Sunday, January 27, 2013

WHY is MOROCCANOIL so popular?

So WHY is MOROCCANOIL so popular???

I get asked this question a lot on a daily basis and I love educating my guests behind the chair, so I thought  would share with you as well!!!

Argan oil is regarded as a natural miracle for restoring hair and keeping the cuticle moisturized. Unlike synthetic oils, Argan is extracted naturally from crushed Argan fruit kernels.


BeautyByElla will share with you all the benefits of this great product:

1. MOISTURIZES hair and REDUCES FRIZZ: comparable to coconut oil and olive oil for its moisturizing properties. Unlike other oils, Argan extracts don’t just temporarily mask dryness. The kernels contain vitamin E to restore each strand of hair and keep it moisturized long after use. At the same time, Argan oil helps to naturally restore the hair cuticle. This is made possible by the natural presence of antioxidants that directly reverse cellular damage. Especially beneficial for women with naturally dry or coarse hair, color-treated hair, and African-American hair types, cuts down the frizz, breakage and damage from hot irons!

2. Increases HAIR SHINE: Spray Moroccan oil onto your hair for shine instead of product that leave build up. Not only will hair look beautiful and shiny, but it will also feel very soft due to the added moisture!

3. Offers Healthy VITAMINS and UV Ray PROTECTION: Argan Oil, vitamins A, E and F (Omega 6) and phenols are some of the nutrients which are found in Argan oil. This beneficial oil will correct any damage due to sun exposure and also help protect the hair from further sun damage for those sunny days!

4. Cuts the BLOW DRYING Time in half! As the oil penetrates into the hair it repels the moisture out! plus it protects it from moisture to re-enter the hair shaft (more frizz prevention)!

I love the luxurious scent of Moroccanoil. Every product I tried in this line from the Shampoo to the Hydrating Styling cream is infused with the  ARGAN OIL and is incredible!

WORD OF CAUTION: Moroccanoil comes in a glass bottle to prevent the tiny Argan molecules to evaporate or escape through the bottle...beware of cheap imitations in plastic bottles, only the purest oil will have these benefits!!

No Wonder it is such a HOT product!!! I LOVE it! Try the skin line as well, it's AMAZING!
Come and see me at KoKo the Salon to get the one and only ORIGINAL Moroccan Oil!

 Be Fabulous,

Ella


Personal beauty, Makeup, Fashion trends, Hair, Style & Glamour like celebrities.




Wednesday, January 9, 2013

I Think I Do


Hello my beautiful friends,

I am super thrilled to share this with you, the film I worked on this past year has been released on W Network and Lifetime, it is called "I Think I Do" and it is a wonderful love story written by the talented Jenny Cooper and directed by the super fabulous Dylan Pearce!

Make sure you check your TV and PVR the show so you can watch it with a loved one, it's a lovely way of spending the evening!

Click on the link for a sneak peak:  I Think I Do





I did hairstyles for many of the wonderful actors, including the lovely Sarah Canning (Audrey), James J. Thomas (Jim) Andrew McKenzie (Zach) and many more in this talented cast.

I really hope you enjoy the movie as much as I enjoyed being a part of it! XOXO

Be Fabulous,

Ella


Personal beauty, Makeup, Fashion trends, Hair, Style & Glamour like celebrities.





Lipstick Personality

Hello my beautiful friends,

found this picture online and I thought it was super cute!

Which one is you??
Isn't it interesting how differently everyone shapes their lipstick...I am guilty of taking a peek every time someone pulls out their tube!

Mine is Flat Top! and my favorite lipsticks are Make Up For Ever, with NARS gloss on it: toss between "Orgasm" and "Turkish Delight".

Hope everyone had a fantastic beginning to 2013! I started my year with learning the ancient art of Shiatsu Massage, which I apply to scalp massages for my guests at Koko the Salon.

Have a fabulous year my friends and do something everyday (big or small) to move you forward in your goals and resolutions. Much Love XOXO

 Be Fabulous,

Ella


Personal beauty, Makeup, Fashion trends, Style & Glamour like celebrities.


Sunday, September 30, 2012

Hollywood showcase for Fashion Week

Hello my gorgeous friends,

I have had quite the crazy Summer, full of fun projects and amazing clients. 
Some pretty amazing news just a couple of days ago, I was informed that the make-up I did for the talented stylist and Master colorist Alann Sluser has helped her get to the Hair styling Contessa Award semi finalist in 3 categories! I have my fingers crossed for her win! Pictures are still top secret until the judges release them...stay tuned for a future blog when I will surely post the fabulous images.

Very recently I also showed a hair design collection at Western Canada Fashion week and I was thrilled to win the showcase! 

I am planning an amazing show for the Spring/Summer Fashion Week as well, so stay tuned for more pictures!

 Be Fabulous,

Ella


Personal beauty, Makeup, Fashion trends, Hair, Style & Glamour like celebrities.


Saturday, July 28, 2012

It's Not Really About the Hair!!

Hello gorgeous,

Oh I had so my fun at the latest hair trade show! I learned a ton, got to model and work for an amazing company called Brocato...and I shopped until I dropped!
I love hair and make-up trade shows, they are one of my favorite perks of my job!
If you have never been to one, it is a great fair for the industry: usually held at a big venue, like an expo center; there are all kinds of vendors and companies doing demos. The shopping is amazing because everything is discounted and show prices, which are almost 1/2 off...chin chin ;)

At past make-up trade shows (IMATS) I had the wonderful opportunity to meet some industry giants like Kevin James Bennett, Eve Pearl, Dana Nye, Steve Johnson and many many more...while at hair shows I got to meet and rub shoulders with some great artist, which brings to my fun question..."guess who I met???"
Well, it was none other than the amazing Tabatha Coffey!!!! She came to the latest hair trade show to talk about her book "It's Not Really About the Hair" and then proceeded to meet her fans and sign books.
Her book is amazing, not for the shy for sure, as it is very colorful, however she brings the point across very directly and clearly. Barely talks about hair, like the title implies, it's more of a memoir into the events that shaped her life and career.  I loved the book, it was like having an intimate conversation with Tabatha.
Personally she is a very warm and kind woman, who's not afraid to tell it like it is! My kinda gal...may I add!

Lately I have met way too many posers, wannabes and people on a power trip, who are all talk and no walk...it is so refreshing to meet a woman or B.I.T.C.H. (Brave, Intelligent,Tenacious, Creative and Honest) like she calls herself, who is not scared of hard work and being real! I recommend this book to everyone, it's very empowering! I got my autographed copy that I will treasure for many years.

Be Fabulous,

Ella


Personal beauty, Makeup, Fashion trends, Style & Glamour like celebrities.


Friday, November 11, 2011

Perfect Eyebrows

Hello gorgeous,

During my last Make-up class, it occurred to me that many people don't know how important eyebrows are in framing the face and the eyes.
Many people take shaping eyebrows into their own hands and that's when the HORROR begins!!!
I am not kidding, very few people really know how to properly shape their brows, and need serious make-overs.
If you fall in one of these categories, leave your brows alone until they grow back to their original length and shape (I know it's "painful" to go around with un-kept brows, but it's a necessary step to fix the problem). Next, follow the "fix it" steps below.
NOTE: Stop the "bad" shaping as soon as possible; brows are among the few of our body hair than if removed long enough, it will stop growing!
And if you think any of these looks are ok, ask yourself a simple question: "which classy lady, or celebrity or beauty queen have I ever seen with THIS look?"
Trust me, they are not pretty, and if anyone tells you otherwise, they are either lying or trying to sell you the service (like tattoos)!
Remember fashion dictates brow shapes too, the 1970s had super thin brows in fashion, while the 1980s had the Brooke Shield's thick unkempt brows! I suggest you stick with the shape that suits your face the most, or follow fashion without changing your shape permanently.

Let's discuss the first NO-NO in eyebrow shaping:

Shaving eyebrows and drawing them in! The horror!!!

FIX IT: If you are among the fortunate ones who have big bushy eyebrows, figure out your most flattering shape first and draw it on the eyebrows with a white eye pencil; brush hair up (on the first inner half of the brows) and brush down (on the second outer half), then cut (Not shave) the excess length; after, with tweezers (or wax) remove the hair outside the shape you drew. It is important to draw the brow shape first, if we start tweezing without a shape, we risk to take too much off or have un-even eyebrows, making one too thin or too short.

Very small brows or lighter hair brows get Tattooed in! I am a fan of body tattooes but tattooed make-up is just AWFUL!!

FIX IT: Tattooed brows are usually tattooed in black ink, which with time will turn blue! The eyebrows are usually tattooed too strong and too angular...in short, they look like a cartoon drawing and un-natural! Unfortunately if you have already tattooed your brows, since it's a permanent decision, there is not much you can do to remove it! however, going over the shape with a brown eyeshadow and an angle brush, you can soften the look and make it more "natural".
If you haven't tattooed them yet, but want to fix a small or light eyebrow, you can fill it in with eyeshadow powder and achieve your favorite shape. The great thing about filling in eyebrows with make-up is that you can try different shapes or thickness and if you don't like it, you can wash it off!!
Black eyebrows should be colored with a brown eyeshadow and blond eyebrows with a green-grey eyeshadow (Sage or Safari, are some of the common names for these eyeshadows).
If the hair is too light and you want a more semi-permanent solution, you can color your hair with eyebrow dyes, which is a service most aestheticians perform in 10 min. or less!

Tadpole or Comma eyebrows are very common shapes. I find most people with bad brows fall in this category, and it's very common among young people. The problem is that people take too much off the entire length of the eyebrow, leaving a "ball" of hair close to the inner corner of the eyes.

FIX IT: Let your hair grow back first, then with a white eye pencil draw two parallel lines up to the point of the arch, and down towards the temples, slowly tapering into a point. When you are happy with the shape, take off with tweezers or wax strips the excess hair at the top and bottom of the brows. Follow the diagram to figure out where to start the brow, how long it should be and where to place the arch (the highest point of the eyebrow). Remember, if some hair within the desired shape is too long, don't pull it, just brush it up and then cut off the excess.

Another word of caution: when deciding how angled the eyebrows should be, keep in mind your face shape. If you have strong jaw lines and a square face shape, keep the arch low, almost circular (the opposite of your face shape). If the face is round, keep the angle high and more defined. Keep in mind the eye closeness as well. Close set eyes look better with eyebrows that start further apart, while wide set eyes look better with brows who are closer together.

Draw on different shapes before you decide which shape would look better, or visit a high quality aesthetician to help you decide...then keep up the shape.

Please, don't feel insulted by my comments, we have all been there! Eyebrow shapes are the hardest beauty step to figure out at first but make a huge difference in a look...as a matter of fact, go check out "before they were famous" celebrities pictures and the "after" looks, you can tell what a huge impact eyebrows have in their current looks.


Be Fabulous,

Ella


Personal beauty, Makeup, Fashion trends, Style & Glamour like celebrities.

Friday, September 16, 2011

More Published Work











Here is the link to "Stray" the Australian Magazine
http://stray-mag.com/post/10270841789/amandadiaz

The model is the lovely Courtney from Mode Models International and the talented photographer is Amanda Diaz. I did her hair and Make-up, wanted to channel a 1980s supermodel.
Hope you enjoy the images as much as I enjoy Making-up this beautiful girl!!

Be Fabulous,

Ella


Personal beauty, Makeup, Fashion trends, Style & Glamour like celebrities.