshop

2009-08-06T18:29:00.000-07:00

That's right! Starting this coming fall, let the workshops begin! If you are interested in learning more about high fashion, print, editorial, and runway makeup artistry...then might I suggest this workshop. The workshop will be on a Saturday (date yet to be announced) for 3 hours. The cost for the VERY FIRST workshop is only$100 per person. After the first workshop, the cost will be $150 per person, (So sign up quickly! Limited seating!!).

What will this workshop do for you?
Here is the low-down:

Workshop to be help in Oklahoma City

3 hour long workshop

Hands on makeup training with professional model

Your work for the day will be photographed by well known photographer Bryan Kannowski!!

You will receive photos of your best work during the day

Some of my favorite makeup tools of the trade to add to your professional makeup collection

Education on how to grow your business Tips and tools for the business

Handouts

and so much more...

If you haven't seen Bryan Kannowski's work, here are a few samples for your viewing:

Here are some of the many looks that we will go over in the workshop:

High Fashion Editorial

Working with clothing designers:

Working with COLOR:

Working in black and white:Creative Design:

If you are interested in attending this workshop, PLEASE contact me quickly! Spots will fill up fast and REMEMBER, only this first workshop is going to be $100 per person. The date will be sent out the the people participating in the workshop. Fee MUST be paid in full 2 weeks before the workshop!!

You can email me at rachelahart@gmail.com

To see more of my work & press go to www.hair-n-makeup.com

Abigail Smith photos

2009-08-04T11:49:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from the photographer Abigail Smith. She was apart of the collaboration photo shoot I did last Wednesday. I think you'll be happy....the photos are FANTASTIC!!

Bryan Kannowski & Abigail Smith Photoshoot

2009-07-31T15:24:00.000-07:00

Yay! I finally got to work with Abigail Smith! Wednesday afternoon I got the fantastic opportunity to work on a collaborated photo shoot which included photographer Bryan Kannowski, Abigail Smith, models Ricki & Dianne, Amanda Kannowski, and myself on hair/makeup (I also brought along my camera, just for fun). We shot just outside of Moore, OK on a great country road. Here are a few shot that I took.Model: Dianne

Model: Riki

Bryan & Abigail doing what they do best

Here is one of the photos taken by Bryan:

If you haven't checked out his work, you should! www.bryankannowski.com

I must say, besides working in 100 degree weather...we had a great time!
Nothing like a FlavaIce to get you through the day.

I haven't seen any of Abigail's photos yet, but I will be sure to post them when I do...no doubt that they are going to be stunning! You can look for more collaborations with this group in the future!

10 hair & makeup tips you may not know..

2009-07-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

Over the years, my clients have asked me to let them in on secrets of the trade. Some "secrets" are learned through experiences, trial & error, and some are just common sense. Either way, I've put together a little list of every day tips that may help you to look and feel your best each and every day.

1. You can use conditioner if you have dry OR oily hair! Tip: after shampooing your hair, ring out as much water as possible before you use conditioner. If your hair is soaking wet, it has absorbed the water, not the conditioner. The less water in your hair, the better your hair will take in the conditioner. (note: always start at the tips of you hair and work your way up. If you have oily hair, don't condition all your hair, just the ends)

2. Mascara: you DON'T need to apply 8 coats of mascara! the goal is to have may long lashes, not 4 gigantic ones. Apply the first coat by spinning the mascara wand as you apply. Apply a coat to the bottom and top of your eyelashes so you cover the whole eyelash. If you just apply a coat on the bottom, them will be weighed down!

3. Foundation: Not everyone needs foundation and NO ONE needs foundation all over their face. Tip: find your perfect foundation that matches your skin as perfect as possible. Apply only to redness or discolored places on your face and blend. I love putting a little foundation in my face moisturizer for a light all over coverage that blends perfectly.

4. Lips: When I was in high school, it seemed that lining your lips with a chocolate brown then fill your lips with a nice light lip gloss. I somehow never got hooked on that trend, but I still see women doing that to this day! Ok people, it's time to change! Use a lip liner that matches your lipstick or is a shade darker. Fill in your entire lip with the liner, then use the lip stick over the liner to ensure a longer lasting color.

5. Face: this one has been said time and time again, yet people...like my sister, still think it's ok to NOT wash your face every night. I understand washing every night can cause skin to get irritated, but at least take your makeup off. Leaving your mascara on all night, will break off your eyelashes. Leaving makeup on will clog pores, and although you may not see a breakout the next day...you can count on one sooner or later. So please, use a gentle face wash every night and if you think that's too much, use your astringent and a cotton ball to wipe off your makeup before you sleep!

6. Dry hair: I don't know how may times I have had girls complain about their dry hair and when they tell me about their routine, there is a lot of flat ironing and blow drying involved. If you like your hair straight and need to chi it, might I suggest washing your hair at night and sleeping on it wet. Chi it the next morning and you will cut down the drying damage by 50%. Also, use a heat spray to protect your hair before drying or any other heat you might use on it. Note: try going natural when you can! You may find that you love your hair after all, has it been a while since you've see it?

7. Legs: Trying to get that nice smooth feeling, but 30 minutes after their prickly again? Try shaving first thing when you get into the shower. Your legs absorb water and swell a little. If you wait too long, you will find prickly legs when your legs un-swell after the shower.

8. Breakouts: If you find that your forehead has a little breakout on a regular basis, check and see what kind of shampoo & conditioner you're using. Some cheaper products will leave residue on your skin, which causes breakouts. Higher quality products use better quality ingredients, which may help your problem.

9. Blush: Don't know where exactly to brush on your blush? Just think about where the sun hits your face and do a slight swipe of blush across those places. Example: cheek bones, top of nose, forehead, collar bones, & chin. Same goes for bronzer. Just don't go crazy with it!

10. Moisturizer: Give your skin a break no and again. Yes, it is good to moisturize before you go to sleep since your skin absorbs better in your sleep, but sometimes your skin does need to breath! In the summer, moisturize every other night, or even just a few times a week. During the winter/dry months, moisturize when you get out of the shower while you're still a little damp (not too wet), that way your skin will absorb more and you shouldn't have to moisturize as often.

Yes, I do have many more tips to share, but these ones seem to come up a lot. I hope you can use them to make the best of what you got!

2009-06-26T10:30:00.000-07:00

Yay! After a chaotic week of packing and moving, I can finally show a few photos from the Tiki Doll photo shoot I did last week. Tiki is a local (OKC) clothing designer who contacted me about helping out with her the photo shoot of her last collection, which has sort of a hippie chic style (contrary to her latest collection which is rock/grunge). This shoot was great because not only did I do the hair & makeup, which is the usual, I also did the photography. Along with myself, FANTASTIC photographer, Brandon Snider, came along and shot as well. So here are a few shots:

In the photo above, is the designer herself, Tiki Doll

We had so much fun shoting in the Paseo area, that I did another shoot there just a couple of days later, but I'll post those photos another time :)
After the shoot :) Brandon Snider, assistant guy (forgot his name...oops), Brittany, Tiki, Jessica, Reseth, and myself.

The models were amazing! They suffered through the 100 degree heat climbing up walls, hanging on trees, and sweating with their hippie headbands. Thanks girls! and guys too ;)

Stearman Hawaii Shoot

2009-06-10T12:06:00.001-07:00

I can't say that I have it too rough when my work takes me to Hawaii. A few weeks ago I got the privilege of shooting the Stearman family in Maui, HI. Dustin, Laura, Jake, and Samantha Stearman were my victims, and here are a few shots of the family.

Dustin & Samantha

Laura & Jake

Jake
Samantha

While I was there, I did sweet Samantha's 6 month photos. Although I couldn't truly capture her sweetness in the photos, I think her baby blues look pretty sweet to me.

I have to say...what a BEAUTIFUL family! Although, I am a bit bias...Laura is my big sista!!

2009-05-13T13:01:00.000-07:00

Last night I got to work with two people who are truly fantastic at what they do!

Photographer Brandon Snider and model Reseth Oberg. Reseth and I started out at my studio doing hair, then headed over to the Garage Lofts downtown to Brandon's studio where I touched up the hair and makeup and let Brandon and Reseth go to work. Brandon, who has been in the photography business for over 13 years, did nothing but impress me with his work (well, he also had a good time ganging up on the girls at times). Reseth, who is still somewhat new to modeling, was and is amazing. I have to say I was also quite impressed with her ability to jump around wearing high heals and actually landing back on her feet. She was nothing less than a pro.
Here are some shots from last night:I will post more photos from this shoot on my website www.hair-n-makeup.com
You can also see more of Brandon's work at www.brandonsnider.com

and yes...I am multi-talented :)
makeup artist/fan holder

2009-05-03T12:39:00.000-07:00

Yay! I am excited to say that I will be working with clothing designer Oscar Milano Mai this summer when he comes to town! It's ok if you don't recognize his name, yet. He is a new clothing designer form Seattle, Washington. He has only been for the past three years, but you would never know. His designs are amazing! His designs are so couture in every way. All of his items are custom, which makes you feel amazing everytime you wear them.

He designs gowns, bridal dresses, cocktail dress, and separates! They are all absolutely amazing. Here are a few dresses from his cocktail line:His gowns are elegant, feminine, and bold. Here are some shots of his gowns:

Separates:If he had only been designing when I got married...oh well. I can live vicariously through all the brides that buy his designs. Needless to say, I am very excited to get the chance to work with him and witness first hand his amazingness...yes, that's right, amazingness. You can look forward to my Oscar Milano Mai blog that will be posted sometime in July after the photo shoot. once again...YAY!

"Fashion is art. It's all about proportion and silhouette." -Oscar Milano Mai

2009-04-21T05:53:00.000-07:00

About a week ago, I had the chance to work some amazing photographers on a 1940's photo shoot, not to mention the models who were also outstanding! We met at incredibly energetic photographer, Benita Cloward's house in Norman, OK. I also got the chance to meet photographer Bryan Kannowski and his lovely wife Amanda. I plan on having many more photos from both of these amazing photographers in the future! Also, models Alec Bell and Margaret Shippey were not only beautiful, but so much fun to work with as well. They are both OCU students and are nothing like your stereotypical model (which is always a pleasant change).

I have now recieved some of the photos from the shoot, and they turned out perfect! Here are some photos taken by Bryan Kannowski:

Margaret Shippey

Alec Bell

You can check out more of Bryan Kannowski's work on his website & blog at www.bryankannowski.com

These next photos are by Benita Cloward (BRC Photography).

www.brcphotography.com

Both photographers are local, so you Oklahoma's are in luck! I highly recommend both photographers for any kind of shoot you are in the market for! You can check out more photos from the shoot on my website:

www.hair-n-makeup.com

2009-03-04T06:33:00.001-08:00

When my husband and I were first married, one morning before church my husband asked me why I had on so much makeup. I said to make my skin even. "Even what? Even prettier than it already is? Cause I don't understand how covering up all your skin could make it look better..." So simple, yet so profound at the same time. It was then that I realized that my skin really is perfect. Aside from the sometimes uneven skin tone and the unfortunate zit occasionally...my skin was perfect. It matched the color of my hair, my eyes, and the color of my lips perfectly. After that, I never wore foundation again all over my face...just where I felt needed a little covering.

Since then, I have worked with many so many women that feel the need to cover their face in order to feel more beautiful. After I have done their makeup and they take a look at themselves...they are amazed at how little makeup they really need. It gives me such a wonderful feeling to help women feel so good about themselves and for them to see how beautiful they really are. I'm sure you have seen the ads, but I love the Dove campaign that they have put out about real beauty. I see so many women each day who are so unique, and sadly I see so many women each day that try to cover their skin in attempts to look like the latest celeb on the cover of a magazine. True, many celebrities do have amazing skin...but they also have a lot of money to buy the best products available and treatments to go along with it. Also remember that airbrushing works wonders on print work...trust me, airbrushing is used on every photo shoot I work on.

I find that a woman's beauty goes far deeper than her skin though, which so many times she even hides behind that. I can see how beautiful a woman is when she smiles, laughs, and shows her amazing heart. If we are however only looking skin deep, I love it when women show the unique qualities about their body and skin. Freckles are so cute, but so many times women try to cover them up to look like they have smooth skin. The problem is that they already do have smooth skin, but they also have cute little freckles to go along with that oh so smooth skin. And no, freckles are not always just "cute", but they can truly be beautiful as well. Beauty marks are another thing. Did you know that Cindy Crawford was told she could never be a model because of the mole on her upper lip? Can you even imagine a guy saying that Cindy Crawford is not beautiful? My old roommate has a birth mark that wrapped around one of her arms and down her side. It is kind of a deep red color against her tan skin. She is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen and I don't think any guy would take one look at her and say, "No thanks, I'm not a fan of birth marks."

It is so important to feel good about yourself, the inside as well as the outside. Yes, I do use make up on myself on a regular basis, it does make me feel pretty! I love looking and feeling pretty for my husband and feeling confident about myself. I use a little foundation that matches the skin on my face to cover a zit or hide a little redness, but even on those days my husband says I am at my prettiest just after I have washed my face and taken off all my makeup. I know sometimes he's just being sweet, trust me...I've seen myself some mornings and it's not the prettiest picture, but he is not one to lie either. So trust me girls, show your true skin. I guarantee you are beautiful just the way God made you...He does not mess up. Just like mine, you skin matches your hair color, eye color, lip color, and everything else just perfectly.

2009-02-26T07:37:00.000-08:00

Yes, I will admit that despite having the constant expectations to be in style (the expectations for a hair & makeup artist), I too have slipped into the deep abyss of "mommyhood" fashion. Comfort is constantly whispering in my ear when I am getting ready in the morning, and unfortunately comfort and style don't always go together. If on the rare occasion I did chose style over comfort, I hoped that I would also have something a bit unique. Yet, when I went out in my unique outfit...every other girl decided on the same unique outfit. Fortunately I just so happen to work with clothing designers on a regular basis. Being as though I work out of Oklahoma City, fashion...and I mean real fashion...is hard to come by. Have no fear my friends...I have found her!

Erika Hendrix and I have now worked together on several different occasions. And if excitement is what you want to wear...Erika Hendrix is who you need. Erika has a beautiful store in Mannheim, Germany...but sells in many stores across the U.S. as well (http://www.erikahendrix.com/pages/store-locator). She has made me clothes, and what can I say other than AMAZING! Femanine, comfortable, strong, and unique...not to mention many of the pieces are one of a kind and the others are one of about 10, so you know you are truly getting something stylish and unique. She not only designs everything herself, but she also hand makes everything. By everything I mean tops, skirts, shorts, dresses, scarfs, jewelry, shrugs, and I'm sure there's more.

On Jan 9th 2009 Actress Brea G rant, best known as Speedster from the hit show Heroes on NBC wrote a guest post on the Smashing Darling.

The title was “Actress Brea Grant shares her Editor Picks with us!”

And one of her fave items was the knitted Tunic by Erika Hendrix:

“I love this Erika Hendrix tunic. It’s so rock-n-roll and there’s so much you could pair it with especially a long necklace like the one from RockLove Jewelry. Both items could be such a fun outfit. Pair them up with the original black earrings to look very awesome.”

So, not only do I know have a wonderful friend, but she makes wonderful clothes as well! What more could I ask for!!?? So if you haven't already, you seriously need to go to www.ErikaHendrix.com and check out her stuff.