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

Tips, trends buzz on the grapevine

Google the term Indian bridal makeup or Pakistani bridal makeup and you will see a gazillion listings of discussions and forums where young females talk about how much they love certain images and tutorials they see on line.

In the same theme, you will read them cringing about how Indian or Pakistani bridal makeup is too heavy, too intense etc etc. Makes you wonder, at one end they are ooohing and aaahing about the exotic colors, dramatic contours and over all glamor and the next second they say its over done. So where is the happy middle ground?

As a professional bridal makeup artist with expertise in Indian and Pakistani bridal makeup I know one thing for a fact- its all about create a sense of balance, harmony and flow. You cannot itemize a look by focusing just on the eyes and not on the lips, just on the foundation and not on what goes on top of it. DO you follow me?

Lets say you are one of those many ladies whose opening line is ' I don't wear much makeup every day'. So lets start from there- what is the color of your outfit. Red, intense pink, maroon, turquoise? Does it have gold or silver, bead or crystal detailing all over? Are you wearing jewelry that has gemstones and will it frame your face (earrings and necklace?). Will you have a veil, dupatta or chunni on your head for the wedding ceremony? If you have answered YES to more than one of the above, you are a South Asian Bride.

Okay, so do your 'Not much every day makeup' and put on your outfit, jewelry and drape the chunni. Now, step back from the mirror at least 6 feet back and look at your face. What do you see? Has your face been engulfed in the glitz and detail of the outfit and jewelry? Has the reflection of the gems, jewels and colors of your over all dressing made your face look washed out and almost ' I just recovered from a long illness' look? Remember we haven't even put you in the elaborate setting of a wedding mandap or reception stage yet, with all that exquisite beauty surrounding you, it will only amplify how lack luster your face looks!!!

This is because this look lacks a sense of balance. And this is why South Asian Brides need to have a makeup look, custom created to bring the feel of flow and harmony from their outfit, to their jewelry to their makeup and hair.

So the grapevine has buzzed about intense eyes and nude lips for a time frame longer than comfortable for me. Talk about completely throwing things off balance! Look at your lips without any makeup, chap stick or gloss on them. What color are they? Certainly not beige, nude or taupe! So why would you want them to be a color of pale earth when you are incorporating so much drama to your eyes??? It makes the face look top heavy and oh Im sure ive mentioned this before, your lips disappear in photographs once the flash goes off! Is that really what you want to do? 

'I hate red lipstick' is another term I keep hearing over and over again. I know the reason may be watching the generation before ours wear creamy red lipstick sans liner making it shift and bleed into maturing skin crevices creating a horror in your mind for a lifetime. But come to the modern day red- look at Gwen S, my goodness talk about a goddess in red lips. It just has to be done right and there is a perfect red out there for every one. Of course you wont wear red lipstick with a maroon or pink outfit but trust me, try it on with a red outfit, there is an elegance and sensuality with it that is unmatched by any other color or lack of (nudes).

'I like glowing skin' another favorite! SO do I, but your photographer wont!!! Because uber shine,glow comes out as harsh hot spots on the face when the flash goes off and trust me (again) you don't want to see bright yellow halos on your cheeks, forehead or nose in all your wedding pictures. Matte is the way to go, dewy must be done in a controlled manner or you will look like you had a role to play in the BP oil disaster clean up and are shimmering due to the oil residue....

I would never discount the importance of any of the components that together create a memorable wedding, but would emphasize that at the end of it all, when the food is all gone & the flowers have wilted, all that you have left is the capture of those remarkable details and moments in your photographs and video, and you need to look exquisite in those... thus invest the time and money to work with a professional makeup artist who will show you the options that will work and be honest about those that won't- there is no replay of the wedding day, so please, be flexible in what you want and let the pro's make it perfect for you.

XOXO

Saman

Some tips

Stay Beautiful!

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

An Authentic Punjabi Celebration!

Thanksgiving weekend was once again dedicated to working on an out of town wedding! But i had no complaints on missing out on the turkey as this was one of the most enjoyable weddings i have ever been part of. Spanning over 3 days and two cities, with live dhol players, bhangra, gidda, punjabi style feasts, music, masti and more it was an event to remember!

Before i start with the looks we worked on for the Sangeet, wedding and reception i would like to express how honored i was with the heartfelt hospitality, respect and love of my bride and her family. Her best friend was truly a matron of honor and took on the responsibility of not only last minute details for the bride but also ensuring that i was taken care of. Thank you so much for every thing!

Sangeet night was thursday evening and my bride wore a traditional wine colored patiala shalwar kameez ensemble with antique embroidery detailing. She wanted a true punjabi look so we braided her hair at the back with accents of tassels at the base and parted her bangs to gently frame her face on one side. The makeup was an evening look with pearlesque pink, wine and antique bronze eyeshadow, black eyeliner and kohl, fake eyelashes in the most natural set, contoured pink cheeks and a taupe/pink lip color.

For the wedding, it was all about the maharani look. The exquisite lehnga was a maroon/burgundy completely laden with antique zardozi, kundan, gota and gemstones in golds, bronzes and emerald green. The dupatta was extremely heavy due to the embroidery so we did a very high behinve style updo that came down to just the right height once the dupatta was pinned.  The makeup was a classic gold, maroon, vanilla, copper, bronze eyeshadow, winged black liner on the top line, emerald green shimmering liner on the bottom line, black kohl, more defined black fake lashes. The cheeks were sculpted with a dark taupe, blush was a peach tone with antique gold highlights, the lips were a soft copper on apricot and the skin was finished with a mineral face powder finish to add a subtle glow to the matte foundation. Bindis were placed around the brows in red and white crystals and the dupatta was draped maharani style.

I don't usually attend the wedding ceremonies but this one i did, and her entrance was so surreal that i got a tear in my eye and goosebumps from the grandeur. As she walked under a drape of flower garlands, to the sounds of live 'Ohmmm mangalam' chanting and her face glowing with regal elegance reflecting the sparkles from her wedding outfit!

The next morning a 4.5 hour drive from one city to another and we were ready to work on the reception look. This was going to be red carpet diva all the way. The burnt russet sari once again had antique detailing and a lush maroon velvet blouse.  So we did the hair in large soft curls on a side part with a lot of bounce and touchable feel.

For makeup i worked with russet, cream and olive green on the eyes, black liner done cleopatra style, olive liner on the lower lash line, black kohl rimming the eyes and true diva style eyelashes. Cheeks were copper toned, the lips were a mocha pink layered with two toned gold/orange pigment and then glossed. True starlett material indeed!

And the love poured on...

November 8th 2009 started with a foggy haze with a chance of thunderstorms as I headed out to the wedding at Nature's Point in Lago Vista. A lovely location overlooking the lake- the setting was dreamlike with an outdoor mandap of drapes and florals against a gray lake backdrop...

My bride brought her heritage of Indian Punjab and UP in the reflection of a lovely red jamevar silk bridal lehnga outfit from Pakistan elaborately embroidered with antique metal bullion. Her desired look for the wedding was enhanced sparkling eyes with a bold lip, flawless skin (to hide any signs of stress and sleepless nights) & a soft but high do to hold her heavy dupatta- We worked with tarnished gold, terracotta, olive green and bronze for the eyes with lush black liner, custom set false eyelashes, two toned foundation to create a flawless contoured look, and three shades of red to create a soft yet bold red lip.

The final look was vibrant, elegant and perfect against the gray skies- that just before the ceremony started pouring down showers of love.... a bit wet, but not a damper on the joy and festivity that continued way into the night!

A Lovely Curtain Call!!!

Last Sunday brought a lovely experience with a darling bride- A Gujarati Indian wedding in the unique setting of the One World Theater in Austin.

What a fantastic production indeed- from the eclectic setting, to the dramatic lighting, and most impressive of all, the program guide was custom designed to look like a premier theatrical production hand out! Very creative indeed.

My Bride- gorgeous undoubtedly, wore a lovely beige and red lehnga with lush crystals and antique metal bullion. We chose to do a 60's bollywood starlet inspired look with a 21st century influence. Dark Kohl lined eyes, extended winged eyeliner, long lashes, chiseled features and soft shimmery lips all in hues of golds, dull reds and bronze-

Bravo on the production and for the look... Encore!

 

From Goddess to Princess- A Tamil Bride

Halloween weekend was an exciting one for Studio Sila. While we didn't get to play dress up, we did have a fantastic time offering services of photography and makeup at a very grand wedding in Houston.

The exciting part was that hours before i left for Houston i had to have emergency dental surgery to extract 4 wisdom teeth! Cannot thank my compassionate dentists enough for giving me enough medicine to numb the pain for the travel and work.

So starting at 6 a.m on Saturday morning, the look my bride wanted was natural glamor and with her lush thick hair in curls. We worked with old gold, rich gold, bronze, maroon and olive green for the eyes with black kohl, defined cheeks with a subtle hint of color and copper based lips. The hair was half up with a poof and down with huge soft curls. By the time we were done, she looked nothing less than an Indian Goddess! The oohs and wows were echoing through the ballroom as she made her entrance carried by uncles and cousins in a lotus shaped basket!


For the reception, it was all out glitz and shimmer. A splendid silvery pink outfit loaded with crystals and custom re-designed with a crinoline petticoat created a Cinderella ball gown effect. My bride opted for side swept large curls accented with pink orchids and crystals. The eyes were steel gray, silver and pink, loads of kohl, sculpted cheeks and soft pink lips- A princess indeed!

Photo-credits: Tk@studiosila.com

A sweet living doll!

October 11th 2009 brought gray skies, freezing rain, a teasing cold front and the opportunity to brighten it all up with a wedding look for a darling bride in Austin!

A Jain Gujarati Indian wedding with a fantastic combination of tradition with modern individual touches- An intimate wedding at the Holiday Inn North West and a fun reception at Cafe' Blu at the Lake!!

For the morning ceremony we started at 9:45 a.m at the Renaissance at the Arboretum- The outfit was a lush emerald green and deep red chiffon sari with dull gold embroidery. The desired look was natural with the 'Saman's signature touch' of accentuated eyes and chiseled features... For the evening reception, the lehnga was a unique patchwork inspired piece with embroidered and woven panels in hues of magenta, emerald green, mustard and more with a gold and mustard blouse and an emerald green dupatta. And the bride with her sweet demeanor and soft features looked just like a doll!

This is the look for the morning which was tweaked for a bit more drama with the hair down for the evening and these are the before and after pictures for you to enjoy!

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 Tamil Affair!

This weekend was a fantastic one indeed, though i was up at 4:00 a.m both days to start work pre-dawn, the results were just perfect.

In the overcast balmy weather of friday i went to the bride's parents home to get her ready for the Pooja followed by the Mehndi night. Welcomed with such warmth by her family was a great start and to top it off, her mother made a fantastic cup of south indian filter coffee for me :)

Her Kanjiveeram sari was a pink with mauve undertones with a gold and green weave. So we worked on the following look that could transition from a day time pooja to an evening event. Oh by the time the session was over it was pouring with menacing thunder so i got drenched on my way out, but my bride was able to enjoy her look all day!

Saturday Morning i was at the Driskill with a winter coat on cause the weather had turned to freezing! I met up with the family and as the bride hopped in for a quick shower i enjoyed the lovely decor of the mandap that had been set up already. Her father was so generous and arranged for my caffine intake with a warm cup of coffee and we got started with the wedding ceremony look. Half waythrough the session i did the makeup of her mom, such a lovely lady indeed!

The bride wore a sari that was a family heirloom almost a 100 years old in a rich magenta and gold. Her hair was bejwelled with orchids flown in from Hawaii, a long braid, gold tassels and ruby encrusted discs! This is the hindu ceremony look-

After a quick lunch we started working on the second look for the american ceremony, we had just about an hour to get it all together but it looked splendid!

Now came the main challenge, with two sessions of product overload on the hair, the bride had to take another shower and shampoo her hair so i had to get her ready for the grand reception look in under 2 hours!!!

I had my assistant join me as we blow dried her silky hair, added huge curlers for volume, then curled individual sections with a curling iron for big bouncy curls and finally added tons of extensions for the ultimate glamorous look! I worked on her mother's evening look again and she was so delighted with the false eyelashes :)

The reception look was a red and bright blue and on my bride's cinnamon skin, it looked simply divine- Hugs and thankyou's were the culmination of the day with her bride's maids and guests appreciating how lovely she looked for each event, now that is true satisfaction! After 14 hours of non stop work, i came home delighted and yearning for a massage.

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