It’s time to start decking the halls— and decking yourself for all the holiday parties in the coming month. Here, genius hair and makeup tips from Lindsay Watts, cosmetology expert and teacher at Empire Beauty Schools that’ll leave you dazzling, stat.
What’s the easiest hairstyle to whip together for a holiday party?
Keep six to eight bobby pins on hand in your desk— you can do almost anything with this little handful of lifesavers. Twist a quick messy bun at the back of your head, secure with the pins, and you have a perfect up-do that looks effortless but flattering. To make it a little more interesting, do the same technique, but pull the hair to the side of your head, sweeping strands to one side in the front: stunning!
What’s the hot party nail look this season?
There are so many great nail trends right now. I always love red nails for holiday and crimson is a great color for long-lasting gel manicures, which are super high-shine. Some nail technicians are actually rubbing grit buffers over these shades for a more matte look. These manicures will take you right through the whole holiday season, and with all the extra things on your to-do list, there’s no better time to have a manicure that you can forget about for two weeks.
What’s the best way to avoid looking like a Christmas ornament when wearing festive shimmery makeup?
Limit shimmer to the spots that light would naturally hit: Just the top of cheekbones, underneath the eyebrows, on the brow bone and along the collarbone. I like creams more than powders; they’re more workable and you can use a bit of moisturizer to even them out if you overdo it.
Are there any no-fuss universal shades that anyone can wear?
Pewter is a big shade right now. It’s a smokier hue almost anyone can wear and is perfect for a more made-up evening look. As far as smoky shades go, pewter is one of the more foolproof options out there: Just be sure to blend well!
What salon services do you recommend as prep for party season?
Nothing makes a bigger difference in your overall look than fresh hair color. It’s no coincidence that hair color is one of the biggest beauty mood boosters around! But also think about going into the salon and getting a deep conditioning treatment. Do this before the holidays and your hair will be more manageable all season long.
For more ways to shine for the season, check out our Glisten Up feature on pages 54 to 58 of FITNESS’ November/December issue: It’s chock-full of get-gleaming tricks for your skin, eyes and nails.
By Jaclyn Smock, beauty intern for FitnessMagazine.com
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