Product Review- Smooth Away

$10 to the challenge, is this really a break from those expensive razor cartridges? So the product is purchased and is tried on the face (jawline and upper lip) and arms. Does not want to work on the leg (south asian hair is defiant?) No real sensation of tugging or friction though a lot of the skin turns powdery white (exfoliation?) and feels warm after repeated attempts in one area.

Exactly 24 hours later, the jawline starts tingling, then angry purple bumps start emerging all over. I try to soothe them with witch hazel, rose water, ice, neosporin, but they itch and get larger. I look like i have blisters on my face. The next day the swelling subsides and i have dull purple blotches where the bumps were. Four days later they vanish.

Lucky for me i did'nt have any public appearances scheduled other than one bridal session where the bride who had once doted over my clear skin looked shocked at what looked like i had contracted a nast skin condition!

The hair growth poked through in 36 hours, soft spikes emerged in 48, a week later the hair was long enough to be visible at an arms length.

My take- Its not worth it. My skin is not sensitive, but it did not like the abrasion. The razor does the exact same thing without the skin erruptions (of course i dont use it on my face!) The growth time is comparable to the razor, the spikes are softer at the tip so they dont look like a stubble, more like when you wax or thread your hair.

If you have tried it, feel free to post your comments on the experience!

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

Sound bytes from desi weddings

With every lovely new bride, trial makeup session, unique wedding, excitement and buzz comes an exclusive memory of random statements... here are some of the latest ones:

1. I want to look like my self. (Of course, but do you wear a heavilly embroidered lehnga with all that jewelry every day?)
2. I don't want to look like a christmas tree. (That really isn't my style either)
3. I hate red-lipstick. (Hmm that is personal preference but i don't do red lips with a pink outfit either)
4. Can you make my dupatta feel lighter (Sorry sweetest! I can pin it so it does'nt intefere with movement but weight is something that should have been considered with purchasing the outfit)
5. I don't know what color Im wearing for the wedding. Can we do a trial makeup session ( For what color theme???)
6. I want to look pretty. (And i want the same thing for you too)
7. I don't want to look caked up (DO any of the brides you've seen in my portfolio look like they have icing on them?)
8. Do i have to pay tax too?
9. Do i have to reimburse the parking fee/valet fee too?
10. My wedding is over budget, we have 600 guests, can you give me a break (i would love to, but im working from 3:00 a.m- 7:00 p.m on your wedding my dearest to make you look and feel fantastic, shouldn't that be paid more than the price of your centre piece arrangements?
:D )

I adore all my brides- this is what makes the whole process so much fun!
XOXO
Saman

A Vision of Exquisite Beauty!

A Hindu, Jain, North Indian, South Indian Gujrati wedding!

This weekend was any makeup artists dream come true. I got to work with one of the most exquisite faces and the most darling bride ever!

From 7:00 a.m- 6:00 p.m with coffee and poongal, giggles, music, lots of chit chat and rave reviews from the photographer, videographer, bride'smaids, cousins, brothers, mom and dad and even the groom (here here Saman!) it was a day that felt truly rewarded!

A doctor by profession, yearning to be a bollywood starlett- any as the images below will advocate, there is no doubt, she will have all the A list actresses of India on a run for their money does she decide to make her mark in the industry

:)

A 60's bollywood inspired classic elegant look for the wedding. A modern softly dramatic complimentary color theme for the reception.

XOXO

Saman

A garba/ sangeet session

Good friday, traffic like it was thanksgiving and a windy spring day all came together for the Garba/Sangeet night session for a beautiful bride!

As we travelled all over town from her Parents house in Round Rock, to lunch at Madras Pavillion, switching luggage and cars and into South Austin towards the hotel braving the traffic chaos on I-35, it was music and chit chat and time just flew by.

Every one kept asking, Saman are you her friend? From College?

:D

Once at the hotel we took over the suite gently moving the groom's family out of there and in 2 hours we created an elegant look for my dear bride in shimmering nudes and green for her red and burnt orange outfit.

Hope the photoshoot at the botannical gardens was a good one girl- and I cannot wait to work with you for the wedding and reception looks!

XOXO

Saman

Freshly washed hair or dirty hair?

The question echos through almost every consultation i have with my brides to be. Lets put it this way, would you want to touch some ones dirty hair? Im talking a couple of days old, oily goopy mangled with products.... not so nice!

But, freshly washed hair can be extremely challenging to work with especially if the hair is straight. No matter how much product is starched on, the hair may look great temporarily but it will not hold! So what we ask for is clean hair but not shampooed just a couple of hours ago. Ideally the night before the wedding is when you should shampoo, condition and dry your hair. Give it some nice brushing before bed, then again when you wake up. That will stimulate the natural oil production which will give it a natural lift and just the right amount of tackiness to the stylist to create the best, long holding hair style when coupled with the right styling products.

Happy hair styles~
XOXO
Saman

Facebook and Twitter

Happy Monday Ladies! While its bitterly chilly on what should be a warm spring day in Austin, here is a bit of warmth through chit chat and connection!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=2436679643&ref=mf

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SamanAnsari

Send in those questions~
XOXO
Saman

Some tips (From experience)

Here are some tips and tried and true recommendations for all brides to be as well as those preparing for a big event-
1. If prepping your face for a hair free look, please take care by scheduling facials, waxing and threading at least a week prior. Any less than that and you can have bumps, pimples and scars on your face that will be harder to conceal.
2. Hair works with gravity & weather- If you desire a down do with large curls, remember that they need to start as smaller curls which will open up and get looser as time progresses. Use too large a barrel for curling and the hair will go straight too soon. If the weather is dry and static, the hair will get fly away distorting those large curls again. If its humid, the large curls will stick to your neck and face and look like un-styled hair! So trust your artist and let them do tighter curls and enjoy them through the event as they slowly get looser and bigger.
3. Do not fixate your self on one portion of the face to make it perfect. Look at the entire face, from an arms length (how many people will see you from 3 inches away?) The complete look should be pleasing :) Visual balance is achieved when you stand 2 feet away from the mirror and it all looks good.
4. Do your part and get some good sleep before the event. Hydration and rest are essential and even with the finest makeup techniques nothing can compare to the real, fresh look of well rested eyes and nourished skin!
5. You know your skin and how it behaves best. So if its oily, do not go for a shimmery glowing look as it will go overboard after an hour when your natural oils come through the makeup. And yes, flash photography where the flash faces you, will enhance any shine so unless you want hot spots on your T zone that look neon- keep the shimmer/fairy dust/glitter/shine/glow/bronzer to a minimum please.
6. Don't over moisturize your skin, it will cause the foundation to slide. Don't layer on chapstick before the lip color, it will cause it to bleed!
7. Trust your experienced artist (that is why you chose them right?) You are the essence of beauty and when enhanced with makeup should look elegant, divine and diva like, so stay away from the untouchable, too perfect, too polished, too porcelain a look and have a lovely event!

XOXO Saman

Airbrush or not?

Its in great demand right now, airbrushed foundation! Its amazing for sheer natural looking skin, but then again so is a traditionally applied one with a skilled hand and a good brush. As a matter of fact for the wedding, pro makeup artists do not recommend air brushed foundation especially when more coverage is needed for spots, pigmentation, that stress related pimple, those 'didn't sleep all week' tell tale dark circles!

Here is my first Hydro Foundation of Kett Cosmetics bridal application!
To reiterate my view- here is an article from an industry professional who needs little introduction:

http://www.weddingaces.com/2009/03/wedding-makeup-airbrush-foundation-or-hand-applied/#more-1400