We’ve said good-bye to winter and spring, and now summer is finally here!  May is skin cancer awareness month and now is the time to get tested for skin cancer!   There are many resources that offer free skin cancer screenings this month. Take advantage of the free resources and be prepared for the long hot months ahead.

1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime! Here are some things to keep in mind before you step out for the day:

Know when you are at risk.  When the sun is out, whether its early morning or the sun is setting, your skin is vulnerable.  Your skin can receive harmful effects from sun exposure even from the sun’s reflection and through windows.  Remember this when you are sitting in traffic!  You might not be protected.

Avoid peak midday sun exposure, which falls between the hours of 10am and 3pm.  The UVB intensity is the highest during these times.

Cover up with sun protection clothing.  Retailers such as REI have many options.  I also recommend wearing a sun hat that covers the skin on your scalp, and ears and provides shade for your face.

It’s also important to wear UV-blocking sunglasses to protect your eyes.  The skin around the eye area is the most delicate, and tends to show age and sun damage the fastest.

Use the right sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection and a lip balm with SPF.  Reapply as often as necessary, especially if you are exercising or swimming.  Even if you use a moisturizer in the morning with SPF the effectiveness will decrease by the time lunch time roles around so reapply even if you are not at the beach or pool.

Here are a couple of links to find out the nearest dermatologist that is offering free skin cancer screening and also Sun AWARE’s blog which covers new information related to tanning and sun protection.
www.aad.org and www.sunaware.org

Have a beautiful day and protect your skin! It can save your life!

Tess Rodriguez, Esthetician at MFX South Congress
512-472-3331

As Maximum FX’s wedding planner I have a lot of brides ask me a lot of questions!  Here are a few of the most common questions brides have about their wedding hair, skin, and makeup.

When should I call to make my appointment?

Every salon is different but here at MFX many of our Saturday appointments are taken even 3 months in advance.  I suggest taking care of hair and makeup appointments early on in your planning.  Scheduling about 4-6 months in advance ensures that you will get the time of day and stylists you want for your wedding.  Planning in advance is especially important if you have a large wedding party or want us to come offsite.  If you wait too long your bridesmaids might have to come in at varying times making planning pictures and luncheons more difficult.

Should I have a trial run?

Some brides want to opt out of the trial run in order to save money.  Here at MFX we require a trial run for every bride.  Some brides wonder why we do this. Your hair and makeup will be immortalized in photographs for the rest of your life! The last thing you want is to look back and say “I hated my hair.”  A trial run ensures that the style or makeup you receive on your special day is the style you dreamed about.  Here at MFX we allot 2 full hours for a wedding hair trial run allowing your stylist to style, rework, and adjust until everything is perfect.

When should I have my trial run?

We recommend scheduling your trial run anywhere from two weeks to a month before the wedding. This ensures that your hair will not change drastically from the trial appointment to the wedding day.  If you would like to speak with your stylist before the trial run we offer a complimentary consultation where you and your stylist can discuss ideas, look at pictures, and make plans.

When should I color and cut my hair?

Of course brides want to have fresh color and a fresh haircut before their wedding.  If you are cutting your hair make sure you do it BEFORE your trial run appointment.  If you cut a significant amount of length off or add a bunch of layers this will significantly effect how your hair will style.  We suggest coloring your hair about a week before the wedding.  This is not the time to experiment!   If you have been considering changing your look dramatically make sure you have plenty of time to adjust your color just in case cherry red is not for you!

When should I get a wax?

Everyone’s skin is different.  We all know that for a fact!  If you are used to getting waxes you might be able to schedule something a few days before your wedding. If you do not normally get waxed our esthetician recommends doing something a week or two before your wedding.  That way if you have any reactions to the wax your skin has time to calm down.  If you use Retin-A or another medication for acne consult with your dermatologist before waxing.   Many of these medications can make your skin more delicate and sensitive.

Should I get a facial before my big day?

Many brides will schedule a facial appointment before their big day.  A facial can brighten your face and a facial with steam included can help clean clogged pores.  That being said, many times a facial will bring pimples hiding under the skin to the surface.  Make sure your have plenty of time in between your facial and wedding day for your face to calm down, especially if you would like extractions.  I would suggest two weeks.  Our esthetician suggests starting monthly facials 6 months before the big day.  That way your skin will be healthy and glowing by the time the big day gets here.  Facials are not only for the face. Ask about our essential back treatment to help clear up any unwanted acne on your back.

Should I wash my hair before I go to the salon?

Freshly washed hair does not style the best.  We usually suggest coming to the salon with “day old” hair.  If you feel like your hair is really oily wash it the night before your wedding.  The extra oils help the hair hold the style.  Freshly washed hair is very slick and will often slip out of bobby pins.  If you have bangs you can always wash them in the morning but leave the rest of your hair alone.

Leigh Ellington
Leigh@MaximumFX.com
512-472-3331

1920′s – It was the jazz age, the roaring 20′s, and women were making a social statement after breaking off from the rigid Victorian way of life.  Women were discarding their corsets, raising their hemlines and cutting off their hair and adopting more masculine looks.  It was during this time that Louisa Brooks, an American dancer and actress, popularized the bobbed haircut.

1930′s – It was the Great Depression and Mae West was one of the more controversial actresses of her time.  Her movie career did not launch until she was 38 years old and can be attributed to her rewriting all her lines in her first small part and winning over movie goers with her out-spokeness.  She was a glamorous starlet with moxy and her finger waves continue to be iconic.

1940′s – WWII began and ended during this era causing shortages in everything including bobby pins.  So you could say Betty Grable’s victory rolls were designed out of necessity.  Victory rolls got their name from the fighter plane maneuvers of WWII.  The planes created an exhaust roll that remained in the sky after leaving the area and inspired many patriotic civilians to adopt the the name in honour of the soldiers returning home.

1950′s –  Bettie Mae Page was an American model who became famous in the 1950s for her pin-up photos. Often referred to as the “Queen of Pinups”, her jet black hair, blue eyes, and trademark bangs have influenced artists for generations.  And continues to influence modern day artists such as Beyonce, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga.

1960′s - Twiggy’s pixie cut made a statement all it’s own. Setting the mod modeling world on fire.  Lesley Hornby — better known as Twiggy — went from pretty teen model to the international symbol of sexy ’60s androgyny with a few quick snips of the scissors.  Twiggy’s stylized pixie continues to influence short women’s styles today.

1970′s – No one will ever forget Farrah Fawcett’s iconic sexy feathered hair.  During a decade where the shag, Afro and bouffant were most requested in hair salons, Fawcett’s feathered waves were quite refreshing — adding a new meaning to femininity.

1980′s - From the bangs that reached for the heavens with frizzy passion, to the extremely asymmetrical new wave social hair statement, to the funky side ponytails walking hair-in-hair with the mullets, hairstyles in the 1980s were about excess, experimentation, and enough hairspray to protect our heads when the Russians dropped the bomb.  Madonna easily encompassed all these looks during the ’80s and set off a revolution with her ever-changing hairstyles.

1990′s – Everybody wanted “The Rachel” haircut in the ’90s  – Jennifer Aniston’s shag layered cut had to be the #1 requested haircut in salons across the nation.  You could say “Friends” made her famous, but many would argue it was her haircut.  Hard to believe, Jennifer thinks this is the ugliest haircut she ever had.

2000′s – Victoria Beckham a.k.a. Posh Spice made headlines when she debuted her angled graduated bob in 2006.  It’s even been coined as a “pob” (Posh + bob).  What sets this hairstyle apart is that it is short in back and long in front and gives women the best of both worlds.

Twenty-Tens – We are in the midst of this decade, so time will only tell who will be this era’s trendsetter.  If I had to make a guess, here are my votes for front runners:  (1) Drew Barrymore’s ombre; and (2) Jennifer Lawrence’s character in “The Hunger Games” Katniss Everdeen’s braid.

Who do you think will be this decade’s trendsetter?  Or perhaps we haven’t seen it yet.

What goes into a runway production with four hair models?

1. concept meetings
2. model search
3. wardrobe
4. hair
5. makeup
6. music
7. trial runs (hair/makeup/wardrobe)

Once a concept or theme is agreed upon by the hair team, the model search begins. The models’ hair generally determines a look or hair design. We often look for models willing to cut and color their hair in support of the overall concept. Model searches can be complicated because we ideally prefer a diverse group for interest sake.

When it comes to wardrobe sometimes we are fortunate enough to work with local designers, or if the concept requires it we may create our own costumes.

The trial runs are where we really pinpoint the hair, makeup and wardrobe. The team determines what works best for which model to ensure a smooth run the day of the event.

The creative teams generally splits up into two teams the day of the event — makeup and hair. Other members of the salon team will also participate and help the creative team with prepping hair, makeup, wardrobe, the day of the event.

Final touches are made minutes before the models walk. Weeks of preparation and close to 50 hours of hard work explodes onto the stage for a 5 minute extravaganza. This is where we get to see all of our hard work come to life on the runway.

2013′s other hottest trend is hair accessories.  Sky’s pretty much the limit and bridal hair accessories come in every form to suit the bride.  Most popular styles include the jewelry for the hair in the form of pins, barrettes and combs; still popular are flowers in the hair; and newer styles include hair bands/wraps in delicate lace.

Other modern classic looks include buns and waves/curls.  Buns are very versatile and can be placed just about anywhere.  If you are looking to make a dramatic bun look, go for a high placed voluminous bun.  For a more romantic look, go for for a low placed bun at the nape or on the side, that is loose and messy.  With waves/curls you’ll need to consider if you want all your hair down or only half.  Loose curls continue to be the trend, even beach waves are wedding appropriate.

Whether you are going for braids, a bun, or curls the final look should be soft with moldable textures.  The up-do should be constructed well, but should still be airy and have movement.

To inquire about more information about how we can make the most important day of your life even more special, email our wedding planner Leigh Ellington at leigh@maximumfx.com or call her at 512.472.3331.