Rise of the Ginger

I've been seeing so many people come into the salon lately wanting to be a red head, myself included. My gingerversery is coming up on Saturday and I almost feel like I should throw a party. A "I'm my true self now..or at least I am what should have been my true self" party. I think I should have been born a ginger. Make all the soulless jokes you want, but I mean, didn't you know...


....ginger is in. And it's beautiful.

Bold Lips

One of my favorite Fall trends is the bold lip. I've always been a fan of bold lips, normally though I tend to stick to the red shade (I love the vintage look). But recently, I've been seeing a lot of different shades, just as bold.

Pinks. Purples. and Reds, oh my!

To get the perfect lip, follow these steps:

1. exfoliate. no one lips crispy lips. use a lip scrub, or simply your tooth brush and get rid of all that extra skin.
2. line them, if you wish.
3. apply lipstick. but be careful! because of the bold color, it could leave marks on your skin if you get outside the lines. 
4. blot.
5. apply again.

Now go forth and bold lips. 

An Ode To Fun Colored Hair

There was a time in my life when I had hot pink hair. It was a brief, but awesome time. I've been seeing a lot of fun colors in hair lately, and I'm sort of jealous. I'm just not sure if I have the guts to do it anymore. So I just lust over the ladies and men who have it.

I'll just live vicariously through y'all, okay?

Check out some of my favorite looks from Pinterest below.

Would you do something like this? Or maybe you already have? Send me a photo to cassidy@onstagehairdesign.com! 

Tall Women and Other Beautiful Traits

I just wanted to take a moment to talk about what makes us beautiful.

Last night I was watching the gold medal women's beach volleyball match between Misty May-Treanor/ Kerri Walsh-Jennings and Jen Kessy/ April Ross. (congrats to the reigning champions for winning!) I heard them say that Kerri Walsh was 6'3". I knew she was tall, but 6'3"? That's taller than my dad.

I got to thinking about how when she was younger she was probably teased for her height. But the beautiful thing is that she embraced it, became the world's best beach volleyball blocker--something that requires height. She embraced it. 


It's a lesson that all women (and men!) can learn from. Even if there is something that might make you stand out or cause you to get teased for...embrace it, because you're beautiful! You never know...you could be the next Olympic gold medalist.


What trait are you embracing today?

Acne Map

I posted a link to an article a couple of weeks ago about how where your breakouts are on your face can tell you things. Then, I was reading a magazine in the salon and found an article about the same thing. It's interesting stuff.

The top Murad educator and Chinese medicine scholar, Julieta Vidal-Lubin says that the position of your acne is trying to tell you something about yourself.

If your acne is on your...

forehead: this could mean problems with your stomach and digestion. If you have too much sugar (from things like sweets, breads, pasta, or alcohol) it causes excess yeast. A sign of this is those tiny, inflamed congested areas on the forehead. also try cutting down on your salt. it can cause you to be over oily...thus the pimples.

above your eyebrow: this could be a sign of problems with your adrenal glands, also known as your stress regulators. If your stressed out, take some time to relax. It could help with your breakouts.


chin and marionette line: the PMS pimples


jawline and neck: another hormone and adrenal gland indicator. slow down girl!





**all information from Beauty Launchpad magazine

It's Okay If You...

1. wear "night" makeup during the day, or "day" makeup at night
2. are terrible DIYer
3. start a "wedding" pinboard on Pinterest even if you're not getting married...or even close to being engaged
4. are a little bit upset at the Robert Pattinson/Kristen Stewart cheating drama
5. don't wash your hair for just one more day and throw on a hat
6. don't correct people when they comment on your "natural" hair color
7. are just now discovering ctrl+t while playing a song on iTunes
8. are counting down the minutes until the Olympic opening ceremonies
9. put on full makeup to run errands
10. actually like going to workout

Tweet us or leave a comment below telling us your "it's okay if you..."

The 3 Things Every Girl Needs in her Purse

I carry a big purse. I mean, it's not luggage size or anything, but I can carry some stuff in it (like a jar of almond butter for example). But there are times, albiet rare ones, that I downsize to a smaller bag. My back just can't take all the weight every day, you know?

So even when I have a small bag, there are some essentials that I must find a place for.

1. Chapstick

They say you spend 1/3 of your life sleeping...but I think I spend 1/3 of my life looking for my chapstick. Because hello, big bag...small tube. But this is the most important thing I have in my purse. I can't go a day without it.


     2. Hand Lotion

Growing up I always told my mom that her hands were so soft, and then I realized her secret. That lady slathers hand lotion on at 30 minute intervals. She's got the softest hands in the world. And that's why I love her. For her soft hands.

     3. Mirror

You know how many times I pull out my mirror compact in one day? A lot. I learned to carry one after I got tired of asking my friends if I had anything in my teeth. 

What can you not live without in your purse? Tell me in the comments below!

Did You Know You Could?: Dye Your Brows

So I want to start a new series called, "did you know you could", all about things, get this, that you can do but people didn't know. Mainly because I learn new things everyday about the beauty industry that I didn't know we could do. Like sleep in some conditioners. Hey, who would have thought?

And since I'm all about sharing my insider knowledge, I'm happy to share these small tidbits of info as well.

So...did you know you could dye your eyebrows?

I've known this for a while, but I still talk to at least one person a week that didn't know you could. Or they imagine some awful black dye job when they asked for light brown. But I assure you, both are not true!

You can in fact dye your eyebrows and not only that, they make special color just for them! I myself and partial to the auburn as I try to appear as ginger as possible.

Brow tints are quick services, lasting only a couple of minutes. And most of the time it's around a $15-20 charge. You can't really beat that. Especially if you have blonde brows. Because then you just look like you don't have any. And well, that's not very fun.


Ask your salon about brow tints today!


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My Thoughts on Beauty

Last week, I was playing on the internet, a common occurrence if you must know, and I found this article.  The article is about Kristen Stewart, who up until yesterday I wasn't a big fan of. When asked why, I never really had an answer. I would say things like, "she's just so awkward," "was it really necessary for her to say those things about paparazzi?" But then I read the things that the lovely Kate Spencer had to say about her in that article, and I thought, wow, could I have been more of a jerk?

All of the things that I held against Kristen were things that I value in myself and in my friends. Individuality. Speaking your mind. And it got me thinking about beauty and how it has changed. 

I look at these models in magazines or online and I instantly find I'm comparing myself to them. It is an impossible task. I almost have to tell myself that they aren't real women. They are plucked and tweaked and pulled in so many directions that the person is hardly recognizable beneath. Just watch this Dove Real Beauty video.  

But you know what? It's hard. It's hard to tell myself that it's okay to have a pimple or to have gained that extra 4 pounds during Christmastime (I mean come on, who can resist all those cookies?). But I almost don't even care about that anymore, what I'm more worried about is my future children...or my friends children. How can I expect my daughter to believe me when I tell her she's beautiful when everything around her tells her she isn't? 

The only thing I can do is hope. But I think we're on the right track. Magazines have been coming out saying that they won't do excessive photoshopping, or that they won't use models who are too thin. It's a step in the right direction and I couldn't be more pleased. Then there are role models in Hollywood who are more real than starlets have been in the past. Not only Kristen Stewart, but people like Jennifer Lawrence (I think I've heard her talk about peeing in every interview she's had) or Emma Stone. 

I actually think Emma summed up what I hope everyone one day sees. She said, "But that you’ll continue to harness your own originality and what makes you unique 'cause I know that when you’re a teenager — sometimes when you’re an adult — what sets you apart can sometimes feel like a burden and it’s not. And a lot of the time, it’s what makes you great. "

Emma. You're awesome. 

And so are you guys. So make sure you embrace it. 

**All views and opinions are that of the author's**

Soft, Kissable Lips

No one looks at dry, cracked lips and thinks, "those I want to kiss." Kissable lips are soft and moisturized and puckered. And come on, that's what we all want...just in case we ever happen to run into Chris Hemsworth on the street, we'll be prepared.

These lips say, "I know you can't take your eyes off me. Just go ahead and do it already."

Tips for your perfect pout:

1. exfoliate. every morning after brushing my teeth I brush my lips off as well. but you can try a scrub if you don't want to do that. 
2. moisturize. but be careful what you reach for. some lip balm (even the medicated kind) will just dry out your lips to keep you coming back. look for things like petroleum jelly, petrolatum, white wax, paraffin wax, and mineral oil and make sure you stay away from them.
3. color. a pair of colored lips always draws the eye. so pick your perfect shade, or have someone help you pick it, but whatever you do, make sure you have a go-to color!

What are your soft lip secrets?


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The Truth About Oily Skin

It sucks.

That is all.

Okay, okay. I'll tell you  more.

The oil on your face is caused by sebaceous (suh-bay-cious) glands. It's when those glands become over-active that you start to see too much oil. It's a natural healthy lubricant for your skin, but I know from experience that too much can be a bad thing.

Although, the plus side is that typically because your skin is constantly being lubricated, oily skin tends to wrinkle less. So that's a plus.

But sometimes it seems like the downside of clogged pores, blackheads, and build up don't really makeup for that. So here are a few tips to help in that time need.

• wash your face. I know it may seem silly to say, but oily skin gets oilier when it's not washed. I have to wash my twice a day or I'm a greaseball. 
• moisturize. It's not counter productive. Your oily skin could be because your skin isn't getting enough moisture, so your glands are producing the oil at a faster rate, thus making you oily. But make sure you use a oil-free moisturize.
• mattify. I use two types of mattifiers. One in a primer, and then one over my makeup. The oil on my skin makes my makeup come off faster than other people's, so I use a mattifier to soak it up and help my makeup stay all day.
• hands off! Don't touch your face. It just doesn't help. 
• drink water! Again with the hydrating. 

Do you have oily skin? What do you do to help combat it?

3 Ways to Feel More Confident Instantly

You know what I love? Confidence. I find that it can be so lacking in so many people who should be welding the whip themselves. But I get it. Sometimes it's hard, and there's a fine line between confidence and vanity. But here are a couple of tips to help get you there when you're feeling a little blue.

1. Red lipstick

What's sexier than a pair of red lips? Not much. When I throw on some red lipstick I always feel more confident. I don't know if it's because everyone's eyes are drawn to my lips or the fact that I could plant a kiss on someone's cheek and everyone would know that I had been there. Whatever it is. I say use it to your advantage. 

But be careful! If you start wearing it everyday, the power of the red lipstick will diminish. 

     

     2.  Sexy Lingerie 

Wearing sexy lingerie under your clothes is a major way to feel more confident. There's something about having a secret like that and make me hold my shoulders a little bit higher.

     3. Hair Color

my hairsiration: Karen Gillan

Keeping up with your color is one thing, but picking a hair color that you feel comfortable in is another. I have all different kinds of colors, but ever since I made my change to red I feel different. It's as if I was suppose to always be a redhead and now that I am it just all makes sense.

And of course because I am where I'm suppose to be, I automatically feel more confident. It's just a bonus side effect. 

What are your tricks to feeling more confident? Tell me in the comments below!

Homemade Remedies: DIY Pore Strips

If you read Link Love you know all about my obsession with DIY things. But here's a little secret...I hardly ever actually do anything DIY. Shhh!! I know, I know, super lame right? But I hardly ever have time to do anything DIY. It's so much quicker for me to just pop into the store and buy whatever it is I was going to DIY. Yes, I spend more money, but I gain knowledge. Wait..no..I guess that saying doesn't really apply here.


But to appease my inner DIYer I decided to try out some pore strips. Easy to start off with right? Then I asked myself...do they actually work better than the store bought kind? And boom! Blog post idea. 


So here we are:

homemade pore strips vs. Biore pore strips


The recipe I'm using (or stole from these people) for the DIY portion of today's show is as follows:

• combine 1tbsp. honey with 1 1/2 tbsp. milk
• microwave for 10-15 seconds
• apply to face where desired

I put the Biore on my nose and the homemade on my chin and forehead area.

15 minutes later...


Biore Pore Strip

Let me first start off by saying, don't ever google image search Biore pore strips. Ew.

I always forget that these things never work the way I want them to. I expect them to pull out every blackhead in my nose, leaving it perfect like a baby's bottom. And let me tell you what it does not do: leave my nose looking like a perfect baby's bottom. There are still tons of blackheads up in there and I can't tell if the little things that the strip pulled out are small little blackheads or tiny hairs that I had on my nose. Some of them are probably blackheads. I can't have that much hair on my nose.

rating: B-

Homemade Pore Strip

When I put it on (using a cotton ball) it smelled so delicious I wanted to eat it. But then I put it on and was instantly deterred from eating. It was just this giant sticky mess on my face. Yes, it went on in a film like manner, but it just looked shiny and gross when it dried. 

Then I tried taking it off. Tried. Because that stuff wasn't coming off. It is suppose to just peel right off like a normal pore strip, but the mixture must of really liked my face because it stayed on really nicely. I ended up having to rewash my face and in the end, there was no blackhead difference. 

rating: F

I'm not sure why the DIY version didn't work out for me. Maybe I mixed it wrong, or didn't apply enough, I don't know, but there are a couple of other recipes for homemade pore strips out there that I might try next.

Do you DIY? What is your favorite homemade remedy? 

How To Tuesday: Cover Up a Pimple

Isn't that the worst? When you know you've got somewhere important to be and you wake up and bam! pimple. There's no denying it. It happens to us all.

Now using a little concealor and covering it up might be a no brainer to some of us. But I thought the same thing about braiding and yet I still meet people who don't know how to do it. So here we are, with a tutorial...which I, myself, find very educational.

The trick ladies, or gentlemen, is to find a concealor that has an ance treatment in it. For example, Murad Acne Spot Treatment has a dash of salicylic acid in it to zap that pimple up, plus it adds some nice coverage. Pretty much a miracle in a tube.




What kind of tutorials would you like to see next month? Tell me in the comments below!

How To Tuesday: Applying Fake Eyelashes

Typically, I only break out the fake eyelashes when I want to wear a costume. And every time I do, I forget that I don't know how to apply them. It never fails. I buy them, and then I can't put them on. My costume is always incomplete.


How to apply fake eyelashes.

What you're going to need

Step 1: start with a clean pallet 

That means so mascara and no eyeshadow. You can put all that on later.

Step 2: Prepare the lashes

This is the step that I always skipped and why my lashes never stayed. You have to take the sticky glue off of the lashes that holds them onto the plastic display. If you don't do this, your lashes will most likely not stick.

Also, measure them against your own lashes. Not everyone has the same size eye and lashes aren't "one size fits all". You might need to trim a bit off the end.

Step 3: Glue

Apply the glue to the lashes, in any manner that you want to. Directly on them. Dabbing them in the glue. A cotton swab. It doesn't matter. Just make sure you don't overload the lashes with glue, because remember, it has to go onto your lid. So whatever glue you have it will also be on your lid.

Step 4: Apply

Use your fingers first, then a pair of tweezers to refine the position. They should be placed right at the very bottom of the lid.

Then you're done!

Of course you do your eyeshadow and mascara like normal. But be careful to not pull the lashes off with your mascara wand!

Friday Link Love 1/13/2012

• This updo looks complicated, but the outcomes is simply beautiful. How to style long hair short. 
• Another pretty updo (that I'm wearing today!) and it took less than 5 minutes! 
• DIY eye makeup remover. I might be a little scared to put something I made myself on my eyes. I mean, we all know how that brownie I made last night turned out.**
• The colder months always leave my hair dry and frizzy, but The Beauty Department shows us how to keep it in check!
• Hello Giggles gives your a bit of Self Confi-dunce this week. 
• Oh how beauty ads have changed over the years. These actually looked like real women.
• Foods to nourish your skin. And, as an added bonus, they don't taste awful!
• Um...is this real? LIFE's Living With a Lion. 
• Life hacks are my new favorite thing. Don't know what they are? Well...let's just say they'll make your life easier. Okay. That's exactly what they do.
• Lucky reminds us of 40 drugstore classics. I found myself reminiscing of old times. Dr. Pepper Chapstick. Yes please.
• All you Gleeks out there will be saddened (or happy?) to know that there won't be a spin-off.
• As the world groans along with me: A Kardashian magazine?
• Finally something to do with all those leftover candy canes! Adults only please.  
• Refinery 29 tells us the 10 fashion trends men hate, and why we should keep wearing them.
• An oldie but a goodie. From ...love Maegan. The perfect updo for date night. 
• Filed under strange, and yet I can't look away: The world's weirdest vending machines. 
• DIY rope wrapped chain bracelet. I'm definitely going to try this one out! 
• 30 reasons to love Kate Middleton. As if I needed anymore? Happy belated birthday Duchess! 
• 2 more fun updos!
• R29 shows you a couple of eyeshadow looks. 
• Also from R29, how to look good in pictures- The Facebook edition. 
• For the lovely manager here at On Stage: Rental Hunting Websites. 
• And last...and maybe least. Justin Bieber looks utterly confused in V Magazine.  

**I caught my microwave on fire. Yup. Just call me Betty Crocker.

Liquids, and Creams, and Pencils, Oh My!

I'm talking about eyeliners of course. There are about a thousand different brands of eyeliners out there and in the brands there are about a thousand different types of eyeliners. Okay, I exaggerate. There are pretty much only three different types of eyeliners.

Pencil Liner

First up. Pencil liner. This is definitely the most common type of liner there is.

pros: easy to use; lots of different colors and brands

cons: sometimes it doesn't show up as dark as other types; unless sharpened, not a perfect line

Liquid Liner

Ah liquid liner. How I love you.

pros: clean, crisp lines; great for winged out or cat eyes

cons: can be messy; need a steady hand

Cream Liner

Cream eyeliner: the next best thing since sliced bread.

pros: lasts all day; easy to smudge; can be applied very dark

cons: very difficult to apply; not very portable messy; easy to smudge

Of course, there are other things you can use as eyeliner. Eyeshadow for example. But these are the three basic liners. Each one is great for different look. So don't worry if you have all three on hand. I won't call you a hoarder.

Which type is your favorite?

Friday Link Love 1/6/2012

two thousand and twelve!

• Whoa. This girl with dancing eyebrows is so very strange...and yet, I can't look away. 
• What do you think of wearing rings mid-finger, between your two finger joints? I'm not so sure. 
• Vaseline...it is a miracle product. There's just so many uses for it! 
• The most anticipated movies of 2012. I have to say, I'm squealing in my chair for about half of them. Bonus points to those of you who can guess which ones!
• Here's a different list of most anticipate movies. Though this one doesn't make me feel as...anticipated. 
• This article on the face symmetry of celebrities is an interesting read. Some of them look almost the exact same!
• Anyone love Etsy as much as I do? Well, here are 10 shops your need to know about. 
• This link might just be for myself, but I'd thought I'd share nonetheless. 20 new year's resolutions for 20 somethings. 
• The history of hair.
• I absolutely love Elle Fanning and her amazing sense of fashion. 
• Something everyone should know: how to fix a broken zipper.
• Mod Cloth tells you how to naturally exfoliate your lips.
• This 8 step makeup tutorial is so natural and pretty!  
• I might be late in showing you these holiday hair tutorials, but I think they'd work all year long! 
• How to do face contouring. 
• The best dressed ladies of 2011. 
• A straight brow...hmm...interesting. 
• Do you love Free People? Well, then this is the perfect nail tutorial for you!

What do you see this first week of 2012? Tell me in the comments below! 

Friday Link Love 12/30/2011

Last link love of 2011.

• Braids have been everywhere, but have you tried a twist? They are just as fun! 
• And hello, end-of-the-year jackpot! 101 hairstyle tutorials. All on one page. 
• Last week, I showed you the 2011 trends we didn't want to go away. Now, here are the ones we can't wait to see go. Except for maybe the owls...I love owls. 
• Also from R29, an updo in less than a minute.
• Another updo, but this one is Audrey Hepburn inspired. Who couldn't love that?  
• This braided updo is amazing. And, just so you know, we tried it today and it looked fabulous! 
• Some 2012 New Year's resolutions that think about adding to your list. 
• Also on New Year's resolutions, how to make and keep them. 
• A girl came into the salon with one of those waterfall braid. It was amazing. Everyone should learn how to do it. 
• I love Jeff Bridges and what he has to say about perception is interesting...
• Must try this "brown with a twist" makeup look.
• Maiden braids and how to style them! 
• These are perfect NYE nails!
• In case you're as stopped up as the rest of us...how to clear a blocked nose. 

What did you guys see this week? Any cool end of the year things?

How to Keep Your Makeup Looking Good All Day

Because really, who likes to have to reapply makeup after lunch? I don't. I barely even want to wake up to put it on in the mornings. Which is kind of strange considering my large, hoarded makeup collection. Hmm...I'll work on that.


So, you ask, how do I keep my makeup looking good all day?


Oh I'm so glad you asked!

Primer.


That's all you need. Just a bit of primer. You prime your walls don't you? Why not prime your face? Because I know I want my face looking better than my walls.

There are a lot of primers out there on the market, but I've found the best one to be Jane Iredale's Absence.

And, hello two convenient colors. 

They call it absence because not only is it a primer, but it also controls your oil throughout the day. Note the absence of oil... Get it? My oil production is so bad that I'm constantly wiping my face off, thus wiping my makeup off. So oil control is a must-have. The primer in it also helps your normal makeup last all day long.

But it's not only your foundation that you're having problems with is it? Didn't think so.

Let me introduce you to a little thing I like to call...

Lid Primer


Okay, it's actually called lid primer. I didn't make up the name for it or anything.

And look! Three colors.

Same idea as the foundation primer. It will help your eyeshadow stay in place all day long. 

Amazing things these primers.

Don't use Jane Iredale? What is your favorite primer?