For a stress-free day, choose the right wedding hair and makeup artists

Posted on

Our goal is to make sure that every bride’s wedding day is stress free, enjoyable, and memorable for all the right reasons. Choosing the right wedding hair and makeup artists is a crucial part of that, so we loved hearing this feedback from our bride Allison:

“Working with Once Upon a Bride was one of the best decisions I made for my wedding. I worked with Karen and Angela. They were amazing! Karen and Angela made me and my family look absolutely beautiful. They both are extremely talented. Each of them was able to accommodate anything for everyone’s hair and make-up. They made the whole day go smoothly, which put me at ease. Karen and Angela made the day fun, exciting, and entertaining. I look back at my pictures and am so happy with my entire look! I felt absolutely gorgeous!”

And we agree that Allison looked absolutely gorgeous! Karen and Angela both used their favorite products to achieve Allison’s look. Using Nars, Mac, and Laura Mercier, Karen achieved a glowing, natural look that highlighted Allison’s amazing eyes. Angela used Oribe and Phyto products and set Allison’s hair using a wand to create her chic, long-lasting updo.

Allison’s gown was by Lazaro, her shoes were by Kate Spade, and the wedding was celebrated at the grand, historic Oheka Castle, on Long Island. Ronnie from Giovanni Photographic Artist was the wedding photographer.

2501-Allison & Timothy 173323

1251-Allison & Timothy 135633

1135-Allison & Timothy 130215

1105-Allison & Timothy 125605 resized

1020-Allison & Timothy 115435

Share

5 Easy Steps to a Fashion Favorite: the Fishtail Braid

Posted on

Blake Lively with a fishtail braid. (Pic: Just Jared)

Those gorgeous fishtail braids worn by celebrities on the red carpet might look super-complicated, but you can create the look yourself easily by following five simple steps.

I shared the secret recently for fans of bethenny over on her website, and the response has been huge.

So here you go, ladies — start experimenting with this versatile and easy braid. Tousled and bohemian, it’s a great look for all types of long hair.

 


STEP 1
If you want a high or side fishtail braid, make a ponytail. Otherwise gather your hair at the base of your neck. Then, separate the hair into two chunks.

 


STEP 2
Take a thin strand of hair from the right side and braid it into the left side: cross the strand over the right chunk and under the left chunk. The strand needs to be thin — you’ll be doing this several times, so you need to make sure you have enough hair to work with to get all the way down to the end.

 


STEP 3
Take a thin strand from the left side and braid it into the right side.

 


STEP 4
Take a thin strand from the right side and braid it into the left. Continue this pattern until all hair is braided.

 


STEP 5
Tie hair off at the end and pull the braid apart with your fingers to separate the strands a bit. It should look tight but slightly mussed, like “bed head.” Finish off with hair spray, and you’re good to go!

Once you’ve got the hang of the basic fishtail braid, try experimenting — as you can see from these celeb pics, the possibilities are endless…

Rihanna rocking a red fishtail (pic: Getty Images)

Nina Dobrev with a glam red carpet fishtail (Pic: Getty Images)

Dianna Agron takes the fishtail to the next level, creating a romantic updo (Pic: Getty Images)

Share

July discounts, specials, and news

Posted on

We love July, as our summer brides get ready to walk down the aisle. And at Once Upon A Bride’s home base, Loft 26 salon, we’re also busy getting girls ready for all the parties and events going on around the city.

Learn to style your hair like a pro

If you’re about to head off on vacation or your honeymoon and wish that you could re-create all your favorite hair styles even when you are far from your salon, Stacey is available for private one-on-one sessions. Whether you want to learn how to create your favorite celebrity style, do the perfect blowdry, achieve beachy waves, or do a quick but professional-looking updo for a night out, Stacey or Angela will break it down into simple steps for you. Learn which products are best for your hair type, and which tools to use and why. Each session is 1 hour long, personalized according to what you want to learn, and takes place at Loft 26 salon. Leave with a goody bag of products, notes, and step-by-step photos of the lesson.

Stacey: $100 for 1-hour lesson
Angela: $75 for 1-hour lesson

Featured Product: Rough Luxury Soft Molding Paste by Oribe

Oribe products are flying off our shelves this summer. Many of you are popping in just to get Oribe at 10% off, and it’s always a pleasure to see you. Keep coming in and enjoying the free samples with products! This month we’re offering a 10% discount on the ultra-pliable molding paste Rough Luxury. It smoothly slips through hair before taking hold for definition, texture, and shine, lending a soft touch to short cuts and long layers alike.

July Special: $20 discount

Hope you had an awesome July 4th! We’ve declared the rest of the month a celebration, too, by offering  $20 off your next visit to Stacey’s salon, Loft 26. Just mention “JULY SPECIAL” when you book. Call 212.414.2626.

Stacey’s News

Hot new social media site Archetype Me featured Stacey’s advice on the latest hair and makeup trends and tips for brides, wedding parties, and guests. For all the site’s “Fashionistas,” Stacey shared the lowdown on the big bridal look of the moment, braids, retro glamour à la The Great Gatsby, the latest in hair accessories, and the hair styling essentials you simply must have in your evening bag this summer. Check it out at Archetype Me.

Happy Hour

Summer has really only just begun, and Happy Hour is still going strong. Come get a sexy blowout or have gorgeous makeup done for your night out. Bring a friend and sip Skinnygirl cocktails while our professional hair and makeup artists pamper you.

July through August, Tuesday to Friday
4pm to 7pm
Price for each service: $40

Share

Stacey shares wedding hair and makeup trends with fashionistas on “Archetype Me”

Posted on

Hot new social media site Archetype Me just featured my advice on the latest hair and makeup trends and tips for brides, wedding parties, and guests! So here’s the lowdown…

Braided updos
Adding braids to your updo is a trend that’s going strong, especially for more fashion-forward girls going for an unconventional romantic look.

Marion Cotillard and Jennifer Morrison going for unconventional romantic looks with braids. Photos: Getty Images.

Retro glamour
Thanks to The Great Gatsby, vintage-inspired hair is very popular. Girls who wear their hair down are going for stylized, Veronica Lake waves, and Art Deco hairpieces add a great finishing touch.

Jessica Chastain and Eva Longoria with Veronica Lake-style retro waves. Photos: Getty Images

Hair accessories
If you’re doing your own hair for the big day, add a hair accessory. It instantly makes your hair look special. Blow your hair out and fashion it up with a headband. My favorite designers are Jennifer Behr and Dauphines of New York. And check out Once Upon A Bride’s selection of gorgeous accessories.

Emmy Rossum and Lydia Hearst adding effortless touches of glamour to their looks with hair accessories. Photos: Getty Images

Dry shampoo and texturizing spray
No matter what style you choose, it’s usually best not to wash your hair on the morning of your wedding. Instead, remove grease and freshen up your hair with René Futurer Naturia Dry Shampoo, and have Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray on hand. You can use no other products, and this will make your hair stay, even if you’ve chosen an updo.

Nicole Ritchie and Naomi Watts going for flapper-era looks. Photos: Getty Images.

Be prepared
Stash an emergency packet of bobby pins and invisible hair ties in your bag, so if you get hot, you can pop to the bathroom and create an instant updo. And carry a travel-size hairspray to keep your hair in place all night.

Share

Romantic bridal style: Ashley and Zach’s South Carolina wedding

Posted on

Our bride Ashley chose a classic, romantic bridal look for her wedding at the elegant Sanctuary hotel at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Her gown was amazing, with a lace bodice and skirt with flowing, frothy ruching. A soft, romantic updo was the perfect choice to complement the dress and her veil.

A pearl brooch at the back of her hair teamed beautifully with her pearl bridal jewelry and the light, creamy tones of her bouquet.

On this October weekend at the South Carolina seashore, I knew humidity was likely to be an issue. So I went prepared with all my luxe Oribe products, especially the anti-humidity hair spray Imperméable, which prevents frizz in even the sultriest weather.

Ashley’s makeup artist was Veronica — you might know her better as “Rara” on “Bethenny Ever After,” as we work together as Bethenny’s hair and makeup stylists. Veronica went with a clean, fresh palette and light pink lip for Ashley, with a smokey eye for a bit of drama.

 

 

Share

Bridal hair trends, tips, and tricks: Stacey’s expert advice to Oribe

Posted on

Because it’s so important that a bride’s hair is in perfect condition on her wedding day, we use Oribe luxury haircare products. Our stylists swear by Oribe’s line of conditioning gels, oils and sprays that hold, and skincare-grade shampoos are all lightly scented with specially commissioned French perfumes.

So we are honored that when Oribe wanted to find out the latest bridal hair trends and tips, they called upon Stacey. Now we’re letting you in on their Q&A session. Find out what to watch for in the coming seasons, and how to get your hair in gorgeous condition for the day you walk down the aisle . . .

What are some of the top bridal hair trends for summer 2013?

Braids are still really in, with fishtails being the most popular. Brides are opting for side parts over center parts and hair that’s clean, youthful, and smooth. We’re also seeing a lot of sleek updos that lie low on the nape and don’t have as much texture as in previous seasons.

How do you determine what style to do on a bride?

I first get to know her personal style—what she wears as an everyday look and what she does for the weekend. You don’t want to stray too far from who she is. I then look at the dress and figure out something that matches both the style of the gown and the bride’s personality.

What do you do if a bride asks for a look that you don’t think will work for her?

A style can look completely different depending on the person’s face shape, hair color, texture and more, so what works on a celebrity or a friend may not work for you. I ask my clients to only bring in pictures of people with at least their same texture and hair color. If they bring in options that won’t work, I try to present similar styles that I think would complement them and their dress.

What styles work best for various dresses?

If the dress has a high neck, hair should be up or off to the side. I suggest a low ponytail, chignon, or side braid. For a sweetheart neckline, I like to see the hair down to minimize the amount of skin showing–too much skin can distract from the beauty of the dress. When a dress has an asymmetrical top, it’s important to maintain balance. Contrary to what you may think, you want to style the hair on the side that has the strap or the most weight so that you don’t confuse the eye and force it to choose where to look.

How can brides inject some personality into a more traditional look?

Accessories can really help add a bit of the bride into the hair. Flowers or something meaningful like an antique brooch can add a special, symbolic touch.

What about bridesmaid hair? How can the bridal party’s style complement the bride’s?

The bride’s hair should dictate her bridesmaids’ styles. I like for everyone to have a similar vibe but with slight variations. For example, if everyone is wearing their hair half up, you can modify the look with braids, twists, and more.

What are some of your tricks for keeping hair in place from the walk down the aisle to the last dance?

First of all, brides should always arrive with day-old hair; styles stay in better when the hair has some oil, and overly washed hair can be slippery. If a bride’s hair is too silky, the stylist should use Dry Texturizing Spray to add some texture and cut the gloss. It makes it much easier to work with the hair and helps secure pins.

How can brides prevent helmet head from too much hairspray?

Everything should be done in prepping the style so that the hairdresser doesn’t have to “shellac” it at the end. Using the right products and tools while prepping the hair is essential to getting a style that looks natural and stays in all night. You should only need a light misting of hairspray at the end.

How can brides prep their hair for the big day?

I give the bride shampoo and conditioner samples at our initial meeting and encourage her to use quality products to get her hair into great shape for the wedding. If the bride needs cut and color services, I recommend doing those two weeks beforehand—that allows time for any necessary fixes and gives you time to re-book if your stylist or colorist happens to get sick and cancel your appointment.

How can brides prep for bad weather?

Always go into your wedding day with two options that you love—one for good weather and one for bad. A lot of girls will go for something slicked back out of fear that it will be humid and their hair will frizz, but it may not necessarily be the style they’ve been dreaming of. Make sure your stylist knows both.

How can brides touch up their hair throughout the night?

If hair starts to fall out or fall flat, have a few products handy to refresh your style. I like to give my clients Oribe purse-size sprays for touch-ups.

Share

Create your favorite Bethenny hairstyles: Stacey shows you how

Posted on

Girls ask me all the time how they can achieve the same looks as the gorgeous Bethenny Frankel, whose hair I have been styling for years for her photo shoots and TV shows. So I shared my secrets over on bethenny.com, and now you can create the same styles at home.

Photo: Forbes.com

I wanted Bethenny to have luxurious looking hair, so I went old school and used electric rollers. They are best when used on clean and dry hair. Take 1-inch sections, spray the section with a wet hairspray to dampen, and then put in the electric rollers. Spray the set with a strong hold hairspray and let the rollers stay in for 30 minutes.

Trick: The wet spray will allow the hair to form the shape of a large round curl while drying on the roller.
Favorite products for this look: Paul Mitchell Sculpting Spray, Sebastian Shaper Hairspray

 

Photo: Getty Images

On wet hair I applied a clear gloss so my basic blow dry would be shiny. I added a root lifter to give a slight lift at the root, so hair would not be flat. I dried hair 80% and then used a round wooden brush in large sections to achieve a smooth, basic blow dry.

To keep her trendy and stylish, I added hair extensions that were 2 shades lighter than her hair color.

I placed a few throughout her hair so I could achieve an ombre highlight (dark to light). This is a bit more edgy for Bethenny to wear on a regular basis.

Trick: Buy clip-on hair extensions (easy to use) one or two shades lighter, and only use a few pieces. You won’t harm the hair with bleach and can create a new look in seconds.
Favorite products for this look: Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Oil, Oribe Shine Light Reflecting Spray, Oribe Root Lift

 

Photo: Bethenny/Warner Bros.

To achieve the best sexy waves, I always ask Bethenny to show up with day-old hair. Hair then has some texture already and will not be so clean, slippery and fresh. I spray hair with a hairspray to get the hair prepped and texturized. Add a dry shampoo spray at the roots for a clean boost.

I use my wand iron throughout the hair and alternate my section size. For instance, the first row, I take an inch section and then the next row I take a 2-inch section. This allows the hair to have more of a flow. I use a wand and not a regular clip iron to achieve waves because when using the wand you will not curl the ends. If you only have a regular iron, then you want to leave at least one inch from the bottom out of the iron so the ends are straighter and not curled. To achieve the prettiest waves, you want to remember to always wrap the hair away from the face on both sides.

Trick: Freshly washed hair and over-conditioned hair make it harder to get waves and won’t hold or last. Work on dry, one day old hair.
Favorite product and tools for this look: Rene Furterer Naturia Dry Shampoo, Sedu Blow Dryer, Sedu Wand Iron

 

Photo: ©PA Images/Scott Gries/Invision for Skinnygirl/AP

This style is great when you have time to indulge and pull out all of your tools. I start with wet hair, and apply a root lifter and gloss to the ends of the hair. I use a large round metal brush in big sections so I can achieve a full body blow dry. I use electric rollers on the top section to get a full voluminous look.

I then section hair in horizontal rows and alternate two sizes of curling irons. After I wrap each section on the iron, I wrap the hair up in a barrel curl and clip at the root and let sit in a set. Once I am done, I spray hair and let set for at least 30 minutes.

Trick: I use a 1-inch and a 2-inch iron.
Favorite products for this look: Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Oil, Oribe Root Lift, Oribe Hair Spray

Share

Stacey Shows You How to Blow-Dry Like a Stylist

Posted on

Exciting news: I’m now a contributing hair expert over at bethenny.com, offering readers my tips and tricks for gorgeous hair. On the site recently I shared some of my secrets to blow-drying hair like a pro. Fans of Bethenny’s shows know that I am all about creating styles that are easy to keep looking super sexy. Anybody can achieve a professional look — all it takes is a little product, a round brush, and a blow dryer. So for all you brides out there, here is my easy five-step system for blow-drying your hair at home so it looks like you just came from a salon…


1. Prep: Use the right products
If you need volume, use a volumizer shampoo. If your hair tends to be greasy, use a shampoo for oily hair. This gives you a great head start. Before blow-drying, apply only what you need, and nothing too heavy. Too much product can weigh hair down. For frizzy hair, use a gloss or relaxing balm. To increase volume, use a mousse or volume spray. Always use a gloss or heat protectant on the hair shaft.


2. Dry: Remove 75% of the water

Now that there is product in the hair for control, remove moisture before grabbing for the brush. Use your fingers and allow them to act like a brush by holding hair taut and pulling hair straight while getting water out. You can then use the blow dryer and tousle the hair dry to get extra water out. You want hair significantly dry before moving on to the next step.


3. Technique: Section hair

Separate hair into sections so you can have control over your hair and manage the blow dry. Separate hair into 4 sections using a ponytail holder for thick hair or a clip for fine hair. Each section will then be cut into horizontal, 1-inch sections starting at the bottom and moving up.


4. Tools: Move on to Blow Dryer and Round Brush

Pull the brush through the hair as you blow dry, pointing the nozzle downward onto the hair. The nozzle is important because it directs the heat so that it hits the whole brush and not just the center of the brush. Start at the root and work down mid-shaft while twirling the brush. Once dry, move from the mid-shaft to the ends. Hair ends dry fast, so don’t over-dry them; save those for last as they usually only need a little heat.

See how many times it takes you to dry one section, and then repeat this the same number of times on each section of the hair. This way you are not over-drying, and you create a system.


5. The Finishing Touch

Once hair is fully dry, you can do a last round for a truly professional look. First, apply a light serum or gloss if you still see frizz.

Take your round brush, grab 3-inch sections, and smooth hair again once or twice. Hold hair high toward ceiling and hairspray the root area, wrapping hair around brush to the root. Heat hair up for a few seconds and get hair hot, then lock in the style with the cool button and hold for 10 seconds. Going from hot to cold allows hair to set in a nice smooth shape. You can even replace the dryer with a 2-inch-barrel curling iron and clip each section to cool.

Share