Product Review

For those of you who emailed me regarding the super oil I used while styling the last blog for Maharani Weddings 


http://www.maharaniweddings.com/maharani/2010/11/studio-sila-thanksgiving-maharani.html


here are details!


So the amazing dry oil is called Moroccan Oil and it is primarily created from Agave Oil. Being a dry oil, it leaves no heavy, sticky, oily feel to the hair when used properly.


So what is proper, well, you are to use a drop (literally no bigger than the size of a penny) in damp hair and focus more on the length of the strand and the ends. If your hair is bleached, highlighted, chemically relaxed, permed or very curly you will need a tad bit more. Hair that is virgin to all chemical processes will need less. Remember it looks like a drop but it goes a long way and after the first use, you will know if you need to go up or down with the amount applied. You rub the drop of oil between your palms and smooth it down the shaft of the hair, remember the inside area also near the nape of the neck :)


It works both to naturally smooth the hair and is amazing for styling too. I use it prior to applying curlers for the softest large curls, its amazing as a serum prior to using the flat iron and if you make loose braids in almost dry hair after applying the oil 10 minutes later you have the perfect finger waves!


Here is the product- worth every penny and it is available online at Amazon!

Stay Beautiful!

XOXO

Saman Ansari

A Platinum Guide Recognition!

My first blog (of a list of many to come- trust me) has been featured on Maharani Weddings, and oh yes, Studio Sila Makeup by Saman Ansari is now featured in the Platinum Guide on Maharani Weddings!

So, princesses, rani's and my darling diva's- here is to looking exquisite on your wedding events with Saman!

http://www.maharaniweddings.com/maharani/2010/05/bridal-makeup-trends-from-the-glossies.html

XOXO

Saman

The Princess on the Lake

The first weekend in April was truly the most highly anticipated wedding weekend of early 2010- nestled in the exquisite hill country of Austin, overlooking the magnificent lake Travis, lined up were 3 events that came together as a grand production by the finest vendors of Austin! 

My bride, with her flawless complexion, chiseled features and the highest standards of artistic preferences gave me the opportunity to express my creativity of makeup artistry, hair design and styling for her Sangeet, Wedding and Reception Events.

Mint green and yellow were the colors of the Sangeet outfit and we worked with smokey lime & moss green  with custom set eyelashes and lavishly lined eyes, muted lips, flushed cheeks on a contoured bone and lots of large soft waves in her hair with extensions and diamond accents.

Soft white with crystal accents and a hint of burgundy was the look of the wedding outfit and the makeup was extremely refined with a hint of old gold, vanilla and bronze, soft black liner, custom set eyelashes, highlighted cheekbones and an enhanced blush and warm nude lips. The hair was lifted at the crown and set with an updo to provide a graceful drape to her veil.

Lush royal purple with copper, soft gold and crystals was the fantastic color of the reception outfit. The bride wanted 'Kim Kardashian' style eyes and that is what we worked with. Purple, violet, plum, shimmering lavender and mauve created diva like bold, sensual eyes complete with lots of black eyeliner and glamorous custom set eyelashes. Defined brows, glowing cheeks accenting the cheekbones, and soft warm mauve lips with just a hint of sheen. The hair was coiffed with an elaborate up do and finished with a crystal hair clip asymmetrically.

Intensely elegant, flawlessly glamorous- my signature style!

XOXO

Saman

From Punjab to Texas- A Debutant Reception

Sunday was a dull, gray rainy early March day but got brightened up very soon as my session started with a Newly wed bride who recently got married in Punjab India, and came over to get ready for her Reception in Austin!

Accompanied by her sister in law, our session was full of chatter, laughter and lush brilliant colors that not only reflected the essence of Punjabi culture but were perfect for the bride's grand debut in her new Austin friends and family.

The SIL wore a lovely deep plum sari with green, copper and gold accents we replicated the look with vibrant magenta, old gold and green eye shadows, flushed berry cheeks and soft muted lips. Her hair was teased at the crown and curled with three sizes of curling irons to create a full, soft yet elegant evening look.

The bride wore a very unique lehnga outfit that had a champagne shirt, emerald green and hot pink lehnga with traditional punjabi phulkaari embroidery & mirrors. We created an eleborate updo with a partial beehive and then exxagerated coils, barrels and curls that diminished Sarah Jessica Parkers updo at the Oscars last night! The hair was completed with two white thai orchids on one side.

The Makeup was created with heavily Kohled eyes with black track fluid line, emerald green eyeshadow on the lid, champagne eyeshadow on the inner corners, hot pink on the crease blended to a nude at the brow. Black liner on the top lid, emerald liner on the lower lid, Diva style false eyelashes & two coats of mascara. The primed face started with Studio Tech Foundation, some spot concealor,  a spritz of Fix Plus hydrating spray and mineralize face powder. The cheeks were sculpted with Sound Trip and Shadester. The full lips had a neutral look with raw refined lip liner and half n half lipstick. 

Perfect for her debut and a night full of bhangra and Punjabi style celebrations!

 

XOXO

Saman Ansari

A Vietnamese Indian Union

This Saturday I had the opportunity to work on a Union of Asian Heritages! Nestled in the highly acclaimed Hill Country area, an intimate wedding ceremony against the exquisite backdrop of the West Lake and hills brought together the cultures of Vietnam and India!

My bride with her delicate features and petite frame went all out with a traditional heavily embroidered white and red sari, red dupatta and heirloom 22k jewelry passed down from the groom's family. She wanted to look like a true Indian bride and here is how I made it happen.

ALL PRODUCTS BY MAC:

Prep-n Prime skin, NC 35, Mineralize Skin finish in Medium.

Eyes- Gorgeous gold, Melon, Twinks, Copper Ring, Vanilla and Basic Red eye shadows and pigments. Black Track Fluid line winged, extended and smudged on the upper lash line, Bronze used wet on the lower line. Custom made eyelashes.

Cheeks- Gingerly, Desert Rose and Honor

Lips- Mahogany and Dubonnet.

How exquisite indeed!

XOXO

Saman

Love the pink

Pink, an all time favorite keeps coming back to the 'trend' scene and while many a times its hard to replicate a soft pink on lush tanned skin tones, here is how to bring it in for a glamorous look from evening to wedding!

This Bridal Look can very well be translated into a party and evening makeup look by simply wearing it with a solid colored outfit (white, black, navy any thing but red or yellow) and minimal accessories.

ALL MAKEUP PRODUCTS BY MAC

The skin for this look has been prepped with MAC prep n prime for the skin, followed by Studio Tech in NC 40 applied in a stippling motion with a foundation brush for a flawless finish. The foundation gets set in place with invisible blotting powder.

The eyes start with a coat of primer, lids completely covered with Girlie pressed down into place with a flat eyeshadow brush, brow bone (highlight area) dusted with pink opal pigment and a fluffy eyebrush, inner corner (around inner tearduct area both above and below) of the eye accented with shroom on an eyeliner brush for precision. The crease and socket are emphasized with Fuschia pigment and blended with cranberry eyeshadow mixed with bronze eyeshadow. Blend well to make the colors look seamless. The upper lashes are lined winged up and out with engraved eyepencil, the lower lash line is dotted with brun eyeshadow on an angled brush then blended with the same brush dipped in cranberry eyeshadow. The lower lashes get a coat of black fiberlash mascara and the upper ones a custom made set of falseeyelashes applied with dark duo adhesive.

The Lips are primed, made soft and smooth with Lip primer, then outlined with beet and filled with cranberry lip pencils. A coat of Captive lipstick applied with the lip brush and for those who crave shine, a coat of Hey Sailor Dazzle Glass.

Cheeks first get sculpted with shadester on a contouring brush, then swept very lightly with breezy with a blush brush and highlighted with Honor dotted on with a fluffy eyeshadow brush in a circular motion.

A lot of pink, very feminine, very elegant and done right!

Stay Beautiful!

XOXO

Saman

An Ode to a dream!

With all the weddings I am fortunate to service, I end up with a lovely list of post wedding friends that had started of as brides-to-be! We stay in touch, discuss their fondest memories of the wedding (and also not so fond ones) and of course always talk about their wedding pictures :) I also meet a lot of lovely ladies from the wedding party who say ;' I wish I knew of you at my wedding, i hated my makeup!'

Very often I hear, 'I wish I had invested in a better Photographer, or kept a more reasonable budget to hire a true artist to capture the moments...' Its heart breaking to see poorly taken images!

So working together with Tauseef (http://www.studiosila.com/photography.html) we came up with a package for those brides and grooms, who wishes to relive the emotions of their most special day through a very special portrait session.  After the consulation we figure out what the greatest desire is for those images, some want a reflection of their wedding day theme- so we create an elaborate set for the shoot, others want to have their makeup done with my Signature Style, then those who want very natural interactive moments and those who want all out glamor.

Here is are some images from a 2 day session we recently conducted. The beautiful bride wanted to get her hair and makeup done from me and get some Mughal inspired portraits done with her groom for a Mehndi, Wedding and Valima Reception look- some 3 years after her actual events :D