Beauty Tips by Tania

Perfect Wedding Hair – for You, That Is

Chunny 4Decisions, decisions, decisions. Preparing for the wedding of your dreams, whether it is simple or lavish, requires so many decisions. The ones that are captured on film that you will look back on in years to come can be some of the most difficult to make. So, let’s make this one a little easier.

Several things factor into your choice of hairstyle for your wedding. First, are you planning a formal wedding in a church or do you prefer a more casual wedding on a Hawaii beach? Is your dress extravagant or simple? Starting from there and then narrowing down the hair style makes the decision easier.

The next step in the decision making process is simple: structured or unstructured. When you look back on your photos do you want to see every hair perfectly in place or do you want to be able to see the wind blowing it whether it’s across your chest or even in your face?

Once you’ve made these basic decisions, you can work with your hair stylist to design the right style for you. A trial run a month before the wedding helps to bring that perfect look more into focus. Book your trial session when you feel ready with sample hairstyles photos, veil and/or hair embellishments. See our Pinterest boards for inspiration to help you choose the perfect style.

And, above all, don’t be afraid to speak up while your hair stylist is designing on wedding day. At Beauty by Tania, we always do your bridal hairstyle in front of a mirror so that each bride can watch it evolve and make changes in a timely manner. We are there to help you and work with you to have your dream bridal hairstyle. Happy styling!

Preparing Beautiful Skin for Wedding Day

anyano_065When looking back on wedding photos, flawless skin is pretty high up on the list of priorities for brides. For that one day, they want to have the most beautiful skin possible.

It takes time and care to have that flawless canvas for your wedding makeup artist to work on. Start early and it is within your grasp.

  1. Three months before the wedding, start getting facials once a month to deep clean your skin. If you plan to travel to your wedding destination, either get your final facial before flying out, or find a spa that uses the same protocols that your skin is doing well with. Avoid sudden changes right before the wedding!
  2. Avoid changing your skin care routine for the last three months before the wedding. You don’t want to deal with a reaction that needs time to heal or find out that the products are not working.
  3. Beautiful skin starts from the inside out. Prepping for a wedding can be stressful, so if you know that certain foods have a tendency to cause reactions in your skin, then avoid those for a few months. And above all, stay hydrated! Drinking plenty of water allows your skin to gently & naturally detox.
  4. The day before the wedding avoid lots of salt and sugar to reduce puffiness, especially if you have an early morning.
  5. Our last tip – you’ve heard it before, but we’ll say it again – do NOT forget the sunscreen!

Flawless skin for your wedding is within your grasp – just start planning early!

Destination Hawaii for Wedding Couples

j0145116Whether you are coming to Honolulu for your destination wedding, or you are local and have friends and family flying in for your wedding, this is the perfect time to explore and enjoy the beauty of paradise. There are iconic parts of Oahu that all visitor’s should see at least once, and then you have the lesser known vista’s that you need a local to suggest, because they are not in any guidebook.

For an iconic hike, you cannot get any better than Diamond Head overlooking the beaches of Waikiki. Since you don’t want to do any super-strenuous exercise right before the wedding, this is perfect for all of your family & friends. They have even modified the trail so the dreaded stairs are much easier. If you can bring yourself to wake up early, sunrise from Diamond Head is guaranteed to be spectacular.

Plan a day trip to the North Shore for our next few suggestions – you won’t be disappointed! (Just make sure to bring plenty of sunblock and water to stay hydrated!)

  1. The North Shore is the best place to get a taste of Old Hawaii. Haleiwa Town has plenty of quaint shops and as you continue driving, you’ll see many great spots to pull over and view the ocean, see turtles and seals on the beach, and, of course go swimming in the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Waimea Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches and has the advantage of the Waimea Botanical Gardens right across the main road from the beach!
  2. A Hawaiian Plate Lunch is an absolute must when you visit Oahu. One of the most well-known – and ono (delicious) food trucks, Giovanni’s is near Haleiwa Town and cannot be beat if you like shrimp. Plate lunches are available all over the island, so look for the traditional Kahlua pig lunch or indulge in a loco moco (a burger over rice with eggs cooked however you like and gravy to tie it all together).

The Polynesian Cultural Center really needs a day of its own. It is a bit of a drive from Waikiki, but check with your hotel to find a bus to take you there and they may have tour packages available as well. Look into the evening luau packages & don’t forget to take one of the canoe tours through the property. This is a perfect time to learn the history and culture of Hawaii!

For the more adventurous, ocean-loving members of your party, drive to Hawaii Kai and the amazing Haunama Bay for snorkeling. (Once again – don’t forget the sunblock and the water to stay hydrated!) The tropical sea life alone is worth the drive, but the scenery along the way is breathtaking. Drive a little further to see the blowhole and the famous Sandy’s Beach – just be careful as the surf is powerful.

We can’t give away all of the local secrets, but send us a message and we can give you a few hints of favorite spots from a local perspective! Hope to see you soon in our island home!

Posture Check-up!

Iris_004As soon as you read the title, you straightened up a bit, huh? Was your mother or teacher’s voice running in a recording through your brain, “Stand up straight!” “Don’t slouch!” “If you don’t stand up straight…(insert dire warning here).”

Turns out, mom was right for more reasons than one. Not only does good posture affect your health, but if you think about it, people with good posture seem to exude confidence and vitality. And, if you plan to wear a strapless wedding dress, good posture is an absolute must!

How do you know if you have good posture?

One way is to stand up against a flat wall with the back of your head and entire shoulder blade touching the wall and tuck your pelvic bone forward so the small of your back touches the wall and your heels touch the baseboard. Stand there and feel that for 2 minutes, then walk away from the wall maintaining that posture. This exercise will also strengthen your core and becomes easier as you become stronger (we recommend some good stretching as well).

It’s not easy to hold that perfect posture, but practice every day so you know instinctively what it feels like and you can turn it on for the camera on your wedding day!

Strike a Pose (Part 2)

Missed Part 1? Check it out here!

For over 20 years, Tania has taught models how to pose in front of the camera & every photo shoot requires a little practice beforehand if you want to look & feel amazing. Strike a Pose photo 1Here are some more tips on striking the perfect pose for the perfect wedding photos!

  • Keep your shoulders relaxed, down and back. If you are self-conscious about your upper arms, keep them slightly away from your body and avoid ‘smooshing’ poses.
  • Stand at a 45 degree angle, not straight on, to slim your figure. (A good photographer will be able to let you know what angle slims you the most.) Put each leg in a slightly different position and put all your weight on the back leg.
  • If your dress is shorter and your legs are showing, point your toes, bend your knees and position each leg differently. Don’t forget to shift your weight on one leg more than the other. Interestingly enough, “awkward” leg positions photograph better than the more relaxed, comfortable.
  • For a more natural look, hold your bouquet in one hand and allow the other arm to relax and your hand to be soft. If you feel your hands and arms tensing up, take a moment to shake them out and start again. A slight curve of the fingers always looks better than straight.

 

BONUS TIPS ::

Research. I know, that sounds like homework. But look through the bridal magazines and all the Internet photos of celebrities at award ceremonies & movie premiers. They are experts at posing so they look their absolute best – learn from them.

Practice in front of a mirror! Gather your bridesmaids, some snacks, a bottle of champagne and practice till you feel you look your best. Then, it will be more natural on the big day.

Strike a Pose (Part 1)

Your wedding photos are some of the most important photographs you will ever take. Let’s face it, each of us is concerned with how those photos will turn out. Your hair and makeup will be perfect, you will look Strike a Pose photo 2radiant and you want it to translate in photos.

For over 20 years, Tania has taught models how to pose in front of the camera and every photo shoot requires a little practice beforehand. Here is how you can strike the perfect poses and look your best on your wedding day!

  • Remember the basics – take a deep breath, exhale deeply, raise your chin slightly and twist your head slightly away from the camera. Then focus your eyes either a little above your natural eye line or back down at the camera.
  • Natural emotion is more beautiful than forcing your smile through compressed lips to hide your teeth. If you’re not confident with your teeth, let your photographer know – that is what post-production is for.
  • Think happy / excited / romantic / confident thoughts and it will come through in your smile. Don’t forget to smile with your eyes!
  • To soften “profile” photos, turn your face 45 degrees from the camera, rather than 90 degrees.

Stay tuned for Part 2 next week – more ways to prepare to love your wedding photos!

How do you Prep for a Trial Session

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Each eye is a different color

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Brown Shadow with a Contour eye on LEFT and Maroon Shadow with a Contour eye on RIGHT

Brides want to come to the trial session armed with pictures of a hairstyles and makeup preferences, hair embellishments like the veil, flowers, and hair clips etc.  It may be a good idea to bring your favorite eye shadow colors, those you feel comfortable in for a day wedding or evening wedding.

In order to save you time and fustration, don’t be afraid to tell your stylist what you “don’t” like from the beginning.  Throughout the trial session, evaluate what you like and how far you want to take the bridal look from natural to a glamour look. Remember it’s a trial session so have fun in the process and you can always make minor changes on the wedding day.

See www.beautybytania.com and click on the pinterest account, it can be very helpful.

50 Shades of White

weekly-deal-wedding-dressThere are so many options when it come to picking the style of the bridal dress but what about the shade of white.   Traditionally, Brides wore only white for their first wedding. Now brides are wearing any shade of white that appeals to them and their skin tone.  Here are a few guidelines as seen in The Knot Fall 2013 magazine.

Dark skin can wear stark white or almost any shade

Medium with olive tone skin can wear champagne and diamond white

medium with yellow tone skin can wear off-white or creamy ivory

fair and pink-toned skin can wear ivory

When trying on your dress consider the lighting in the bridal salon and your own makeup application. You may want to pull up your hair to consider different hairstyles like all up,  half up and down or all down.  Veils can complement the dress for the ceremony but removed for the reception.

As seen in The Knot Magazine Fall 2013, page 390.

 

When is your bridal look a Fad

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A bridal look is a very personal thing and many brides enjoy getting pampered with makeup application and hairstyling.  On the other hand, which bridal look to choose may be a daunting task for some.  So I’ve listed some questions to ask yourself when working with your stylist.

1.  Is the makeup and hair timeless and appropriate to the dress style, venue and theme.  Remember you’ll have to look back at these photos and show them to your children and grandchildren.

2.  Is the look a trend that will come and go quickly.

3.  Is the hairstyle complementing your facial shape.

4.  Is the eyeshadow color and application, your personal style or a fashion look.

Thought you might like to know

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Dear Global Brides,  You may find the attached link very interesting, I know I did.
Yours Truly,
Beauty by Tania,
Honolulu, Hawaii
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