Hey there!

Summer is here and while were welcoming the Sun to illuminate our lives we are ending cycles and looking for new ways to sizzle. 

With that said, I am NO LONGER taking clients at Wicked Salon in Venice, Ca. For the time being all clients are being directed to Sweet 1017 in Seal Beach, Ca; OR (on a case by case basis) to The Salon by Maxime in Beverly Hills. My Hours in Seal beach will remain as follows...

Wednesday 11am-7pm and Saturday 9am-5pm. Please Call 562.594.0562 for appts.

For an appt in the Beverly Hills area please contact me by cell and I will work to set something up for you per the salons availability. 323.684.4337.

For ALL Clients accustomed to seeing me in Venice who are Local to the area and unable to make it to either of these locations Im temporarily offering my house call services at the same rate as the in Salon prices. (*Please Note* Brow shaping will be done Via Tweezing not wax). Im truly sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and Im dilligently seeking a new location on the Westside. Thank You in advance for your patience and continued patronage. 

Email or call me with any questions, Im happy to make arrangements to accomodate all my clients to the best of my ability. 

Thank You!

Stacy

Hey There!

For any of my clients who have trouble making it to Venice or Seal Beach, I will be filling in tomorrow May 16th and Friday May 17th at the Salon by Maxime in Beverly Hills from 10am to 6pm. The Salon is located in the Rodeo Court behind the courtyard at street level. You can schedule appts by calling the front desk at 310.205.2370.

Address is:
421 N. Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Ca 90210
Parking is available at meters on the street or directly below the Rodeo Court. 
Hope to see you soon!

I saw a YouTube clip today of Diane Keaton talking about a new movie. Before the interview got underway I took notice of how really genuinely pretty she looked. Now, hopefully I dont get in trouble for saying this but she is 67 years old. It got me thinking about Beauty and how it means something specific to each and every person. It got me thinking about what it means to me. Now Im a Makeup Artist and I work so closely with women and girls of all ages. Usually when someone comes to me for something its because they want to look...how do you say...better. I hear quite frequently clients say things like, "Oh, I dont know, you know I dont feel very pretty anymore" or "I'm ok with my looks I just wish I didnt have this or that" or most commonly, "I feel like I look old or drab". And truly most of the time what they see is exaggerated in their view but the truth is that it doesnt matter if what they see is really there or not because they believe it is and this dictates how they feel about themselves and in turn how they relate to the world. Ive said it before that most people see how they feel not really how they look, and spend a great deal of time over correcting imaginary problems with commitaphobic fixes or worst, damaging ones.
So what does Beauty mean to me? I had to think about it actually. Apart from the obvious initial standards of beauty, I realized what I find the most beautiful is that little light around a person. It makes me so interested in them, so curious. Unfortunately for me, I tend to see that light in its very unique expression in every person. Stronger in the ones I find I have a connection of some sort with. Sometimes I see it and its all I pay attention to and thats never good. We have to stand back and look at people not just for their potential, or the deep truth inside of them, but for who they are in this life. But for the purpose of Beauty in this blog I find that I try my best to accentuate that light in my clients. But the funny thing is that it isnt cultivated by cosmetics. Its a brightness that is fed by something else. Now, I dont know what it is yet but Im sure its some sort of spirituality, bla bla bla...But for someone like me who has searched ad infinitum for an answer to the God question, or a method that would produce him/her/it whatever, Ill tell you that Ive found little in the way of a clue but Im 37 years old now; Ive lived a pretty chaotic life thats had its share of pain, disappointment, and grief and so far Ive found (when Im capable of doing it anyway) that the best medicine and consequently, beauty balm, is the calmness that is produced (and its subsequent relief), when I can go inside and find comfort and guidance in a relationship with myself that could never be replicated outside of me. There is not one single person on this planet that knows what its been like to be me. No one knows what its been like to be you. When I finally developed even the beginning stages of humility and forgiveness for myself and I could finally go inside without the fear or resistance, I found  the only person that understood, Me, and Grace happened. I dont know what other people will think about my looks as I age, or my gray hair, or my body that just wont seem to go down a size but I suspect that maybe I wont care when Im 67. I hope I dont. I hope I shine as bright as Diane Keaton.

Now that were well into 2013, the New Year has worn off and we've settled into our routines. On one hand this is very efficient; Routines get regular, habitual and more effective even... but then on the other hand its possible for life to become predictable and stale. In the Spring... all of life, your perception and energy, have an opportunity to get renewed. To brighten up and receive a blast of fertility. In Beauty the idea is to keep your appearance fresh. Your regime updated, current, and progressive. With that said, Id like to add that also in Beauty, its never just your face, or your clothes, or your makeup that make you pretty. Its really reflected in how you FEEL. I see so many people that don't feel their best, their most confident, or even happy. This is reflected in your posture and facial expressions that are known to dictate how you perceive anything and everything. Truly the way you feel affects the way you are and in turn affects the way you look. If its a fact that how you feel is directly related to how you think then well, we have a solution we can participate in as we ALL have the ability to learn to control our minds. For each one of us the process will be different because we all have different tapes in our heads telling us things that make us unhappy. But to begin is the same for everyone. We must recognize what it is we are thinking. And if its making you anything but inspired tell it to go F*#k itself. Every human in existence wrestles daily with two voices, one that motivates and one that paralyzes. We are ALL the same, the trick is to stop giving all the power to the harsh, critical, damning voice and start feeding the one that lifts you up. The more you feed it the bigger itll get until eventually the one that gags you will cease to be. Being in relationship with yourself doesnt mean, get your nails done (though its nice to have manicured nails) or buy yourself something new (though I do not rebuke buying clothes, shoes, or cosmetics as it is maybe my first love), it doesnt mean treat yourself to a lovely outing or a book, or a delicious glass of red wine, a massage, a trip (LOVE THESE), a treat, a good movie or those really soft fuzzy socks that your sister always gives you for Christmas that you love to wear when its cold.... ok Im getting away from the point now...I Love to do fun things for myself its the way I make life interesting, and this is great but isnt a substitute for being your own best friend by listening to whats going on in your mind and taking the time to start to weed that garden. For me a daily practice of noticing in the morning at least 10 things Im grateful for is the way I start my day. This sets the direction Im training my mind to go in. Then I pay attention to myself throughout my morning, noticing the thoughts coming in and out doing my best to cast out the ones that hurt me and capitalizing on the ones that give me hope. I release as often as possible the need to be perfect and instead take pride in doing my best. I forgive my mistakes, or momentary misgivings and try to correct them as soon as possible if not immediately, knowing that Im going to get stuck sometimes and thats when humility is the only answer, in these moments, I try to ask for help. Then I powder my nose and change my lipstick.
And So can you.

Here is a short segment detailing the Bill up for Vote that will remove the requirement for a license to perform Hair and Beauty Services. If you work in the industry please pass this on. From what I can tell California isnt at risk but deregulating the beauty industry will absolutely wreak havoc across the board and inundate an already saturated industry with under-qualified and uneducated professionals. 

20 February 2013 08:55
Please watch,Repost and Support.

I had the pleasure of working on Costume Designer Stephani Lewis' eyebrows yesterday. Shes up for an award for her latest film "Beast of the Southern Wild". Very Cool. Check it out.
http://stephanilewis.com/about/beast-of-the-southern-wild/

Since we all lived through the end of the world...For 2013 I want to see a Celebratory Pout. I found this Blog on how to wear and maintain a Bold Lip. I thought it was awesome instruction so I want to share it...

http://beautyblitz.com/9-makeup-artist-tips-mastering-bold-lip#slide-1

I recently had a client ask me how she can better apply her concealer so that it didn't grease under her eyes, look cakey, or too obvious. This isn't the first time Ive been asked this question so heres a little tip for those of you struggling with this issue. 
First, choose the formula that is right for you're purpose and your skin texture in the area being concealed (i.e. covering under eye circles, blemishes, or bruises will require different formulas for different areas of your face or body. Longwear concealers that are liquid will finish differently than a cream or stick concealer) And make sure your face is clean, moisturized sufficiently, then dry, and that you've applied an appropriate eye cream.
Second, Choose a shade that will compliment that purpose (i.e. hiding under eye circles requires a shade that cancels blue or purple, usually a slightly peachier color than your foundation would be, while hiding a blemish usually needs to be true to the color of your skin or slightly ashy if its raised and red.)
And Third, acquire the proper tools to accomplish your mission. I always use a flat concealer brush to apply the product then I finish the look by blending it out with a Tapered Blending Brush. I have two that I use, the #286 from MAC which is light and feathery and the #224 which is just a slightly denser brush for blending heavier applications. Feathering lightly in a circular motion will magically and evenly distribute and blend your concealer so that it looks flawless and virtually undetectable. 
Last but not least Its important to always apply your concealer AFTER you apply your foundation which prevents smearing it off and then set it with your powder last.
Ive attached a photo of some "Tapered Blending Brushes". This is roughly what they should look like.
Hope this helps people! Im always happy to answer any questions, feel free to message me anytime.
Cheers!