Coconut Oil
Recently I have been hearing so much about the beauty benefits of organic coconut oil. Coconut oil can be used for cooking, eating for extra energy, and for smoothing hair and skin. Coconut oil at room temperature is hard and waxy. For beauty purposes it must be heated into an oil. Many products on the market are infused with coconut oil but in its pure form there are many uses…
Treatment for damaged hair– One section of hair at a time, apply oil from the ends of your hair to the middle of the hair shaft. Cover your hair with a shower cap. I recommend sleeping in the treatment for the best results. In the morning shampoo and condition as usual.
Dry Scalp-Part your hair and section by section apply coconut oil to the scalp. Cover with a showercap and sleep in the treatment. Shampoo and condition hair in the morning.
Dry Chapped Skin– In the winter my hands can get extremely dry. Rub coconut oil onto hands and wrap in plasticwrap. Keep on for an hour or so. Wash your hands as normal.
You can use coconut oil on dry styled hair as a way to give shine to dull ends but I must warn you that this stuff can get messy! You only need a TINY amount of oil, otherwise your hair will just look greasy. There are other claims about coconut oil uses that I have not yet tried including a cure to acne and cold sores, and an anti aging regimen. Comment if you have any experiences with coconut oil to share!
Fake Eyelashes
For special occasions, I love to apply fake eyelashes. It creates a look that is more than your everyday makeup and makes eyes look so beautiful in pictures.
Before applying the lashes, I recommend doing all your makeup first, including eye liner.
Here is how to DIY:
- Use the plastic packaging that the eyelashes come in as a tray. Squeeze out a little bit of eyelash glue. Let sit for a couple of minutes.
- Take the lashes and cut them in half. This makes the lashes more manageable and easier to apply.
- Bend the halved lashes back and forth so that they are more flexible. This will allow the lash to curve with the natural shape of your lash line.
- Place a fine line of eyelash glue along the edge of the fake lashes. I use a moistened Q-Tip to apply the glue.
- Using tweezers carefully sweep the glued edge of the fake lashes on top of the natural lashes. You only want to have a tiny bit of glue swept on top of the natural lash.
- Now, place the strip of the fake eyelashes exactly where your natural lash meets the eyelid. Gently push the strip onto the lash line using your fingers. Apply all 4 lash pieces (2 on each eye) using this technique.
- As you apply each piece of lash make sure you gently push your natural lash upward to connect with the fake lash. This is why we swept that little bit of glue on the natural lash before applying the fake lash. It just provides a little more hold.
- Let glue dry completely.
- Apply mascara as you would normally, pretending the fake lashes and your real lashes are one! This helps to blend the natural lashes with the fake.
The lashes can be removed at the end of your event using a combination of makeup remover, face wash, and a warm wash cloth.
Eyebrow Threading
Me and eyebrow threading have a love hate relationship. For years I had been waxing my eyebrows and because my skin is so sensitive I almost always ended up with a scar from the wax. With threading, I leave the salon with some redness but never a scar like with waxing. Also, I prefer eyebrow threading now because the shape of the eyebrow is defined and perfect! The reason that I hate eyebrow threading is sometimes (depending on how experienced the threader is) it hurts way worse than waxing!
Threading involves a thin, twisted cotton thread plucking the hair at the follicle level. Unlike tweezing, where single hairs are pulled out one at a time, threading can remove an entire row of hair, resulting in an accurate and straighter line. When you get your eyebrows threaded you have to tighten the skin by pulling the skin under your eye down, and above the eyebrow up.
If you are looking for a threading studio try the mall. Typically these studios are in mall kiosks or small store fronts. For those of you wondering what in the world I am talking about, check out this video. It is my sister Jill getting her eyebrows done at the mall!
Perfect Red Lips
I love red lipstick around the holidays!! It i
s important to have smooth lips before applying lipstick (especially red!). I like to use Mary Kay’s Satin Lip Set. It comes with a mask and a balm. First, apply the Mask and let set for about 3 minutes until dry. Remove the mask with a warm wash cloth and apply a little bit of the balm if your lips are dry.
Next, its time for lip liner. Red lipsticks tend to spread beyond the lips so it is important to have a good waterproof lip liner. I like MAKE UP FOREVER in the color 8C. Apply the liner to the parameter of the lips, paying special attention to make sure you are creating a symmetrical shape.
Now time for the lipstick! I like the shade Absolute Rouge by LANCOME. It is the perfect mix of matte and shimmer. Apply using a lip brush! Both the lip liner and lipstick can be found at Sephora. Through out the day apply Softlips Lip Balm to be sure lips do not become chapped and dry! Enjoy!!
Salon Tipping Advice
- Commission- This is when a stylist gets paid a percentage of the total dollar amount of services they perform. This commission varies by salon and can range anywhere from 30 to 80%
- Independent Contractor- This is when a stylist rents space at a salon. For example, the chair rental may be $500 per month. The stylist then keeps the money from all services performed that month and pays the $500 to the salon owner. This is not the only cost involved though. Often times stylists that are paid this way have to buy all their own products and tools.
- Flat Rate Wage- This is when a stylist gets paid a flat rate, often times minimum wage.
Princess For A Day
What do you think about this salon? What would be your thoughts walking into a salon that looked like this? Would you feel like a princess in a fairy tale land or would you think you were in Disney World? Well if you were thinking Disney….you were right! This is a photo of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Walt Disney World. This salon caters to both little girls and boys offering Princess and Knight packages. I would love to work in a salon that looked exactly like this, but that also catered women and girls of all ages! What woman doesn’t want to feel like a princess for the day?! This salon is decorated to perfection and every detail contributes to the overall theme. The custom salon chairs are so cute and I can already picture the menu of services…Princess Pedicures, Magical Manicure, Queen Cuts, Fairy Tale Facials…I love it!
Welcome to Ashley’s Beauty Salon
Thank you for coming! My name is Ashley and I will be your stylist today!!! This blog will provide all your beauty needs. I will focus on everyday beauty tips for healthy hair, skin, and nails. How to sessions on the latest trends, as well as must have beauty products, salon etiquette, and how to have a spa day on a budget…all your beauty questions will be answered!!
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