Girl Stubble

That's right.  I called it.  Girl Stubble.  I have seen this on and off while working counter and recently it has been so often that I've gotta call it out!

Ladies, if you happen to struggle with girly hair on your face... please wax.  This is what I use, when I don't go to the salon: Satin Smooth Waxing Starter Kit.  There are so many options available to you before you decide to SHAVE your chin, the sides of your face or down your neck.  

This is most likely a turn off to your man and is difficult to cover with makeup.

Here are some additional ideas for hair removal:

Quick way to spruce up crazy hair!

You all know I am a fan of recycled hair, so here is one way I can change it up with out looking too crazy!  Note: I also suffer from hair boredom - this helps to shake things up...  

Find a beautiful oversized hair piece - I stick a big flower in it!  I do a twist and stick a clip in it!  I backcomb and stick a headband on!


These are a must for any women's accessory wardrobe! 


I love Ms. Maude's collection of hair do-dad's, you can get them customized for you - elegant to casual in your style and colors.  She tends to gravitate toward romantic, old world and sometimes shabby chic style, but will customize for your elegant to casual and color preference.  

  I also have a piece I love to wear, but must wait for the appropriate occasion.  It is a heavy headband with a crystal piece that stretches 3x5 inches across the curve of my head.  It is beautiful so I am willing to pay the price for just a night! 

  Hope the suggestions help to spice up your hair life- twist, curl, pin, flower... when in doubt, keep them guessing.   

I love me some of this KMS Calilfornia Spray to add some grit so help you spice up your dull hair days! 

Monday's girlfriend lunch

Here is today's girlfriend's guide!

Watch my video below! 

Start with Bare Escentuals Original Eye Primer:

Jump to Shadow: Bare Escentuals Bare Skin Shadow

Quickly go to: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner - this is in black - will work for anyone!

Here is the Clinique Mascara High Lengths:

Finish off your look with: Stila Lipglaze - pack of 3 for only $12!  This is a great buy!

Have Fun!

Easy as 1,2,3 - quick eye!

You've asked for it!  The quick eye... Here we go!

Step 1: Primer.  You cannot wear eye makeup with out a primer.  Your shadow and liner simply will not stay with out it.

This one is easy to use, glides on smooth and has the mineral basics that will give life back to your eyes all day long!

Step 2: The Shadow.  I am going to assume you have a decent eye shadow brush for this one, if not - here is one I use everyday on myself and professionally: 

This is a one shadow look:  Take your brush, pick up some shadow, tap it off.  Press then blend into your lid, up to the orbital bone.  

Here is my favorite every day color - young and old can wearing.  A great basic: 

Step 3.  Mascara.  Flawless Definition Mascara by Bare Minerals.
It is all minerals, great for your lashes.
Paraben-free, smudge-proof, flake-free, clump-free

Easy eye is done and you are out the door to start your day! 

Let me know if you need further color suggestions and I will post them here! 

Arica


Wet/dry shadow brush:

My pretty pony

I love high ponytails!  

I think they are sophisticated, sleek and oh so chic!  

This is a cute idea to take it a step further and so feminine - ad a curl to it.  

This only takes a few sweeps through your hair with a curling iron or a hot roller while you do your makeup and send you out with an extra touch of class to start your day!  

Perfect accessory to achieve this look! 

Long and the short of it - a little self reflection

I can now declare- I have long hair.  Per the definition of Gene Juarez Academy: Long hair is hair that touches and falls on the shoulders.  For the first time since childhood, I can put my hair into a braid and have it stay.  Despite over a year in beauty school, I still feel like this is a novelty I am constantly amazed about and am trying to figure out something new to do with it!  I love, love, love it!

I was at a client's house last week and her husband (who has known me a LONG time) looked at me and said, "So... how long are you going to have your hair like this?" - he was talking about my red hair.

"long" and red

For years and years and years and years... really all of my life - until a little over a year ago - I had short blonde hair.  That may surprise many of my lovely friends, but it is true.  I now have *what I consider* long bright red hair.  Lately I have had a hard time finding a picture of myself that looks like my "current self" (that's why the picture above doesn't necessarily "touch my shoulders")!

Short blonde... 

I don't feel like I even recognize myself. 

I feel like I am getting a better understanding of women's need to (or not) cut their hair, the feeling of "growing it out" and having success with it.  I think this is the longest I have ever gone with out a cut!  I used to go every 6 weeks * religiously*  - every 6 weeks... and I was very particular.  Now, I am still pretty particular, but would be happy with a "trim" and blow out!

Your perception about something like your own hair is so significant - inside I still feel like I am a short haired blonde!  I don't scare as easily when I look in the mirror, as I used to!  This gives me a greater appreciation for when I make a significant change to a client's hair - such as going from short to long, or brown to blonde... or red!  Well, whatever you are up to - with your hair - these days, enjoy it!  If your not enjoying, really enjoying your hair... let's change it!

*no teasing

Beauty Army - What's in the box?

The first ever Beauty Army box came in the mail this week!  

I found it difficult to not tear into it until I got home!

  I wanted to be able to tell you how beautiful the box is: 

How pretty the wrapping is: 

An of course a picture of the products themselves, before I opened to feel, touch and smell them! 

Strivectin Get Even Brightening Serum 

MYFACE Cosmetics Bling Eye Shadow

Chella Anti-Fatigue Eye Mask Kit 

Control Corrective Botanical Soothing Cream

Cellceuticals NeoCell Microskin Resurfacing Cream

Shea Terra Organics Black Soap Facial Cleanser

The kit come out once a month 12 bucks, no shipping and you get introduced to new products!  It will actually take me some time to get through these deluxe samples, so I look forward to the coming month! 

To learn more about BEAUTY ARMY click here! 

A few thoughts on lipstick

First, let me say that I have a million different shades so I am never without lipstick or lip gloss, purely for the fact that I work in the industry and it is the first thing given away at a counter and I happen to be a beneficiary when events are over and there is extra product.  I also do a lot of Back to Mac - so I get to pick my shades for turning in my used up, or old mac products and brush cleaner bottles.  

She's got it all going on!  Great Red Lipstick

My number one thing about lipstick is taste.  If it tastes like Revlon or reminds you of grandma... either toss it or just don't buy it.  You probably won't end up using it and who wants to kiss stinky lips?

In your lip arsenal every woman should have:

• A good red - either a blue based or orange based, depending on your skin's undertone
• A soft pink
• A brighter pink - your version of brighter pink will probably differ from mine, but you need a brighter pink than the soft pink
• A nude 
• A neutral - neither too pink, but a substantial color that has some pigment to it.
• Neutral gloss that is not tacky - if it is... you won't wear it. 

Nude Lip with Gloss

Back to Rule No 1: No Taste

When buying lipstick at a makeup counter, never try on more than 2-3 colors at a time - I have found it distorts the actual color of the lipstick, despite the customer wanting to continue until she finds "the perfect shade." 

Rule No 2: No Taste - if your lipstick starts to smell... throw it out! 

Lipstick like paint:
Play around with the lipsticks - mix the bright pink with the soft pink... you get a medium pink.  Add a gloss over the red and you'll immediately soften it.  Wear a nude with a soft or soft pink gloss - it is a fresh look and you'll want to be kissed. I also find that when I mix colors they tend to stay on longer.

Gloss is an easy thing to stick in your purse that will always brighten up your face after a long day, despite what your makeup looks like.  Always keep one in your purse.

If you find a color you like... stock up.  This may seem odd coming from someone who gets to see the latest and greatest, but I will tell you... I found the PERFECT soft pink that I can mix with ANY lip color about 2 years back.  I found as many as I could find and bought them all... kinda crazy, but I brought them out one at a time and still use it every day and always get compliments.  They will also count toward my Back To MAC.

Back to Rule No 1: No Taste: the only time something on your lips should have a taste is if it involves food or bubble gum lip balm:) 


Happy lipsticking friends! 

Beauty Army

First, I will tell you about my experience, then I will post the press release below for Beauty Army.

This is a big deal.  

The release of Beauty Army was New Years Day at noon.  They had a big count down that stretched the page for the past several days.  So, the clock ticked down and... the page went down.  It took over an hour to actually get through, meanwhile the Beauty Army people were on facebook posting updates and trying to recover the space that 65000,  yes 65000 had crashed on their site.  Only 300 boxes were available.  I was lucky (and persistent enough - beauty products will do that to a girl) to get in on the subscription!

12 bucks a month for 4-6 premium brand, deluxe size samples - free delivery. 

Below is the press release that will tell you all the important details about how you too can subscribe and get the wonderful perks I am about to receive in the mail next week!  I will then do a review of what I got!

http://www.beautyarmy.com/

Join the Beauty Revolution!

Our Army is a elite group of beauty enthusiasts who like to try before they buy!  Beauty Army is a monthly premium beauty sampling subscription service that allows our members the choice to choose:  Choose your own samples or have us choose for you.  Giving our members the option to choose their own kit prevents waste and disappointment; you will never receive unwanted products!

Simply click the “Sign Up” page on your computer or mobile device to get started!  After answering a few beauty questions, we will recommend a selection of samples for you to choose up to 6.

The multilevel personalization, you choose or we choose for you, comes at the same value:  $12 monthly or pay for 1 full year at an 11 kit cost of $132 and receive your 12thkit free!! As always, Beautiful, the shipping fee for your kit is included!

Once your kit ships, you will receive an email with your the tracking number.  To ensure smooth delivery all of our kits will ship USPS First Class, which does not require a signature.  You kits will ship as follows: Order between the 1st and the 15th of the month and your kit will be delivered that month.  Place your order between the 16th and 31st and you will receive you kit in the early part of the next month. We are currently shipping only to the US at this time.

Have you fallen in love with a product in your kit? Make sure you leave a review on our website so the Army can see what you think and don’t forget to stop by the shop and pick up a full size, shipping is a flat fee of $5 per order.  Our membership as well as our store accepts all major credit cards.  


Beauty Army is proud to support the Beauty Bus Foundation, an organization that delivers dignity, hope and respite to chronically or terminally ill men, women and children and their caregivers through beauty and grooming services and pampering products.  www.beautybus.org  Beauty Bus accomplishes their mission through:  In-Home Beauty and Grooming Services, Pop-Up Salons and the Bag of Beauty Program: Beauty Bus gives complimentary Bags of Beauty filled with pampering products to remind patients and caregivers that they deserve to look and feel beautiful. 

Face Charts - are they useful to you?

Face charts are something a makeup counter does to help you remember what was talked about and used on you during your consultation.  It is yours to bring home, products are written down and often colors are in the spaces for eyes, lips and cheeks to jog your memory.  The face chart serves two purposes: 1. For your reference and 2. For the Makeup Artist turned Salesperson to also "refresh" your memory and entice you to buy.  

I honestly don't use them on a regular basis when I work in store, unless I feel it will really help the person I am working with.

Bottom line:  are the face charts helpful to you or are they just a bothersome clutter you have to take home after your visit to a makeup counter? 

Hair: Try something new

Many of you who follow me on fb and twitter know that I've been looking at twists, braids and pin curls A LOT lately.  I have been fascinated at how many styles can be combined into becoming a really creative style that actually works on most people.  For myself I am having much fun making new designs in my hair, throwing a few bobbie pins in here and there and calling it good.  Christmas Eve, I wore two pin curls on one side and one on the other then wrapped my hair in back.  It was a style I had not done before, so I felt like I was kind of taking a risk.  Well, I think it paid off,  I got several compliments and it was fun to try something new.

Pinterest has been a good way for me to find inspiration in so many forms!

Here is a picture of Gwen Steffani (I LOVE her), this picture initially inspired me to jump out of the box.  These braids are super easy because they are not french braids, they are just looped around her head.
Gwen looks hot in whatever she has going on (skip early 90s), but I am sure any of you can rock a little bit of what she's got going on!  

Hope this is inspiration to try something new!

Birchbox - Month 1 *must read*

So I've been holding out on you guys with the Birchbox.  I got the first month and decided to wait until I got two months in a row before I recommended it to you.  Items pictured below are from my first month (November).

Here is how "birchbox" works: for $10 a month you get 4-6 deluxe size samples that are customized to your preferences and skin type.  This also includes shipping.  You get to try the items and if you decide you want the full sizes, there is always some sort of discount or incentive to do so.

Birchbox sends you monthly deliveries of high-end beauty samples to help you discover products you'll love!

Now let's get to the fun stuff!  Here is what was in my first box!

November 2011 Custom for Arica

Zoya Gems & Jewels Collection - teal vegan nail polish

BORGHESE Fango Delicato - moisturizing mud mask for dry and sensitive skin

Two Paperdolls Coasters - teal and white

Supersmile Professional Whitening Toothpaste - tasted like cinnamon 

Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine Cologne Absolue - fresh citrus sent, really pretty

The box was bright pink and clearly labled BIRCHBOX.  When I opened it it smelled good and has wrapped with ribbons and tissue paper. Oh! That was worth the $10! 

This is a great way to spend just a little money for a little bit of luxury and try a few things that might be out of your comfort zone!  I would have never tried any of those things (except the zoya polish), had I not gotten a subscription to Birchbox!  


You can buy a whole year if you want, or just go month to month with no commitment.  I am on the month to month, just in case I need to skip a month.  

Here is the link if you choose to try it out (and give me some points:): Try it now! 

Points are a way of receiving discounted or free full size products:

• For every item I "review" after receiving my box, I get 10 points. 
• For every box I receive, I get 10 points.  
• I got my mom a subscription for Christmas and got 10 points for every month I subscribed her! 
• Every friend I refer (hint, hint, follow this link: BIRCHBOX ) I get 50 points.
• Every 100 points, I get $10 off of my next purchase.  

I am in my second month and already have earned $10! 

Go here to order your first box, or just check out the site:  BIRCHBOX

A cut every 6-8 weeks? I think so!

Your hair grows 1/4 inches a month - on average.  It also grows at different rates all over your head and you typically will develop split ends (yes it happens to everyone).

I have talked to woman after woman who has hair on the longer side that don't get their hair cut very often.  One of the guest's hair I cut this weekend had really, supper long hair.  It took me about 30 minutes to untangle and brush through her hair.  I ended up taking about 4 inches off - she hadn't had a cut in over 4 months and was completely overwhelmed by her own hair, which she liked to wear down and couldn't manage very well.  Well, we also ended up cutting some long bangs on her - she was super excited about that because it made her feel like she had an instant change that she could see, beyond the super long hair that she chose to keep.  Since it was such a change for her, I scheduled a time to see her next week to check on her new bangs to make sure they are still working and to see if she wanted to go shorter.


She went home with some detangling spray (I'm so glad) and an appointment set for 8 weeks from now to revisit the idea of making even more of a change.  This is setting my guest up for a routine of maintenance, feeling like she has a plan for her hair and ultimately success when she looks in the mirror.

Julianne Moore probably gets her hair cut often, but still maintains her length.

My cut used to be VERY inverted and precise.  If I let my cut grow out beyond 6-8 weeks, you can really see it!

Front View of Posh's famous inverted bob.

Observing Posh's famous inverted bob, to maintain the percision, you can assume that her hair is cut very frequently. 

This would also be true for many men - they get their hair cut every 4-6 weeks, you can really see it if they don't!  It's great - this is one of the things that most men really get when it comes to their appearance and general maintenance.

The women I see coming in have generally waited soooo long to get it cut, colored or highlighted that it feels like a heavy burden after they have waited so long, rather than a complete pampering joy they could experience more often.  There are few things better than a precise cut and a great blow out! 

Hair Do-Dads: Ms Maude

I love, love, love anything I can stick in my hair - especially as it has grown out!  Does anyone remember me with really short blonde hair?  I even wore little clips with some sort of shimmer or shine back then!  I have yet to be able to be able to figure out how you wrap your hair around long chop sticks!

My favorite hair do-dad is a hair flower.  Even better - a hair flower with feathers!  I could wear flowers every day.

The other day I realized I had way too much pink on:  my hair - some times looks a little more pink than red, a pink shirt, my long pink jacket and then I attached a daisy to the back of my head.  Before I walked out the door, I realized what a fashion mistake this could have been.

I want to tell you about one of my new favorite hair do-dad finds:  Ms Maude.  Ms Maude is a small company owned locally and mainly sold on Etsy.  Everything is hand crafted with nothing but excellence.  Here is a picture of one of my favorite ones right now.

Wouldn't it be perfect for New Years?    

Find Ms. Maude on Etsy. 

Click here

Buy now so you can get it for your special event - or even as a gift! 

Here's What People Are Saying: Services with Arica

Here is what people are saying: 

Arica not only provided very convenient haircuts for me and my daughter but also amazing quality. She was quick and efficient while providing very stylish haircuts. I would highly recommend her personal and attentive services and I will definitely be using her again!

Services: Haircuts for entire family and feather extensions for the girls

Karina Tinsley

Arica did such a professional job of cut and color in my home! It was convenient and relaxed, and saved me time and money that traveling to a salon would have cost. She provides such an invaluable service to busy moms!!

Services: Haircut (for Heidi and daughter), Highlights, Feather Extension (for daughter)

Heidi Bleeker

I just wanted to share that I had Arica Kildea come to my home for a haircut and she did such a great job! It had honestly been a year and a half since my last cut, it had been so hard to find the time to make an appointment and find childcare that I had given up and started cutting it myself!

What a blessing it was to have someone come to my home and cut my hair during nap time! She was very professional and listened well to hear exactly what I wanted. She spent over 2 hours with me and even took the time to straighten my hair (something I would have have to pay for in a separate appointment in a salon)! I think her salon that comes to you is so awesome I just wanted to share!

Services: Haircut and Flat Iron

Jenni Vander Ploeg 

Having two young kids has made it almost impossible to get out of the house to get my hair done. A friend recommended Arica and I couldn't be happier. The first time she came to my house to cut and highlight my hair I felt like I was hanging out with an old friend. She did a fantastic job!

Services: 2 Haircuts and Highlights

Jaime Green

Arica came out to my house and had all the tools she would have had in a salon, I didn't need to provide anything.  She cut my hair and my daughter's perfectly - we were both very happy with the cuts which is not something we had experienced with others in the past. And - she even cleaned up afterwards!  All said and done, it was a great experience and we'll be having Arica over again!

Services: Color and 2 Cuts

Jackie Hallstrom

Want to know more?

• Prices and Services
• Hair at Home - What to Expect
• Email Arica for an appointment! 
• This month's Special

Pricing - Services with Arica

Pricing Guideline


My services are geared to the client who wants their services done on their schedule, primarily at their home - no need to hire baby sitters - traveling to and from a salon with extra expense.   


My goal is to save you time and money with a first class service that comes to your door. 

No need to provide anything (such as towels), clean up anything (such as hair, foils or bleach), I bring it all and leave your house the way I found it! 


Salon services for the entire family: 
Hair Cuts
Women $35
Men $20
Children $20
Buzz Cuts $12


Let's plan a family package that works just right for you! 

Dimensional Services
Partial Foils - highlights and lowlights
start at $80
Full Foil - highlights and lowlights
start at $120


Color
start at $60 


Highlight packets (to add minimal dimension)
$3.50 per packet - up to 10 packets
This is a good way to extend the life of a full or partial foil, or just add a little dimension, for example highlights around the face and can be done quickly during a hair cut session. 


Corrective Color
Priced upon consultation
Extensions
Feathers 
$20 per extension and up
Arica is a Fine Featherhead certified Salon

Fashion piece
$20 and up
Full or partial head of extensions 
price determined individually upon consultation


Additional Services
Deep Condition 
$15.00

Toner (over highlights) 
$40
Makeup and Skin Care Wardrobing
Arica will help you weed out your makeup bag and skin care - what to keep, what to throw out.  Recommendations for future purchases and guidelines on when/how to purchase items that will be long lasting for your particular needs. 
$30 per hour, 1 hour minimum 


Product
I offer 2 full lines of hair care products - they are reasonably priced and are delivered right to your door with your service!
It's a 10
KMS California 

The Basics

Client Feedback
Hair at Home - what to expect
This Month's Special 

Contact Arica - make an appointment

http://finefeatherheads.com/

What's your makeup number?

• What is your makeup routine?  
• How much time do you spend putting your makeup on - on the typical morning?  

I just went through a survey that asked those questions in a way I have not looked at before.  Here is the question:  how many items are in your makeup bag that you use on a daily basis?  I thought this was a fair question, as I have never actually counted before.  If any of you have seen my  train case where I keep my "daily" makeup, you will know - it is quite large and extensive.  I like variety and honestly have gotten many cosmetics at a fraction of the retail cost and/or been given them via a cosmetic company's gratis program.  Hence I don't wear the same makeup items every day - mainly shadows and lip products and blushes tend to get rotated fairly quickly.

So, here is my number: 15 - yes, on the typical day that any of you may see me, I have used 15 pieces to pull my look together. What to know what that looks like?

This does not include skin care steps:

1. pore filler
2. primer for face
3. primer for eyes
4.  foundation
5.  bronzer
6.  face highlighter
7.  blush
8.  shadow 1
9.  shadow 2 (sometimes I use 3 and 4 shadows)
10.  eye liner
11.  lash primer
12.  mascara
13.  brows
14.  setting powder OR urban decays all nighter - depending on the day I expect to encounter
15.  Lip gloss or lipstick - some days both

wow!

So, let me get down and dirty:  If I had to pick 5 items (which I think is average for most women) - what would those be?

1. primer
2. foundation
3. bronzer (yes, you all know I am an addict)
4. mascara
5. lip gloss

How'd I do?  What are your five basics?  What would your 15 (we can also call this night out) consist of?

Reply to this post on the fb link - I would love to hear from you! 

A note on primers:  I don't feel any makeup should go on your face with out a primer, that is why you see it repeated in my routine so many times.  It makes all the difference in the world!  If you have not tried on makeup WITH a primer, go to your local department store and ask for a sample.  Or, here are my recommendations: 1. Mac (face only, not eye, but lash ok) 2. Bare Escentual's primer - it works best with loose mineral makeup, it tends to ball up with other cosmetics, but the makeup primer and makeup work best together.  (face and eye, not lash primer) 3. Smash box 4. Urban Decay (face and eye), Makeup Forever.  

I can go into skin care and hair another time, but those are things I do without leaving the house as well.

Quickly:  on a day to day basis, my hair is terrifically easy to take care of in terms of styling - maintaining my color is another story...  

Armani Foundation Set - Super Excited about this one!

Armani is one of the brands that you won't find in a typical department store, in fact it is only carried at Nordstrom Bellevue and Nordstrom Downtown (for the puget sound - somebody correct me if I am wrong on this).  I other words - it is not average or common by any means.  The counters don't have a lot of product, so the line is just not very comprehensive but they are also *beautiful* as well!

This came across my twitter today and it reminded me about how much I loved this when I tried it!  The foundation gave that *perfect* most *perfect* flawless coverage that looked unbelievable.  It was a little out of my price range at $59 a bottle.

Once again, sets are ALWAYS the way to go!

If you feel like splurging, this would be a great one to splurge on: 

Giorgio Armani 'Luminous Silk' Foundation Set ($190 Value)

$125

Award-winning makeup for the perfect skin canvas.

Set includes:
- Full-sized Fluid Master Primer.
- Full-sized Luminous Silk Foundation in your perfect shade choice: 4.5 (natural sand), 5 (light beige), 5.5 (beige), 5.75 (warm beige) or 7 (tan).
- Full-sized blender brush.
- Deluxe-sized sample of Fluid Sheer.
- Deluxe-sized sample of Regenessence [3.R] Multi Corrective Rejuvenating Cream.

• By Giorgio Armani.

***Remember the full price of the foundation is $59 alone! 


Shipping is always free at Nordstrom.com - you can also find this (regionally) at Nordstrom DT and Bellevue. 

You can go to the Nordstrom.com site and/or call the Norstrom Beauty line to order!