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Have a great weekend everyone.....

How To Wear: Brights

The Bright Stuff

Michelle Obama may look like a glowing angel in a yellow Michael Kors suit, but head-to-toe color makes most fashionistas look more like the yellow Power Ranger. For those not as daring as our beloved Mrs. Obama, a simple pop of color will still go a long way in lifting your mood and adding some much-needed pizazz to your outfit.

Here are the best tips for mastering summer brights (and for wearing your colorful pieces long into Fall).

Pop Star

If you love brights but want to avoid the 'fashion clown' look, regulate your brights to accessories. A pair of yellow pumps, a bold red necklace, electric blue tights or a neon pink bracelet are safe, chic ways to add a pop of color to your outfit. Better still, they inject your basics with a colorful flair that's on trend for the sunny summer season. Solange nails the look, literally (check her adorable pink nails).

Beauty tip: Bright nails or a bold lip do the trick too and spice up your look (but ladies, read my Rock & Republic cherry red lips, do it in moderation!!).

When it comes to shoes, your options are endless: you can do a solid bright pump, a neutral bootie with bright details or a crazy, colorful bright sandal. Just keep the outfit subtle and complimentary.

Steve Madden pumps, $60, stevemadden.com.

Moschino Cheap & Chic booties, $165, shopbop.com.

Report Signature pumps, $95, shopbop.com.

*Beauty girls, Check the AMAZING Essie Neon Nail Collection below. Ferocia is applying Perky Purple to her toes as I type.

Essie Neon Collection in Punchy Pink, Flirty Fuchsia, Funky Limelight and Perky Purple, $9 each, essie.com.

Oh and here's a beauty tip from the founder herself, Essie Weingarten: “Since neon nail colors produce a matte finish, make sure to apply a base and top coat like essie Protein Base Coat and Good to Go! top coat for a rich, high shine finish.”

Neutral Territory

When brightening up your fashion wardrobe, be sure to balance your colorful pieces with neutrals. What's especially great about this tip is that you can energize your old basic black top and khaki wrap dress with a colorful skirt or tank---and make it look brand new!!! My good friend and I did this recently during a weekday outing at a Spanish food restaurant - my H&M bought neon top made the black pencil skirt I've had since freshmen year of HIGH SCHOOL (I kid you not) look right on trend. Even better? You can bring your summer-bought neon looks into fall by pairing them with a khaki trench or gray cardigan.

Marc Jacob's Spring collection was an homage to brights --- and the black basics that compliment them.

Thank God Rihanna matched her killer Marc by Marc Jacobs blazer with a black tank and jeans - more yellow than this and she's giving me taxi.

My fashion stylist friend, Patrice, and I tone down our yellows with black basics - and she even throws in an animal print belt for fun - pure fabness.

Less is More

For the daring fashionistas who can work a bright outfit (hello Mrs. Obama!), please do the rest of the public a favor by complimenting your bright suit/dress/jumpsuit with subtle accessories. Bright accessories end up competing with your clothes and make you look like a walking box of crayons (see Angela Simmons below - who I LOVE but not in this outfit). Even my glamorous Brooklyn girls who pair a bright yellow dress with cobalt blue pumps---and look super duper fly btw---will tone it down by adding gold jewelry. By accessorizing her look with gold bangles and studs, Michelle lets her gorgeous yellow outfit shine on his own. Follow suit.

Blake gets it right in a pink Micheal Kors dress...Angela, not so much.

Follow these Glamazon tips and rock your brights in style!! And let me know how you're wearing the bright trend this Summer!

Kisses,

Coutura

Ad Glam: Beyonce in Sasha Fierce for Dereon

Doesn't get much crazier, sexier or cooler than Beyonce's new Ad for Sasha Fierce for Dereon. Each pose and look epitomizes the young, fresh & fashionable spirit of the brand! The accessories (pink and black striped socks, the gloves, the glasses, the shades, the shoes!!!) are to die for and the fit is the epitome of body-slimming perfection...well, maybe just on Beyonce, unless the unitard magically gives you curvy hips and impossibly flawless legs!! What do you think of the ad and the Sasha Fierce collection?!

Kisses,

Coutura

Straightening Gloss For Hair

Product Spotlight: Aveda Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightener.

The best new straightening product on the market today has arrived and my clients absolutely love it, welcome smooth infusion glossing straightener. It can be used on wet hair or even dry with Hydrolized wheat protein protecting the cuticle from heat damage caused by hot styling tools. And I have found that when we use this incredible product on those clients that want smoother no frizz hair we don’t need to use the flat irons as much saving both the stylist and client’s time when doing their hair. No heavy residues of oils to weight hair down, and by day’s end the hair looks and feels just as it did in the morning, smooth, shiny and still styled. Most straightening products out there have man-made silicones in them, this newest gem from Aveda contains cellulose which is a naturally plant-derived silicon giving the product a fantastic silky feeling to the hands and hair while doing its job in protecting the hair and keeping it straight.

Red Hot Hair

Red hair color is the most influential color of this year, and it’s still a hot color trend for fall 2009.Warm shades of reds are playing up with intensity for falls earthy palette. And the reds are showing up on the runways with various vibrant shades, making for a spicy mix of chilli red, paprika, and cinnamon. There are very few natural redheads around so if you choose to wear this fall’s “it” color you will be noticed, red is not for the shy but for the daring

Legendary Hairdressers Vol 2

Continuing from the Legendary Hairdressers Vol 1, this next group featured of Masters all revolutionized hair in the era of Punk, New Age, coining in the phrase “Avant Grade” and inspiring millions of us to be more daring, “cool” and cut/color as they created the trends, the very so cool 80’s.

Trevor Sorbie A pioneer revered by his peers as one of the greatest hairdressers in the world, since the early 1970s, as Artistic Director at Vidal Sassoon and then expanding into his own brand creating original techniques and cuts (like The Wedge, The Chop, The Scrunch), he defined the avant-garde "look" in hair around the globe over three decades of creating and educating. Trevor Sorbie is a hero amongst the hairdressing industry and his classic styles with edgier twists will remain synonymous for many decades to come.

Christiaan was the first truly radical thinker in hairdressing; respected for his spontaneity and as a risk-taking session artist , he created Debbie Harry (Blondie) blonde/black tresses and Grace Jones dramatic flat-top. He was one of the first to receive acclaim as a session hairdresser and into c career of editorial stardom. Christiaan still works today with the likes of Vogue, Allure and many others and continues to making statements through hair.

Irvine Rusk is best known from the husband and wife team of Irvine and Rita Rusk, renowned for the dramatic creations edgy cuts and colors in the 1980’s to early 90’s, cutting off entire fringes and sculpting out pieces of hair creating shapes and taking the undercut to another levelwith extraordinary textures. Irvine designed the very first texturizing shears called the alpha and beta blades which are still used today to create these intense textures. His images were seen worldwide on magazine covers and inside editorials and as an educator, his shows were regularly sold out. Mr Rusk remains respected for contributing decades to the hair industry and sharing his artistic, radical ideas and still inspiring many young hairstylist worldwide.

FIRST LOOK!!! MAC Black Style

Black is the new black.
I first laid eyes on some of the products from this collection backstage at the Diesel Fall 2009 show and have been chomping at the bit to get my hands on it. And here it is! (Well, at least some of them anyways.) I will admit, it's a bit daring, very goth, but with the right attitude, you can definitely pull it off. (That's me modelling the Glimmerglass in Blackware. What do you think? Would you wear it?!).
*All products mentioned below are U.S. price points. Products will hit MAC stores and maccosmetics.com in North America September 24, 2009; international October 2009.
xo
Ferocia

(from l to r) Cream Colour Base in Black, $16.50; Eyeshadows in Cinderfella, Blue Flame, Young Punk & Gilt by Association, $19.50 each

(from l to r) Glimmerglass in BlackFire, $18; Mattene Lipstick in Midnight Media, $14.50; CremeSheen Lipstick in Black Knight, $14; Glimmerglass in Blackware, $18

A model rocking the finished look backstage at the Diesel Fall 2009 show. According to Charlotte Tillbury (head makeup artist for the show) the inspiration for the look was the Great Depression of the 1930's.
"But this is a more modern, rock and roll version," she said. "The eye is black with wet look, like she's been up all night partying with a jazz band. The lips are red and the edges are smudged, like she's finished making out with her boyfriend."

Here's an example of the "wet" eye Tillbury was talking about. She's polishing on more of the MAC gloss on one of the models backstage.

And here's the finished look! Head hairstylist at the show Eugene (for Wella) described the look as 18th century.
"It's like a very rich woman who has fallen down on her luck," he said. "Think a french courtesan look."

Line it Up: Bobbi Brown Fall 2009 Collection

By now, you should know that I'm obsessed with bronzer, Victoria's Secret models and lip gloss (and not necessarily in that order). Another to add to the list?: Eyeliner. Whether it be in pencil or liquid form, I just gotta use it...every day.
Now, I must admit that it took me a minute to even figure out HOW to use it. I'd see other girls wearing it in college and wonder how the heck they put it on so efficiently without poking themselves in the eye. So, I patiently tested it myself. Very patiently. Because there were many times where I DID poke myself in the eye. (Or draw a bit outside the lines haha)
And now I can honestly say I've gotten it down. (It only took me a couple of months...I remember I was also trying to figure out how to curl my hair with my CHI iron around the same time, so I felt like a supastar that I'd mastered both...go me!)
Which leads me to my NEW favorite, super easy to use pencil eyeliner. Yes, it's from Bobbi Brown. The woman is a genius, I tell you. These are probably the easiest eyeliners I've ever used. And the formula stays put.
I'm talking about non other than the Bobbi Brown Creamy Eye Pencil! It applies smoothly and evenly while still providing intense color. Each pencil has a built-in smudger at the end to soften liner for a subtle, smoky effect. Available in 9 shades (from Jet, a rich black, to Mahogany, a dusky brown; my fave is Caviar, a smoldering black), they retail for $20. (That's mine pictured there..as you can see, it gets alot of use haha)
If you're into the gel eyeliner, she's got you covered there as well with the Forest Shimmer Ink Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner. It's a deep green with golden pearls and really makes your eyes pop. ($21).
AND you must scoop the limited edition eye shadows as well. Available in two shades (Autumn Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow & Bash Metallic Eye Shadow, $20 each, available August 09), these pearlized shadows are perfect for fall. Use the Angle Eye Shadow Brush to hit all the corners, creases or just all over your eyelids! ($28).
Also in the collection are the adorable Lip Crayons. These little chubsters fit perfectly in your hands for easy application and comes in 6 shades. ($22)
All of these amazing products are part of the Fall 2009 collection (aptly titled 'Ivy League Collection) and will be available for purchase next month (August 2009) at Bobbi Brown counters nationwide as well as at bobbibrown.com.
xo
Ferocia

I'm thinking I might rock this look one day? What do you think of it? This is from the Catherine Malandrino Fall 2009 show. MAC makeup artist Tom Pecheaux said he used eyeliner in 3 places: the crease, above the lashes to add definition and underneath the eyes (but not touching the bottom lashes). "It gives an illusion; a different perspective to the eye," he said.

Maybelline New York Takes Over Fashion Week

I must say that I was in a bit of shock to go through my e-mails after a week of vacation to see that Maybelline would be the official cosmetic sponsor for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in NY. I'd heard the rumors for sure, but didn't think that it would actually be true! So, starting with the Spring 2010 collections (debuting September 2009) and for the next two years, we'll be seeing all Maybelline. Headed up by the brand's Global Makeup Artist Charlotte Willer, the brand will support several designers such as Charlotte Ronson, Tracy Reese, Michael Angel and Erin Wasson x RVCA.
I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that I'll still get to see plenty of my MAC girls backstage at some of the fashion shows. I mean, hands down, they're like one of my fave beauty cosmetics PR teams. Especially Heather Park. She's like my sister from another mister. (No, she did not pay me to say that haha) AND hopefully they'll still have that amazing MAC lounge backstage...posted is a pic of myself and Heather in the lounge from the Fall 2009 collections. Ah, well, change isn't always a bad thing I suppose. I'm definitely still looking forward to the upcoming shows!
xo
Ferocia

Hair Color Myth or Truth

Should hair be clean or dirty for a coloring service?

For as long as I can remember this debut amongst hairdressers has been going on forever, and there was a time that coming to the salon for hair coloring or highlighting I would demand that the hair be dirty. Back then the products were harsher and the peroxides stronger, they would burn or bite people’s scalps so having their own natural oils would work as a barrier to prevent such discomfort. That was the past today I prefer people to come in with clean hair or no more than 2 days of unwashed hair.
My suggestion is clean hair allows the colors to develop as they are formulated to do so without working harder to lift out oils or styling products which actually can take part in the brassy end results we all hate,, perhaps this is why so many hairdressers use bleach for blonde highlights. And it only makes sense when dealing with grey coverage to ensure the color is going on a clean scalp, again so the color can do its job, another good reason is that any color service done on clean hair also processes faster doesn’t have so much build-ups to work through.

A Couple of tricks I have used for years on sensitive scalps when I am applying a tint is adding a packet of sugar twin, equal, sweet & low, whatever brand into my formula, it stop the possible burn, and if I know any individuals that react to hair color I ask them to take 1 antihistamine 1 hour before they come in to see me. Both of these tricks have always worked for me and my clients for the past 3 decades, these tricks do not apply to highlighting hair because the color does not sit on the scalp, so go ahead wash your hair the night before and see how much better hair color responds to your hair.

Hair Coloring & The Bob

The Everlasting Bob

As I continue to acknowledge the Bob’s100 years 1909-2009, we can say it is back and fabulous as always, though this classic shape has never left it is and remains to be the most requested haircut worldwide, hence why we are celebrating its 100th birthday. The best thing about this shape is that it can be worn by anyone, the Bob cuts today are not only the traditional chin length we think of but they are customized for longer hair, shoulder lengths or shorter, the main point is that it’s the most versatile haircut around.
Hair coloring a bob amongst most creative hair coloring artists all agree that a Bob cut is one of their favorite styles to color, and spicing up a modern Bob haircut with hair color is the way to go. With classic color shades or edgy, we can use color for detailing on all the fabulous variations of the haircut out there. My personal preferences with coloring these shapes range from simple to creative, gorgeous shinny solid tints (over all one color) or adding soft or bolder dimensions, using highlighting, lowlighting, block coloring, or color melting techniques to create a custom made classic rocking Bob, this shape has endless possibilities with hair coloring choices, and the bottom line is that it can be worn sexy or edgy but still remains the classic!

Inspirational Brown