I am back!

Dear Ones!
I am sorry for disappearing for quite a while but ooh have I returned from exciting trips and such wonderful learning experiences from my travels :)
Lots of weddings this summer, will post the images very soon- Till then, stay beautiful~
XOXO
Saman

The Nail Story

Mehndi is an adornment of the South Asian bride that is both a marvelous piece of art and is one amazing aphrodisiac :)
So the nail design and mehndi are two parts of the wedding look that carry over to the post wedding and honeymoon and many brides for this reason choose the french manicure as their nail design.
While the french manicure may look extremely neat and very classy on a day to day basis, it doesn't always work out with the mehndi. Mehndi gets darker 48 hours after its initial application and the more your body temperature rises, the deeper it appears! And that can become too stark a contrast with the white tips- Here are my recommendations for nail color and design-
If you are wearing a red, maroon or orange theme that has gold accents and wish to stay away from those colors for the nails good alternates are:
1. Champagne or light sand shimmering nail color
2. Taupe color with copper tips (shorter nails only)


For pink, blue, green outfits that may have silver detailing
1. American manicure but with pearl tips (no white or creame please)
2. Sheer silver nail polish (it doesnt look tacky)
3. Diamond dust or very subtle glitter solars

Airbrush design on the nails is a personal preference but can some times look a bit too busy with the intricate mehndi design on the hands.

If getting solars or acrylics, do request a slightly rounded square tip and get them done atleast 4 days before the wedding event start as the cuticle area can throb or hurt the day after the nails are put on!

Happy nail styling!
XOXO
Saman

Why so long?

Every now and then i will get a bride who at the consulation will ask, wow Saman your session is 3 hours long at a wedding? I know of artists who do the whole look in an hour and makeup counters are done with a full makeup look in 30 minutes!

Yes i know, it seems like a long time and here is what those 3 hours include from me. With over a decade of working at weddings, i know there is always 'something' that comes up- we need to have time to accomodate that surprise. Friends want to come in to take a peek, that takes up time as they all ooh and aah and create excitement. A distraught family member may think you are the source of every solution and keeps asking you about random things...

Then there is the stress of the big day, of course you are nervous, its a huge change in your life! Would you rather feel rushed with an artist who goes at lightening speed to get your hair, makeup and dressing done and is out the door?

I arrive early, i help organize and layout all your jewelry, clothes, and details. How many forget that putting ironed clothes in a suitcase causes them to get wrinkled all over again! So i iron them again for you. We start with the hair, we talk , you laugh and smile, wiggle your toes... Then we proceed to the makeup, you close your eyes and relax as i pamper you through the process. I answer every knock at your hotel room door and assist taking unwanted visitors out of your room. I dress you up, put on your jewelry, help you wear your shoes :) Your photographer arrives for getting ready shots, i help you enjoy that session. He/She leaves to capture the arrival of the baraat- you get nervous, excited, realize you need to run to the ladies room- i help you get settled again.

We look in the mirror together, you enjoy the total vision of beauty, we make any desired tweaking changes.... I stay with you till your family comes to take you down for your grand entrace.

It's the quality of service my dearest bride to be... you are in good hands because i love what i do and my commitment to pampering you is what makes it a 3 hour session!

XOXO

Saman

What joyous excitement-

This weekend i was part of a grand Indian wedding of the Maharashtran & Tamil cultures! As i made my way to the Rennaisance at the Arboretum in Austin at 5:00 a.m, the windchill was nippy. But soon the cold melted to the warmth and hustle bustle in my brides suit as we got company from her brother, mother, aunt, uncle, the photographer father, the PRIEST :), another brother, his son and lots of friends- soon there was barely enough space for me to get her ready but hey that is the fun of a true desi wedding.

As i put on her final touches i even got a suggestion or two by the priest on how she should look for the wedding :)

I headed back to the studio at 9:00 a.m and was back at the hotel at 3:00 p.m to get the reception session started. As i undid her updo there was a shower of rice that turned the carpet white, no kidding, that is the most generous amount of rice shower i have every seen come out of a hair do! As we proceeded to covert her hair style into a lush cascade of big curls, I met the groom for the first time then, lounging in his UT shorts and T with the remnants of the wedding with Turmeric color feet and a black spot on his cheek to ward of the evil eye- what a darling he was too, the next time around he looked so handsome in his tux!

From a very traditional Maharashtran bride (with some Tamil accents to accomodate the new family ) to a glamorous Bollywood diva- how divine- all in a days work.

XOXO

Saman Ansari