Girl Power is Contagious

I’m still feeling inspired from Women’s Day last week and I want to keep the momentum going. On Wednesday everywhere I looked there were quotes from amazing women and images of women showing their strength and standing in their power.  It all resonated with me.

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If you follow along with me on Instagram, you may remember this moment where I was boldly doing a live video standing in the sand on the edge of the Ocean in Huntington Beach - proclaiming to all my followers, (and basically the world) that I was breaking free from all of my comfort zones and focusing on getting uncomfortable with growth. 

Sometimes I look back at the video and think - OMG - who gave me access to live broad casting?!! I was obviously feeling some jolt of confidence (I credit the 22” of NBR mermaid hair) and shouldn’t have access to my phone. 

I also look back and am happy that I said it, I feel like now that it’s out there I have this sense of accountability. Like since I said it out loud- it can be real! 

So for the 2nd time this year - I’m flying to a place I’ve never been to before (luckily to the same airport, just different Uber drivers that drop me off to new places where I obviously look like a tourist) but I’m holding myself accountable and putting myself in a room with fellow hair stylists and boss babes who are all doing the same thing - getting uncomfortable for the sake of growth.  

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There is something about getting together with fellow women hell bent on action that makes you want to work hard too.  It’s somehow contagious!

I think it’s an amazing thing when women get together and spark a fire within each other. It somehow burns bigger than we could ever imagine and starts to ignite a fire in others as well!

I have to say ‘Thank You’ to the women I know, and the women I see who are bolding standing in front of obstacles and fear saying, “I can do this”.  Thank you for taking the stand first and putting yourself out there. Thank you for showing me that vulnerability is a strength. Because of your lead - I have this crazy idea that I can do anything I set my mind to. 

My hope is that we all have a moment where we declare to the world (and most importantly ourselves) that we aren’t being held back - - not by the opinions of others, not by our own insecurities, and sure as hell not by fear.

It’s time to be BOLD + BRAVE

If you need a confidence boost to remind your inner QUEEN who’s actually boss - complete this NBR form and watch how great hair can make you literally feel like a whole new woman! Step 1.

Let's NOT talk Hair + Makeup...just for a minute...

You know I’m all for chatting everything Beauty, but today let’s set that topic aside and talk about something that’s happening right now.

I’ve noticed that for some reason (trying not to blast Mercury for being in retrograde right now) that everything lately has just been out of balance. …or something.

I hear it in the break room chats of my fellow Stylists at the salon, I hear it when you’re in my chair sharing about life, and I first hand witness it in my own day to day happenings. Why does everything seem to take 10x more effort and why does my effort tank seem to be running on E ??

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I first told myself that it’s because it’s winter + cold and I’m not getting the amount time outdoors that I need to function properly.

Then I started looking at how I’ve completely changed up my daily routine + habits and that it’s been WAY harder than I thought.

Not to mention there is ALWAYS something on my to do list that I’m not getting to- and I FEEL it sitting there looking at me with guilt as I add 5 more to do items to the already long list. All of these things - added up - begin to feel heavy.

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So here is what I’ve concluded for myself, and hopefully by sharing this with you, you can find value in it too!

Sometimes, Life — it runs the show!

I know that isn’t some magical Pinterest quote to give us the warm and fuzzies and band aid whats going on.

But what it is - - - is the freakin’ truth!

Sometimes in a world where we are over stimulated by curated and filtered content we forget that EVERYONE is feeling the strains of life. So as I was trying to figure out “what’s going on” I simply remembered that LIFE is going on. We feel its ebbs and its flows.

When it feels like life it’s 10x harder then it should be - then find a way to give life 10x more effort. When life feels like it’s smooth sailing, then kick up your feet, feel the breeze and enjoy the moment. Life is in control of the ebbs and flows, but we really are in control of how we respond to it.

So for all my #beautybabes out there feeling Mercury spinning around in retrograde throwing things off…

Here is my life hack - I recommend a winged liner, a bold lip and 2 rows of NBR - It’ll leave you FEELING like you can handle whatever life throws at’cha.

That confidence will help you look life in the face and say - I’ve got this!

Stay strong babes and we’ll chat next week

~xo

Beauty Subscriptions & Product Recommendations

We’re talking beauty subscriptions today! It’s no secret that it’s SO MUCH FUN to get packages in the mail, and I’m going to be honest right out of the gate - that’s a HUGE part of it.

Getting a package each month is really fun to look forward to, and then…. If you’re like me - you forget you’ve subscribed to it, and then it appears on your kitchen table and you’re like OMG THAT’S RIGHT! (That’s.the.truth.right.there.)

I really do enjoy learning about new products and testing them out. I like doing it personally for my hair and skincare routines. But more importantly, I think as a Hair & Makeup Artist it’s part of my job to know about the beauty brands that are out there. That’s a responsibility that I have to you and I actually REALLY REALLY love it!

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I’m often asked about products and recommendations and the conversation often goes like this:

“Hey Hey! I was curious if you knew of a good face primer”

“Hi! Yeah let’s talk face primers - I’m down! First, what’s your skin type?”

“I think I have dry skin”

“'Totally understand that! Have you tried any primers already?”

“I’ve tried Smashbox pore minimizing and a NYX one”

“Awesome, I know pore minimizing is used often in oilier areas of the skin, so with your dry skin it may have been extra drying you out. I would go for a hydrating primer like Too Faced Hangover Rx with coconut water - or if you like the Smashbox Brand they make a Moisturizer/Primer in one. I think it’s called Primerizer. [sooooo clever] Those may be better with your skin type and give you a longer staying power for your foundation! - Keep me posted on what works”

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That’s a real life convo I had. The ONLY reason I’m able to have these conversations and offer value is because I get subscriptions and I test the products I get.

So if you are on the hunt for quality products to address some of your hair & skincare needs - and you’d love getting a package of sample beauty products. I’d say it’s a very inexpensive way to see that latest products and get a present in the mail! Otherwise you can hit me up and we can talk product!

Leave me a comment telling me what beauty products are you struggling to learn how to use! Maybe we can conquer it together! xo~ babes

That NEW Feeling

I’m sure by now we all know that I LOVE education. The Beauty Industry is ever evolving as new styles and fashion trends pop up with every season. It’s FUN & SHINEY part of it! So that means if you are wanting to offer current styles, and stay on top of up upcoming trends - education is a must.

This doesn’t just apply to the Beauty Industry. This applies to ANYTHING in life.

Finding the education to learn something new is easy. But the DOING of the WORK to perfect what you just learned - that part is not so easy. That part requires constant dedication to seeing progress and allowing yourself to be NEW at something.

It’s the practicing over & over of that information/technique that gives you the results. That’s the NOT glamours part of Education - knowing that at first, you’re going to run into roadblocks and feel defeated. Repeatedly.

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I don’t love to be NEW at things, I’m sure everyone can relate to that! The one where you feel like you’re trying something new and then BAM this overwhelming feeling: “I suck, I suck, I SUCK!”

Yeah - not awesome. BUT I had to tell myself, ‘you can’t say you love education, but then get frustrated when haven’t mastered it right away.’ (anyone else suffer from unrealistic expectations of yourself?!)

I am finding that I need to LOVE every part of the process- even the uncomfortable part of being NEW. (insert something warm and fuzzy here about it being the journey not the destination..)

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So if you’re finding yourself feeling like it’s the last week of January and you still haven’t perfected your new habits or goals…IT’S OKAY. The first week of February is right around the corner and it calls for consistent effort. It’s okay to feel like you’re a baby giraffe learning how to walk for the fist time. At least you’re trying and you will get it!

What’s one thing that you want to be a pro at - but has got you feeling like a rookie?

WHOA 2019!

I don’t even know where Nov & Dec went to be honest and then BOOM it hit me like - WHOA it’s 2019! Every year that passes I look at that date written down and am in shock a little bit. This happens to me EVERY YEAR!

You’d think I’d be ready for it by now, but nope - the new year hits me like a train every time. (Lucky for me I have technology on my side now, and I rarely have to actually write out the date with a pen and paper - so I don’t have to worry about writing the date wrong and trying to turn an 8 into a 9.) It’s the small victories in life!

I am a goal driven person, I have been as long as I can remember. I am pretty good at accomplishing the things I set my mind to. However, I’m also really good at NOT making a SET PLAN that I work on every day to get there. There isn’t a TIMELINE to my goals. It’s more of: this year I want to —> insert goal — then I get kinda close to that goal by the end of that year.

This year - I’m focusing a little deeper on that PLAN SETTING part of my goals. Like what are the ACTIONS I need to take EVERYDAY to get there? The word CONSISTENCY and ROUTINE keep popping up everywhere I look.

Now that we are officially starting week 2 of the new year, here is what I can tell you about my new daily routine. Some of these habits have been easier than others to adapt, and some well - are still on the to do list. But I’m working on taking small consistent actions to build them into my daily habits and routine. This is my plan for 2019 - to break my goals down into bite size pieces!

I think as women we are SO strong and able to adapt to anything - so I’m interested to see how you plan your accomplishments and goals for the upcoming year!

So this is where I ask you - how to you plan for a new year? Are you a big goals big dreams kinda gal, or are you taking it one day at a time?! let me know babe! ~xo