Makeover: The Reveal

In November, Nicole of The Wardrobe Code and I set out to join forces and try our hand at a makeover.

It was a lot of fun and a huge success so we’ve decided to continue on!

Working with Jennifer was so much fun because she was truly open to whatever change I saw fit for her!  Her natural texture is very wavy to curly but wasn’t cut to accentuate her texture.  She was wearing her hair extremely blonde which was drying out her hair and daunting to maintain.  I suggested we add a ton of lowlights the same color as her natural base to break up the blonde and create more depth.  Wow!  Jennifer immediately had a rosy glow and just look at those sparkly baby blues!!!
Next I cut Jennifer’s hair in a layering pattern that really allowed her curls to come to life.  It created long and short pieces all through the cut which prevents the christmas tree or triangle shape that layers often create in curly hair.  Since Jennifer’s normal styling routine is pretty minimal this should make her hair look as though she spent more time on it than she has to!
Jennifer told me that she is loving her new color and loves that even without styling her curls look great everyday!  SUCCESS!!!
To show more versatility, I blew out Jennifer’s curls for her after shots.  I showed her that, for work , it would be really cute in a low side pony tail and if she is going somewhere a little more dressy she can take that pony tail into a low side bun.  You’ll have to visit Nicole’s site for those shots and to see what she did with Jennifer’s wardrobe!
But here is a little sneak peek:
A huge thanks to Michelle of The Suitcase Studio for taking this lovely shot of Jennifer and sharing it with us!
Do you need an image makeover?  Or know someone who does?  We’re accepting nominations for our February makeover.  Subject must a.) Be willing to cut and/or color their hair  b.) Have at least $50 to spend on improving their wardrobe and c.) Be available to meet with myself and Nicole the first week of February.  Submit nominations via Tera Rae Stephens Facebook page or The Wardrobe Code’s Facebook page by Feb. 1st.
My partner in crime, Nicole Longstreath is a wardrobe coach in Orange County, CA specializing in helping her clients build affordable and expressive wardrobes. She writes a daily blog on fashion and wardrobe-building and loves combing her favorite thrift store whenever she gets the chance.

 

Jessica’s Before & After

When Home Hair Color Goes Right!

Home color job by Shea. Haircut by me.

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More Hot Heads

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This client has baby fine hair and is wearing Hot Heads for thickness and a little bit of length.

So pretty, right?!

Do you wear extensions or have you thought about wearing them?

The Big Reveal

Remember the makeover collaboration I told you about two weeks ago?   Nicole of The Wardrobe Code and I had big plans to enhance the natural beauty of Shannon, showing her how to make more effective use of her wardrobe and hair.  This wasn’t about turning an ugly duckling into a swan, and Shannon is certainly no ugly duckling, but making the most of what she already had going on.

Here is what Nicole did and had to say about working with Shannon:

“Since Shannon is an aesthetician and wears a uniform often, she confided her wardrobe was a bit sparse. I told her not to worry, though, because a small and concise wardrobe is much better than an overflowing closet of garments which are just wrong. We could build from a small wardrobe and choose the right things for her.”

“The makeover began a few weeks ago when Shannon and I met to discuss her lifestyle and wardrobe needs. First, I organized her wardrobe in her closet to help her choose outfits more easily. Once her closet was organized, we could easily see what was missing – which was helpful, because then we did a little shopping to fill in the gaps. She needed a somewhat substantial boost to her wardrobe, so I took her to a local Goodwill and a high-end consignment store.”

“As a wardrobe coach who works with clients on a budget, I’ve been able to hone my thrift shopping skills and I helped Shannon find 3 pair of pants, 2 cardigans, 2 sleeveless tops and a blouse – just at the Goodwill. All in excellent condition and all totally wearable. Although her wardrobe still needs a few more skirts, blouses and shoes, she’s well on her way to building a nicely-rounded wardrobe which expresses her personality and suits her lifestyle.”

“To finish it off, Tera taught Shannon 3 hairstyles for her fine, blonde locks – and the result was dazzling. Shannon’s megawat smile and uber-confident stride we saw from her once everything was put together was proof that small changes make a world of difference.”

When I first met with Shannon, she had recently cut and highlighted her hair.  Her true hair needs were figuring out different ways to wear it and taking it from day to work to evening.
The first look was a voluminous blow out.  I used Gel Serum by Oribe, about a nickel size, and distributed it evenly throughout her hair.  This would create a strong foundation of hold and memory in the blow out and give staying power.  Next I used Volumista by Oribe, sprayed on evenly in sections from root to ends.  This product is a favorite for creating fullness and the look of more hair, since Shannon’s is baby fine.  I showed her how to blow it out using a large, round brush for maximum volume with movement on the ends.
Next, we decided on a sleek ponytail with some volume in the front for a little more fancy!  She plans to wear this look to work instead of the usual, boring ponytail.  We achieved this by using a working hair spray like Impermeable by Oribe sprayed on the front sections and giving then a good tease.  Se smoothed out the front with a boar bristle brush and pulled the rest back into a ponytail.  To finish it off, I took a small section of her hair and wrapped it around the hair elastic, pinning it.
So chic, right?!
Finally, Shannon put on her evening look and we glammed her up with messy, flirty curls.  I used a 1 inch clip less curling iron by Enzo Milano.  If you’re in the market for a curling iron, this is my all time favorite!
We used Impermeable again and in 4 sections curled 2 inch wide pieces holding the iron horizontally.  The important tip I gave Shannon was to hold the iron pointing one direction for the first section, the opposite direction for the next and keep switching as she moves up the head.  This makes the curls fall more naturally and not clump together.  When the curling was complete, we shook it out and raked through using fingers to break up the curls.  So pretty!
 To say we had a blast working on this project would be a huge understatement so stay tuned.  We are already scheming to do another one next month!
For more details and photos on the wardrobe portion of this makeover, please visit Nicole’s blog.
Nicole Longstreath is a wardrobe coach in Orange County, CA specializing in helping her clients build affordable and expressive wardrobes. She writes a daily blog on fashion and wardrobe-building and loves combing her favorite thrift store whenever she gets the chance.
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