A Fashionista Bride

I would love to take this opportunity to personally introduce you to Lindsey Hopkins.  I had the absolute priviledge of getting to know fashion designer and bride-to-be during her wedding week.  Lindsey married her MIDDLE SCHOOL sweetheart, that's right- 8 grade folks!  She is currently designing for brands carried at Target, but most importantly her own line called Lindsey Hopkins Collection.  

This beautiful blonde with bright blue eyes came to our studio complete with a great spirit and mood board of her makeup inspirations. Typically brides don't have such a clear idea of what they want to look like, so I was thrilled to have photos of her dream makeup. We collaborated on the details and designed the look for her bridesmaids. Besides being talented, Lindsey is really funny and easy to be around.  I know it's been a good trial when my mascara is smudged from laughing so hard! On the morning of Lindsey's wedding Makeup Artist, Jessica, joined me to assist me in providing special care for her friends and family.  The morning and afternoon came fast but a sweet group of ladies remained feeling and looking fabulous.  

Lindsey, I'm sure you had an amazing wedding and reception!  Wishing you the very best time in Thailand and we can't wait to see your photos. Congratulations on all the success that will continue to follow you on your amazing journey.  You have big fans in Savannah!

Sincerely, Jules

Lip Love: Long-wear Lip Primers

As many of you may already know, my husband serves proudly in the US Marine Corps, and for weeks now I have been anxiously awaiting the Marine Corps Ball.  This is the time of year where everyone gets dressed in their finest, the Marines in their iconic dress blue uniforms and their dates in beautiful dresses or handsome suits.  It is an evening full of pageantry, tradition, and ceremony, coupled with wild celebrating fueled by spirited imbibements (Did I just make up a word?). While many have been stressing over what-in-the-world to wear on the big night, I have been dreaming up what my makeup look will be.  Up here in Maryland, autumn is in full swing.  The leaves have changed and are carpeting the ground.  Everything has a beautiful amber glow, and there is a distinct crispness in the air.  Since the beginning of fall, I have been obsessed with one of the hottest colors of the season:  oxblood red lips, a deeper and richer version of the red lips that have been so popular over the past year.  This color is beautifully portrayed in the cover photo shown above right here on the Dollface website.  So what better inspiration for my ball look?

Much like eye shadow primers, lip primer helps to lock your lip color and liner in place to ensure long-lasting wear.  Lip primers go on transparently and are typically wax based.  It fills in fine lines on the surface of your lips for smooth lipstick application and is an excellent material for your product to adhere to.  Applying a lip primer before your liner and lip color creates a barrier to prevent your lip color from bleeding and feathering.  Finally, primers help to lock in your lip’s moisture and work to keep your color looking vibrant.  A few of my favorites are Make Up For Ever Lip Line Perfector ($18), Urban Decay Lip Primer Potion ($20), and e.l.f. Studio Lip Lock Pencil ($3).

I take the job of being arm candy for my husband very seriously.  On a night full of eating, drinking, and merriment, I feel confident rocking a bold, oxblood red lip knowing my lip primer will keep me from looking a hot mess.

I hope all of our Marine Dolls, past and present, had an excellent 237^th birthday!  Semper Fi!

<3, Melissa

The Dollface Double-take for Halloween!

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. Normally this statement annoys me from the view of being original. My beauty counterpart, the incredible Lindsay Nix, made me a true believer by surprising me with my very own parody! The moment she opened the door to greet us, I was in a complete stage of shock & awe! There “I” stood before me with all the finishing details perfectly in place. Lindsay even worked with my husband, Josh, to add personal touches.

What made this so incredibly flattering and truly the highest complement, was the attention to detail. Josh & Lindsay did not disappoint! They designed my makeup look complete with tattoo coverage using Temptu’s Body Camo. Lindsay is very fair… seriously… I think the proper shade is translucent. She transformed herself from her usual porcelain princess into a Puerto Rican Dollface!

We are like peas & carrots, the best of friends, & it’s always “peanutbutta jelly time”. We are typically laughing until it hurts or working on our master plan of taking over the beauty world. She is also the BEST in the hair biz with the track record to prove it. She also knows her way around a makeup kit. With that being said, no one else could’ve pulled off the feat of becoming “Dollface”.

From the extra large set bag (which looks like a gigantic fanny pack), art brushes, a feather fascinator, & my preferred ¾ sleeve shirt. Lindsay even worked with fab designer & our dear friend, Brooke Atwood, to create a custom made vest, which has become a signature part of our brand. She used my makeup, paying very close attention to every nuance, and completely nailed it!

Lindsay is also one of the most genuine people you will ever meet with the biggest heart. She gave me a priceless gift, and I’m sure I’ll continue to giggle about it for years to come!

Thank you, Lindsay! I love you <3

All About Brows: Part I

Hello Dolls!

I wanted to tackle the widely disregarded subject of eyebrows.  Everyone from models to moms seem to be lost when it comes to how to care for and fill their eyebrows.  I have to admit, I didn’t give the subject much thought.  That is, until a fateful day in May.  It wasn’t until my Dollface training with Jules that I truly learned the importance of eyebrows.  She plopped a model down in front of me with no brow hair and said “go” and I had to create the appearance of hair where none existed.  Since then, I have become obsessed.  So, it is my hope to help de-mystify the process.

PART ONE: HAIR REMOVAL

There are several different ways you can achieve that beautifully groomed brows; the most common methods today are waxing, threading, and tweezing (Yes, it is called tweezing, not plucking.  Chickens are for plucking, eyebrows are for tweezing).  Now ladies and gents, it is time to come to terms with reality.  If you don’t feel 100% comfortable with this process, please seek professional help.  Personally, I have very sensitive skin that gets red and tender just by looking at it the wrong way.  Because of this, I have tried every method of hair removal under the sun to find what works best for me and have included some of my personal comments on each style.

Waxing: Waxing is certainly the most popular of all hair removal methods.  Because of its popularity, I find that there are many technicians out there who are under-trained.  How many of you have had, or know someone that has had, a waxing nightmare experience?  It is so important that you entrust your face to an experienced and knowledgeable technician.  As much as I love how quick the process of eyebrow waxing is, I find that it is a bit too harsh for my skin.  The majority of waxes contain Pine Rosin which naturally takes off a think layer of skin along with hair and some may find that they have an allergic reaction to it.  I say, if this method works for you, then have at it.  Otherwise, proceed with caution.  Never again will warm wax touch this face.

Threading: Brow threading takes its origins from the Middle East and has gained popularity.  The way hair is removed is by a technician running a cotton thread along the skin trapping unwanted hair like a lasso and lifting it from the follicle.  Because it is not as prominent of a practice as waxing, I believe that it is much easier to find a technician who knows what they are doing.  Some say that it is less painful than waxing, but I say that it is not for the weak.  Watery eyes can be expected during the process.

Sugaring: This is the newest form of hair removal hitting the US, yet it's also the most ancient dating back to Cleopatra.  It's 100% natural, has minor irration and discomfort. You'll also have precise brows for twice as long as waxing.  Slow regrowth and eliminating in-grown hairs are big perk of this process.  Sugar Specialists must receive an extra certification in addition to their Cosmetology/Esthetics license.  Team Dollface recently hosted a sucessful Sugaring Brow Bar to introduce Savannah to this amazing treat.  Jessica, our resident Sugar Specialist, can be reached here: jessica@dollfacebyjules.com for in studio appointments.  Read more about Sugaring! 

And yes, that is our VP/COO, Josh having having sugar poured on his brows! Below is a photo of Jessica & Jules with a happy client, Kay.

Kay is now an honorary "Sugar Doll"!

Tweezing: In my opinion, tweezing should be used as a method of brow maintenance in between visits to the salon.  Sometimes turning the tweezers upon yourself can be a daunting task and finding symmetry can be difficult.  For those who dare, consider using a warm compress to open pores and reduce pain of hair removal.  Always be sure to take a step back and double check your work because it is easier to take hair off, but once it is gone, it’s gone.

On my next installment, I will discuss Part Two: Brow Filling, using makeup to achieve that perfect brow look.

Until next time Dolls,

 Melissa

Introducing Dollface Certified Artist, Melissa!

Hello Dolls!

My name is Melissa Collazo and I am proud to be the newest member of Team Dollface!  Before I begin my rotation in the weekly Makeup Monday blogs, I thought I would first take a moment to introduce myself…

I was raised in the exact same small, Central Florida town as Jules where I spent the majority of my free time in the performing arts.  It was those very dance performances, choral performances, and plays that sparked my fascination with makeup.  I would spend what seemed like hours in front of the mirror making sure every nuance of my makeup looked perfect.  After high school, I moved to Orlando, FL to attend the University of Central Florida.  It was my time living in the Alpha Xi Delta sorority house, doing the makeup of every girl that knocked on my door, which had me questioning if I should make the switch from full-time college student to aspiring makeup artist.  I persevered, finished my degree, and began working in the school system.  In 2009, I married my college sweetheart and our lives completely changed when he decided he wanted to serve our country in the US Marine Corps.  It was this leap of faith that has taken us across the country and back.  I was so inspired by his decision to follow his heart; it gave me the push I needed to listen to the little voice inside. 

*photo credit: Linda Montanez of Best Light Photography

Now, after a few years of hitting the pavement and hundreds of apprenticeship hours with Dollface, I am finally right where I want to be professionally.  And the coolest part of it all, being stationed in the Annapolis, Maryland area makes me the FIRST Dollface by Jules branch!  I am so looking forward to offering luxury makeup artistry to the Maryland/DC/Northern Virginia area in efforts to make over the world, one face at a time.  Here are a few sneek peaks from my photo shoots in Savannah:

*photo credit: Dylan Wilson

Until next time Dolls,

Melissa