A HAITIAN BEAUTY

I Recently worked on a shoot and had the pleasure of working with our model who is a beautiful Haitian girl. Good job guys!!







Photography- Tina Wong
Model- Sophia Clerius
Makeup- Michelle Morse

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PHOTOGRAPHER SAMWELL ORTIZ

Among the many enrichment's I’ve enjoyed since my recent arrival to Miami have been my daily back-to-the-beach outings and the opportunity to become more involved with photo shoots and the unique artists behind them.

On a recent photo shoot for the talented Tina Wong, I was fortunate enough to meet the very talented photographer Samwell Oritz

From the first it was obvious the entire crew was in for a great ride as Samwell’s friendly creative input and generosity made it seem as if we’d all been friends and collaborators for years.

At one point Samwell caught our attention with, to many of us, was an exotic looking lighting set-up. His response to our questions was to offer to take our photos under his lights and give us each a personal example of the look he was going for.

Literally … minutes later I was presented with the photo you see here …

While I’ve never considered myself to be highly photogenic, I believe he has captured me in a way that allows me to see myself as others do … and I love it.

Here’s some more of Samwells’s work for your pleasure.

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SPRING 2011

Spring is here, and summer is fast approaching. With its promise of sun, surf and sand, gloriously warm weather suggests a long awaited freedom. With this in mind, it's up to you to decide if you'll be a slave to your hair and blow the life out of it, or embrace your hair’s ability to do something different.

Giving your hair an occasional break is highly recommended and will only do you good. Constantly blow-drying your hair straight will ultimately take it’s toll. You may desperately want to believe those very convincing ads claiming ultimate hair protection and displaying a beautiful girl throwing her hair around. Well, I hate to break it to you but heat hurts your hair. So unless they've created some impenetrable force field, I say give your hair a break!


Get That Beachy Look!
Here are all the tools and products you'll need to achieve a beach like texture without the pulling of a brush and excessive heat to get your hair straight.

1) Diffuser This is a girl’s best friend. If you've used one and found it difficult, don’t worry because I’m going to show you how to use one correctly.2) Product This will depend on the type and texture of your hair.


For curly hair use a combination of bumble and bumble surf salt spray

and Hamadi Shea leave in cream
The cream will keep your curls hydrated and the salt spray will help give it the texture of a broken curl with an edge rather than a curl with a bounce.


Rather than drying the traditional way by cupping the hair in the diffuser, I recommend having the dryer on low speed and hold it on the outside of the hair like if you are steaming the clothing with a hand held steamer. When most of the moisture is gone, you can then cup the hair in the diffuser lightly. As a general rule, the closer you hold the hair to the scalp, the more curl you will get. 

If you have straight hair, apply Bumble and Bumble "Salt Spray" with a pea size amount of "Boost" by Orlando Pita before diffusing.

Turn your head to the side and lean your hair in the diffuser. The closer you hold it, the more lift you will get. Alternately, the further away you hold it, the less texture it creates. If you have really fine hair, hold the diffuser close to your head and with your free hand scrunch the hair (LOL I have not used the word scrunch in forever!).

 After creating your texture you can braid your hair, wear it in a bun, wear a headband, or just let it flow! The idea is to embrace your texture during a time when "perfect hair" shouldn't be the first thing on your mind. Now the perfect tan is quite another thing! Go ahead, it's okay to go messy chic... it's Summer!

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PLUS SIZE WOMAN

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BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP

I'm sure you all remember having said that more than once in support of a friend or family member feeling beauteously inadequate. Having been tossed aside as a cliche, we're now bombarded with images of unattainable physical standards along with the pressure to meet them. Beauty has gone from existing in the eye of the beholder, to a matter defined by a microscopic few that, ahem, do not meet the standards they've set for you and me.

True Beauty

Sad as it is, as I compare life today to life as it once was, boys and girls are subjected to these physical pressures at seemingly younger ages; women are beginning to look the same regardless of ethnicity; plus size beauties are succumbing to the pressure to lose weight in an effort for marketability and social acceptance. The stories of people "selling their souls", the essence that makes them unique, in an effort to satisfy the mountainous appetite of the industry are endless. That being said, fashion and beauty standards and trends change just as the water crashes on the shore and recedes, creating its own unending feeding cycle. What does the industry eat? You (and me!).

This week I want to stop and acknowledge beauty in and of itself, for exactly what it is. True and everlasting beauty really does come from within. I feel strongly that true beauty is being comfortable in your own skin, loving yourself from the inside out. What I mean by being comfortable in your own skin is that you fully understand and accept yourself, as you are, with none of the extras. Sure, everyone would first choose to focus on what is imperfect about themselves, however reaching a level of security in yourself requires that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you learn to love yourself.It's difficult to separate feelings of authentic self love from the love of feeling part of mass culture, but feeling beautiful in a peasant dress when it isn't "IN" because you love the way it makes you feel is enough. There is no need to compare yourself to the Kim's and Victoria's of the world.

I suppose I feel so strongly about this topic because, once upon a time, I also felt ugly and inadequate. After much soul searching, I realize now that this life is the gift of journey and as I embark on it, each day, I learn different ways to love myself from the inside out. Through the years, I've learned to keep this in mind, as difficult as it is in my industry, and want to impart that knowledge to you, my friends. As a hairstylist, all I can do is make your hair look good. A great hairstyle can only go so far, and sooner or later even that fades. What I'm trying to say is that every effort to be the best you that you can be is temporary, YOU will always be all that is left and I want you to love what is the only constant in your life... YOU.

As I move forward, I intend to challenge myself to write to you about beauty from many different perspectives. I will still, obviously, be sharing my thoughts, tips and tools to help you achieve and maintain healthy beautiful hair, but ultimately I want it to reflect the beauty within you.

No matter what the fact is, and will always be, BEAUTY IS STILL ONLY SKIN DEEP!

Just be yourself
Don't listen to the lies.
Let it all out.
Let out your cries.

The insults are there,
"You're ugly"
"You're fat"
Truth is you are you
And that is that.

You may feel down
about your looks.
You're not a model
or a picture in a book.

But everyone is beautiful
in their own special way.
Be sure to repeat this everyday.

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