Hair + Makeup Trial Pics

[AmberGretchen]

There are a whole bunch in My Knot Bio

I had this done on Sunday morning, and then FI and I went and took engagement pictures in Golden Gate Park - I should have those back in a few weeks. I put most of my comments in the bio, but please let me know what you guys think - I''m reserving final judgment until I see the pro pics which will also be in natural light, but overall I''m pretty pleased, although I do think the 2nd hair trial will help. Opinions?

Thanks
AG

 

[BrightSpot]

I think you look gorgeous! I love the vintage almost 40''s look! I agree that a lighter lipstick color looks better & softer. Or, if you wanted to go all-out 40''s, maybe a berry, nearly red shade? Something like the photos of Kate Beckinsale you posted? Please share your engagement pics when you get them back!

 

[Faerievert]

That''s the trouble with having your hair down, it''s hard to have it last as beautiful as it starts out. Perhaps it''s just a matter of finding the right products. Love the make-up, glamerous, but not over the top.

 

[MelissaSue]

Hey! The pics look great. The lighter lipstick color is DEFINITELY better though. You actually even look great in the before pic, you don''t need a lot of make up!

 

[Lorelei]

Here is a great hair tip for you. I was trained to advise this and have always done so when I was a hairstylist. Longer hair, whether wearing it up or down always stays in much better if you don't shampoo it on the morning of the wedding. Do a deep conditioning treatment a week to 10 days before, shampoo thoroughly and condition very lightly the night before the wedding, then just wet hair down before styling. Your hair will also style much better as well as stay in place longer, as freshly washed hair can be too soft to hold in well. Do a trial run with this before the wedding and see what way your stylist prefers, but this has never failed me yet and I have had to arrange waist length, straight thick hair in elaborate coils before

I used to love doing bridal hair

I am sure you will look GORGEOUS!

 

[qtiekiki]

You look gorgeous. I love the smoky eyes. I also like the light lipstick better. The darker lipstick was competing with your eyes makeup and the lighter lipstick compliments the eyes. Can''t wait til you post your e-pic.

 

[pebbles]

I too agree the lighter lipstick is MUCH better. However, (please don''t hit me!) I am not crazy about your hair. I think you need more waves throughout your hair instead of having it concentrated on the ends. And yes, it will be hard to maintain that kind of style all day (I was a bridesmaid once and wore my hair down in big loopy curls. It looked great for about an hour). You also need a little more height on the top, although I realize you are wearing a tiara.

 

[Angel7]

I think they look great and yes, I like the lighter lipstick as well.
BTW-I have your wedding shoes in black, they are so comfy!!

 

[teebee]

Wow, you have the most beautiful big brown eyes AG!!!! Lovely! I agree about the lighter lipstick - I think the dark lips tend to overwhelm & detract from your gorgeous eyes. And I think having more wave than curl will be great as well. Lorelei has a great suggestion about not washing the day of - maybe the evening before you can have a little private pampering time to yourself & enjoy a bubble bath & wash the hair then. Mine always behaves sooooooooo much better the day after it''s been washed - may sound gross, but it works like a dream.

 

[selflove]

Gorgeous!!!!

I concur with the lighter colored lipstick--much sweeter than the darker look. Good luck with the 2nd round of hair styling!

 

[AmberGretchen]

Thanks so much ladies - you are all so sweet. I''m not super crazy about the hair either, but I will try lorelei''s suggestion at hair trial #2. Maybe this is why people wear their hair up for weddings

I think it will help too when its more uniform and less curl but more wave. I am hoping she can put more anti-frizz product in it next time and maybe give me a little bottle or I can get some stuff to carry around and refresh periodically - I really don''t care for the way my hair looks up, so it would be worth it to me to have to do that.

Thanks again for the nice words, they really help, and for the opinions. E-pics should be be back in about 2-3 weeks, so I will definitely post when I have those. FI and I both hate having our picture taken, so I''m keeping my fingers crossed they came out OK...

Oh, and I will take more pics and post them separately later, but if you look closely in the 2nd to last pic you can see my present from FI the day before - 0.50 cttw (so 0.25 each) studs - H SI1. They are going to be re-set into martini settings this week or next week, but I feel so glamorous wearing them! (and so spoiled...

)

 

[teebee]

I see them!! Gorgeous!!

 

[MissAva]

I think you look lovely! You have such thick shiny hair, I am soo jealous! I like the make up better with the lighter lipstick.

 

[abradabra]

Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous...

I really think the whole ''40''s look will go nicely with your dress....

The weight loss pics are so dramatic--congrats on your hard work, btw, you look fantastic!

 

[MelissaSue]

You lucky duck! Was their any occasion for getting diamond studs? My fiance would NEVER buy me jewlery for no occassion. hhehe. I am DYING for a pair of diamond studs and am ready to settle for any old cruddy diamonds from Kohls for 299.00 for 1/2 carat.. but I know I should really wait and get a nice pair.

 

[Lorelei]

Amber - another suggestion. Hairspray!!! I like L''oreal Elnett best, it really holds yet the hair still moves and it brushes out easily. Get a small can if wish and see if you like it, it will help keep the frizzies at bay( I know frizzies

) Be careful with the anti frizz serum, a little too much and your hair will droop beyond repair

 

[icekid]

AG- I just wanted to say that you look great! I think everyone else has the advice covered

 

[lmurden]

Love your bio!

 

[AmberGretchen]

You guys are so sweet. Funny thing about my hair Mat - it is both a blessing and a curse. Its very fine in the sense that each individual hair is fine, but there is a TON of it, which makes it thick overall. Its nice because its quite soft, and doesn''t get as dry as more coarse thick hair does, but it snarls like you wouldn''t believe! Its probably shiny though because I am too lazy to do anything to it - I don''t dye it or heat-style it or put anything in it on a regular basis, so I''m sure that keeps it healthier than it would otherwise be.

And Teebee - the eyes are actually another mixed blessing. When I lose too much weight they take over my face and I have to be careful otherwise I look like a starving child

Of course, I would trade them and the hair any day for a stomach like that one in the picture you posted a while ago...even when I was a size 2 ballet dancer my abs never looked like that you lucky girl

OK, I swear I''m done complaining about my looks now. You guys are really awesome - all the compliments make a girl feel good

Oh and MS - no special occasion although I''ve been wanting them and budgeting a little each month for a long time now. Technically I hadn''t saved enough yet, but we got them for like 65% off at a local jewelry store (where we got FI''s wedding band) that was having a semi-clearance sale, and so it seemed like too good an opportunity to pass up. My FI really does spoil me - sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky

(my favorite is he brings home stuff from Stila, my favorite makeup brand - I just love the image of him walking up the Stila counter at Nordstrom''s and picking stuff out...we do live in San Francisco after all

)

 

[curlygirl]

Date: 10/11/2005 2:06:11 AM
Author: Lorelei
Amber - another suggestion. Hairspray!!! I like L''oreal Elnett best, it really holds yet the hair still moves and it brushes out easily. Get a small can if wish and see if you like it, it will help keep the frizzies at bay( I know frizzies

) Be careful with the anti frizz serum, a little too much and your hair will droop beyond repair

Lorelei, this is truly the best hairspray but alas, they don''t sell it in the US. I always try to buy it when I travel to Europe.

AG, you look great! I love the lighter lipstick too. You are so ahead of the game--my wedding is in less than 4 months and I still haven''t done any make-up or hair trials. Now I''m in a panic!!! But enough about me, you look amazing with that 40''s look. I love it!

 

[HOUMedGal]

I love the studs!!! Fabulous!!!

And I also prefer the lighter lipstick...you look beautiful, BTW!!! I think that the smooth, glarmourous makeup will go perfectly with your dress, which I also LOOOOVE. It just fits you so well!! I love the pic that''s a closeup on the bodice of your dress...makes your waist look tiny!

 

[researcher]

Date: 10/11/2005 2:32:38 PM
Author: AmberGretchen
You guys are so sweet. Funny thing about my hair Mat - it is both a blessing and a curse. Its very fine in the sense that each individual hair is fine, but there is a TON of it, which makes it thick overall. Its nice because its quite soft, and doesn''t get as dry as more coarse thick hair does, but it snarls like you wouldn''t believe! Its probably shiny though because I am too lazy to do anything to it - I don''t dye it or heat-style it or put anything in it on a regular basis, so I''m sure that keeps it healthier than it would otherwise be.


And Teebee - the eyes are actually another mixed blessing. When I lose too much weight they take over my face and I have to be careful otherwise I look like a starving child

Of course, I would trade them and the hair any day for a stomach like that one in the picture you posted a while ago...even when I was a size 2 ballet dancer my abs never looked like that you lucky girl

OK, I swear I''m done complaining about my looks now. You guys are really awesome - all the compliments make a girl feel good

Oh and MS - no special occasion although I''ve been wanting them and budgeting a little each month for a long time now. Technically I hadn''t saved enough yet, but we got them for like 65% off at a local jewelry store (where we got FI''s wedding band) that was having a semi-clearance sale, and so it seemed like too good an opportunity to pass up. My FI really does spoil me - sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky

(my favorite is he brings home stuff from Stila, my favorite makeup brand - I just love the image of him walking up the Stila counter at Nordstrom''s and picking stuff out...we do live in San Francisco after all

)

First of all, I have to say that I LOVE the light lipstick! You look amazing!!! Secondly, I understand your issues with your hair. I have the same hair type (although I''m a natural blonde) and can''t seem to keep a "down" hairstyle for more than an hour without it going limp and/or frizzing. I therefore opted for an updo and was EXTREMELY pleased with my choice. If you would like to see pictures I''d be happy to post

That being said, I think your entire look is fabulous!!!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 10/11/2005 4:49:02 PM
Author: curlygirl

Date: 10/11/2005 2:06:11 AM
Author: Lorelei
Amber - another suggestion. Hairspray!!! I like L''oreal Elnett best, it really holds yet the hair still moves and it brushes out easily. Get a small can if wish and see if you like it, it will help keep the frizzies at bay( I know frizzies

) Be careful with the anti frizz serum, a little too much and your hair will droop beyond repair

Lorelei, this is truly the best hairspray but alas, they don''t sell it in the US. I always try to buy it when I travel to Europe.

AG, you look great! I love the lighter lipstick too. You are so ahead of the game--my wedding is in less than 4 months and I still haven''t done any make-up or hair trials. Now I''m in a panic!!! But enough about me, you look amazing with that 40''s look. I love it!

THEY DON''T SELL ELNETT IN THE STATES??????????

THAT''S TERRIBLE

 

[igo8383]

I like your make up, your invitation car, your reception site....Nice, nice. I am thinkin of having my hair down too. Btw, does Neja do hair also? How much do they charge? Also, do you mind telling me how much you paid for your cake as well?

I just got engaged. We just started planning our wedding. Unfortunately, everything is so expensive (sigh...

). I''m looking for affordable vendors (Cake = <$300, Make Up ~$100). Any tips?

 

[rms]

Hey AG,
I love your bio. I must say I love your flowers that you did yourself (even though you said now you''ll probably go with a florist). Everything looks great, especially you!!

Just thought I would mention 1 hair product that you might try if you do decide to wear your hair down. It is Aveda Sap Moss spray. My hair is thick and dry and definitely frizzy without something to calm it down. The sap moss does wonders. I wash my hair at night, then put a leave in scalp oil then spray the sap moss and let it dry naturally. I might also top it off with Aussie Sprunch Spray. I am actually amazed how long the curl holds the next day...pretty much ALL DAY for me at least. I have more bad hair days than good, but with that sap moss spray, it is so different.

I love your hair down but try an up-do too. I love up-dos, especially for weddings!!