PRO PICKS: 5 FAVORITES WITH KAITLIN CANDELLA

One of Avenue 42's very own is sharing her 5 Favorites with us this week! Stylist (and makeup artist!) Kaitlin Candella joined Avenue 42 at the beginning of this year after re-locating from NYC! She has trained under some pretty epic editorial stylists, educated for many well known beauty brands, as well as worked with many of NYC's prestigious clientele. Some of her accolades include working at the 2011 Tony Awards, as well as New York Fashion Week. We are more than happy to have her here with us, and hope you enjoy learning about some of her favorite products! 

Kaitlin working with a rogue ballerina...

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 1) Kimia, Kimia Exquisite Rejuvenation FacialSystem, $138, www.mykimia.com "this tightens my skin but leaves it soft, and minimizes pores-amazing!"

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2)Ellis Faas, Creamy Lips in L101 "Ellis Red", $35 www.ellisfaas.com; "this is the PERFECT shade of red I have always been on the hunt for. Not to mention-it doesn't bleed and wears all day"

3) Kiehls, Kiehls Superbly Efficient Anti-perspirant & Deodorant, $19.50, www.kiehls.com; "I have used this for 5 or 6 years now and still LOVE IT! It is scent free, leaves my 'pits super soft and dry"

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4) "Itasca" by Lubin Parfums, $120, www.lubin-parfum.fr "this scent is actually unisex! It has a super clean woodsy smell, I am a sucker for cedar!"

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5) Peter Thomas Roth "Lashes to Die For", $22, www.sephora.com "This is my favorite part of putting on my makeup everyday!"

THANK YOU for sharing with us Kaitlin!

xo,

AVE 42

BORN IN THE USA: Our Favorite American Beauty Brands

We are so thankful to have the freedom to have amazing jobs in an amazing industry that we are passionate about. What would be a better day than the Fourth of July to take a step back and celebrate some of our favorite American-bred beauty brands.  Here's a look at some of America's finest:

Burt's Bees, created by Burt Shavitz and Roxanne Quimby originating in Maine in the 1980's, the company was started when Roxanne started making candles from Burt's left over beeswax. The brand then grew to incorporate more than over 195 products for beauty, personal hygiene, and babycare.

Tarte founded by Maureen Kelly in NYC; where she left her PHD program to start her brand. Kelly was a self-professed beauty product junkie previous to the creation of her line. Tarte can now be found in many prestigious stores across the board, but Maureen can thank Henri Bendel for being the first store to carry her line. 

RMS Beauty Rose Marie Swift is the genius behind this organic and colorful cosmetic line. Her nearly 20 years of experience in the beauty industry fueled the vision behind this celebrity makeup artist's line. RMS is created hydrate and illuminate skin, and is dedicated to changing the way women use makeup. Each product is toxin-free and designed to nourish and heal. 

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Founded by David Klasfeld; his admitted beauty obsession ultimately turned into the creation of his brand for both the quality and color conscious. This brand is stands behind being 100% cruelty free and strives to use the finest ingredients available. OCC's "Lip Tar" has become an overnight cult classic for both consumers and makeup artists all over the globe. 

We hope you enjoy these brands as much as we do and are wishing you a happy and healthy 

Fourth of July!

xo,

Ave 42

Avenue 42 Celebrates: 100 Brides & 1 Year Studio Anniversary!

We would LOVE to congratulate our team on booking over 100 weddings for 2013! We are so proud of our amazing stylists, makeup artists and support staff for making this all possible; not to mention a HUGE THANK YOU to all of our beautiful brides!

If you are planning on booking with us for an upcoming wedding, we would love to share some useful information with you to make this aspect of your wedding planning as easy as possible!

The ladies of Avenue 42!

BOOKING: All booking inquiries should be directed to our booking manager, Diane Eppers. Diane helps each and every bride with the logistics of booking artists from our team! She will carefully match you with a stylist/makeup artist to complete your look on your big day. It is best to have as close to an exact number as possible of the amount of people in your bridal party receiving services on the wedding day to ensure each and every person is given the highest level of service possible.

TRIAL: We highly recommend doing a bridal trial! Even the most relaxed brides should take the time to consult with their hair and makeup team before their day of. This appointment is completed in-salon by the stylist/makeup artist that will be with you on the day of your wedding. The trial gives you time to get to know your stylist and to work together to achieve your desired look as well as offers a bit of piece of mind that you will not encounter a hair and makeup nightmare on your big day.

MAINTENANCE: All of our hair and makeup team are professionals! Each artist works closely with the technical aspects of their respective trades on a daily basis. Refer to your stylists advice on when to color or cut your hair before your special day. Your makeup artist can suggest what sort of preparation may be necessary for your skin.

NEXT STEP: After your trial is completed, you can then move forward with the booking process. A contract and deposit are required to secure our team for your big day. Your contract will arrive via email, and your deposit can be taken care of through our booking manager or in-salon on the day of your trial. We do suggest moving quickly with booking, especially during peak wedding season.

TIPS FOR YOUR HAIR AND MAKEUP TRIAL:

• If you are doing a makeup trial, it is best to arrive with a clean face. Makeup is often hard to completely remove with facial wipes/makeup remover and may often leave a residue on the skin.

• Wear a top that is similar in color to your gown! This will give you as well as your makeup artist a better idea of how your makeup will look against your gown.

• Leave enough time before your last brow/facial waxing appointment for your skin to return to its normal state. We do NOT suggest waxing right before your makeup trial. Give it at least 24 hours!

• Be as close to as tan as you would like to be on your day of. If you are planning on receiving a spray tan before your big day, we suggest doing a trial spray tan a few days before your bridal trial. 

• Preferences for hair preparation vary with stylist. Some stylists prefer hair that has been washed a day before, and some prefer to wash and set your hair before completing your style. When booking your trial, be sure to ask what your stylists preference is!

• If you have any allergic reactions to makeup, please notify us before your appointment time. Please specify the items you are allergic to and how severe your allergies are.

• If using a hair embellishment, it is always best to bring it with you. Any hair stye up or down can be completely structurally changed when adding a comb, headband, or clip. We would like to make sure your style is as secure as possible on the day of your trial so we can replicate the look on the day of. If you change your mind between the time of your trial and the time of your day of, let your stylist know!

• Bring any jewelry and accessories you plan on wearing on the day of your wedding. Earrings and necklaces can often be hidden by certain hairstyles, and we would like to ensure your special accessories are visible if this is the look you desire.

We ALWAYS welcome new brides and clients! Contact our booking manager, Diane, with Bridal inquiries at Diane@ave42.com, or contact our studio for regular appointments and additional information at 804.303.3139.

xo,

Ave 42

INTRODUCING: ORIBE LUXURY HAIRCARE at AVENUE 42!

Have you ever come across a hair care brand that was beyond amazing? A brand that is so beautifully packaged, a scent so delicious and bright, and to top it off it actually WORKS? 

 WE HAVE AND WE ARE SHARING IT WITH YOU! As of June 2013, 

Avenue 42 is now an Oribe exclusive salon and we could not be any happier! 

Avenue 42 founders Natalie & Rachel were invited to Miami in early June to meet with the Oribe team and experience one of their largest events, La Fama, a gathering focused on creativity, community, and most of all: fun! Through their time in Miami working directly with the founders, educators, and creative minds of this brilliant brand, they then decided to better serve their clients Avenue 42 would become Oribe exclusive. 

oribe on the shelves at avenue 42; natalie & rachel at la fama in miami

Our team will now be working with Oribe educators and stylists to bring you the most up-to-date techniques, styles, and the most luxurious products on the market. We are so very excited to bring this to Richmond and hope you are as well! Please stop by and check out our beautiful assortment of this range at our studio located at 16 East Main Street, Richmond VA.

www.Oribe.com

xo,

Ave42

Sunless Tanning: Your guide to a gorgeous glow!

Just when you thought things couldn't get any more hectic in your life, you've realized summer is in full swing and your still have not had time to work on your tan! Be it a BBQ or a beach day, if you are getting ready for a summer trip or get together and haven't had time to catch some rays like the rest of your friends-it's time to give what was once considered a scary solution a try!

Self and sunless tanning have become absolutely huge over recent years. From celebs to skin care gurus, it seems like just about everyone is trying their hand at obtaining that perfect formulation of sun in a tube! With research constantly surfacing about detrimental damage to our skin from tanning beds or from spending time in the sun, these alternatives are a major game changer when trying to get that radiant glow most of us ladies (and men!) secretly desire. The days of looking orange and streaky are long behind us with many of the products on the market today using superior technology thus eliminating us from the sunless tanning nightmares of the past.

Always plan ahead when using self tanners or getting a spray tan! Use our helpful tips and tricks as well as check out our picks for self tanning at home. Avenue 42 has carefully sought out the best professional spray tan products on the market today and proudly offers Lavish Tan organic tanning, and Xen Tan spray tans! 

Tips for Self & Spray Tanning

Prep: Exfoliate! Exfoliating will rid you of any dry skin that will create an uneven tan.

Moisturize:Use oil-free moisturizer on areas of the skin that are typically dry (knuckles, elbows, knees, ankles). These parts of the body will often grab the self tanner & spray tan more quickly than smooth skin. Moisturizing will prevent these areas from appearing darker than others. Let your moisturizer dry thoroughly before applying the tanning product or going to have a spray tan done.

Apply:When using self tanners always apply the from top to bottom. Applying on the stomach and upper body first may create creases when you bend over to apply to your legs and feet. Use enough product! Streaks are typically created from not using enough. Keep track of the areas you have already applied to and work in an upward motion.


Dry: Stand in front of a fan, or even use a blow dryer on the cool setting to speed up the drying process. If you are unsure you are totally dry, wait it out!
Be sure to wait at least 15-20 minutes before putting clothes on or laying in bed. If you are getting a spray tan, always bring loose fitting clothing to put on after.

We love: (from left to right ) St Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse, $32 www.beautybar.com; Dior Dior Bronze Self Tanner Natural Glow (face), $33 www.sepohora.com; Xen-Tan Deep Bronze Luxe, $40 www.ulta.com; Lorac Tantilizer Body Bronzing Spray (with puff) $32 www.loraccosmetics.com

Mention this blog posting when booking your next spray tan with us for $5 off! Offer valid from June 28-July 3, 2013. Appointments are subject to avalibility!

xo,
Ave 42

Real Brides: Kristin!

We recently had the pleasure of working with Kristin, one of our lovely June brides! This California-based couple returned to Virginia to celebrate the wedding of their dreams. 

Their nuptials took place at the Wilton House Museum here in Richmond, where our team was on-site to create Kristin's bridal look. The bride's hair and makeup styling were done by Avenue 42 founders Natalie and Rachel.

Kristin and her husband carefully created a rather unique wedding with LK Events & design. We are so pleased we could be present to make this truly special day exactly what the bride and groom had imagined. Check out Timmester Photo for more images and the story of their beautiful day! 

Congratulations Kristin & Dan! 

xo,

Ave 42

Portrait of a Bride: Elise!

Bridal portraits are a great way to test your day-of look! With all of the modern convenience social media and the internet can bring, it can also make it confusing and often send one into an image overload when trying figure out what your dream look is going to be! Booking your hair and makeup trial on the same day of your bridal portrait can create a better idea of how you want to look on your big day, as well as how your desired hair and makeup styling will look in photos. 

We suggest bringing photos of hair styles and makeup you LOVE, as well as photos for reference to looks you do not like, thus making your consultation and trial a little easier to navigate. Visuals are typically the best way to clearly communicate what your desired look is and of course...what it isn't! 

One of our bridal beauties, Elise, was kind enough to send over her images from her bridal portrait shoot. Her hair was done by Welsey, and makeup was done by Kaitlin. Through their combined consulting with the bride they were able to achieve this gorgeous look! 

Elise's photos were done by photographer Allyson Dempsey. Her outdoor images were done at Cooper Vineyards in Louisa, VA, and her indoor images took place at Main Street Station in downtown Richmond. Check back with us soon to see what Elise chose for her day-of look! We would also like to give Elise a big thanks for sharing a glimpse of what her portraits looked like! 

xo, 

Ave 42

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