Candice Kelly is the evening news anchor for NBC affiliate, WBRE. She’s also someone I found I have a lot in common with when it comes to our beauty and makeup history. But aside from the makeup, Candice is beautiful because she is a board member of the Earthly Angels Autism Fund of the Luzerne Foundation. As a mom of a child on the Autism spectrum, I appreciate anyone who helps Autistic children and their families (thank you Candice!)

Shannon: At what age did you first start wearing makeup?
Candice: I started to wear makeup when I was about 3 or 4-years-old for dance recitals. But I really didn’t get into it for every day use until I was about 14 (freshman in High School). Although, it was just the basics back then (mascara, lipstick and eyeliner). I REALLY got into it when I became a news anchor, only because I saw how different I looked on TV without it. Now, it’s all about shading and blending. It’s a far cry from the blue shimmer eye shadow I used to just smack on my lids.

Shannon: Do you remember what the very first beauty product that you coveted was?
Candice: Bonnie Bell Lip Smacker, and it still is! Dr. Pepper is my favorite. It gives the perfect amount of color and shine, and it smells great!

Shannon: If you were to walk into the perfume section of a department store at the Viewmont Mall and immediately thought of high school, which fragrance would bring that to mind?
Candice: There are two: Angel by Thierry Mugler and Exclamation by Cody.

Shannon: If you looked in your handbag right now, how many beauty products would there be?
Candice: At least five, only because of what I do for a living (you never know when you will need to go on air.) My Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker, mascara, eyeliner, blush and pressed powder are usually in my purse.

Shannon: What are your 3 must-have beauty products that you absolutely can’t live without?
Candice: Aww, do I have to pick only 3? MAC Mineralize Powder Foundation in Medium, waterproof mascara, MAC blush in Mocha.

I’m always looking for people to spotlight in my Beauty Q & A, so if you know someone, send them my way!

Shannon Nelson

Shannon Nelson launched A Girl's Gotta Spa! in 2005. She currently works with beauty brands as a social media consultant, freelance writes for magazines and is a public speaker at beauty industry conferences.

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This past August I had the chance to meet Ada Polla, the CEO of Alchimie Forever, while at Cosmoprof North America. I have to admit, I was slightly nervous going to meet the head of this natural, Swiss, antioxidant skin care company. But upon learning that we had something in common (she studied and lived in Boston for several years), I felt more at ease. It also helped that she was incredibly nice and not at all stuffy like many CEO’s I come across in my work life (I literally could’ve sat there and talked to her for HOURS.)

As our conversation flowed, I found that Ada (and Alchimie Foever as a whole) believed in several principles that I believe as well. That is: self care through skin care; taking care of yourself as a priority; considering skin care a form of health care; and anti-aging as both a means of prevention and correction. Just like I said in my recent article on Shape.com: it’s OK to take time for yourself no matter how busy you are, in fact, it’s imperative.

We talked at length about how it is so important to make taking care of your skin a priority since it is the canvas for everything else. You certainly wouldn’t need as many “correctors” both in skin care and cosmetics, if you kept a strict skin care regimen each day…not to mention beginning it all at a young age. For example, you wouldn’t need a product to counteract inflammation if you would use products that agreed with your skin type and were less harsh to begin with. I have made the same mistakes myself, often hearing about how great a particular product is without considering if it would be right for my skin, and then paying the price later when my skin reacts either by breaking out, turning red or over-producing oil. Basically, a skin freak out. That’s when you would see me applying concealer, a mattifying powder and whatever else was necessary to cover up my faux pas. Can you relate?

It’s also important to think about what are in our skin care products, as well. We are all very much aware that the toxic load of chemicals in many of our skin care and cosmetics can contribute to cancer. I’m guilty of sometimes loving how an eye shadow (or other makeup ) looks on me without considering the chemicals in it (i.e. Truth in Aging’s recent review of Clinique’s Lid Smoothie.) But I do strive to be more conscious of what goes on my skin, and Alchimie Foever’s products contain all skin nourishing nutrients. I’m currently using their Age Defying Serums and love knowing that I am not only using something healthy on my skin, but that both Diode 1 and 2 are not at all heavy and feel more like water than a serum.

I’d love to hear from you–do you consider skin care a form of self care? Have you used any of Alchimie Forever’s products? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Shannon Nelson

Shannon Nelson launched A Girl's Gotta Spa! in 2005. She currently works with beauty brands as a social media consultant, freelance writes for magazines and is a public speaker at beauty industry conferences.

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Recently I had the great privilege of being asked to speak at Cosmoprof North America. Not regarding my work as a beauty blogger, but on the social media side of things that I do for my day job. While I was there I decided to seek out brands I knew and loved, as well as up and coming brands that I know YOU would want to know about. If you’ve been reading A Girl’s Gotta Spa! forever or are a fan of us on Facebook, then you know I LOVE Zoya Nail Polish (part of the Art of Beauty family.) I’ve met Leo and Michael Reyzis before, but this time I had the opportunity to sit down 1:1 with Zoya herself. WOW. What an honor, not to mention what an amazingly talented and savvy woman she is.

Our conversation began with Zoya asking me what I liked about Zoya Nail Polish. I explained that a brand gets my loyalty when they can deliver a product that actually works. I told her that of all of the nail lacquers I have tried, Zoya Nail Polish has not only lasted the longest, but has an amazing product that I shout from the rooftops about: the Color Lock System. She seemed surprised that my focus was just on functionality and not on the color assortment or the collections themselves. To me, while I feel Zoya really has some great colors and I love the collections, as someone who is constantly sent the next “miracle” product that turns out to be not so much, at the end of the day, how a product performs is what sells me on buying it again, writing about it and telling all of my friends and family about such an awesome product (would you agree?)

I had the opportunity to hear the background of Zoya herself and how her nail care collection came to be. Did you know she is a classical musician? It is because of this training that Zoya Nail Polish has that air of artistic expression. When she came to this country there wasn’t a viable job opportunity as a classical musician, so she began to work at a beauty salon. During that time, hair care with a nail salon is what the trend was…you never found a business that was solely a nail salon without the hair care component.  At the time (1980′s) polishes were made with formaldehyde, and Zoya was pregnant with Leo (pictured with me) and knew there had to be a healthier, toxin-free alternative. Since her husband Michael was a chemist, she asked him to develop what is now today the Zoya Nail Polish formulation. It was then that Zoya opened a nail salon and was told she would never make it. But here she is, and I hope she is saying, “How do you like me now!”

Another way in which Zoya chose to be different is in the manner in which she named her polishes. Her 1st line was named after famous women such as Carmen, Cleopatra, etc. She felt there was only so many ways you can describe a plum or a red, as the other major players in the industry were doing at the time. She wanted women to be able to relate with another strong, intelligent woman because the color of your polish says a lot about you. She had me select colors that I wear, in which I choose many neutral and “safe” colors. She responded, “You live in a conservative area.” She’s right. Then she observed the colors I was wearing on that particular day–my Skagen Denmark watch with a bright orange band and my glistening peridot ring from Leela Bijoux. She said, “You are a generally happy and very positive person. You can see that in the bright colors you wear…and orange also means you have wisdom.” And she’s also right here. Have you thought about the colors you wear and how that projects portions of your personality to how others perceive you?

I was really impressed with Zoya and I left the Art of Beauty booth with a deeper appreciation of female entrepreneurs. And the feeling that maybe I should wear a bolder nail color my next go around.

Shannon Nelson

Shannon Nelson launched A Girl's Gotta Spa! in 2005. She currently works with beauty brands as a social media consultant, freelance writes for magazines and is a public speaker at beauty industry conferences.

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In the middle of all the Fashion Week madness last week, A Girl’s Gotta Spa! took some (much needed) time out to tag along with amazing hairstylist (and Odile Gilbert protege) Rodnei Ferby as he styled the hair of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, Damaris Lewis, for the 2011 issue release party.  Rodnei was requested by Damaris herself and has worked with her  in the past at various shows including Baby Phat (they were both  broadcast all over Times Square on the jumbo-tron for the live feed of the Baby Phat Spring/Summer 2010 show.)

Rodnei arrived (fresh from assisting Odile Gilbert at the Rodarte Show) with the look he wanted to create for Damaris in mind. He wanted a style that was flirty yet sophisticated and since  she is so young he also wanted the hairstyle to be cute and discreet…but she IS a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, so the style had to be flirty and sophisticated as well.  He wanted to show her neck (but not too much of it) as well as frame the magnificent earrings she was wearing that night.

And being as kind as he is talented, Rodnei gave us a step by step on how to achieve the look using products by TRESemmé.

First, he prepped her already blown out hair with TRESemmé Mousse and brushed it through the hair. He then sectioned hair into three parts (left half, and two sections on the right)  and curled all of it it using  a Hot Tool 1 1/2″ curling iron, then pinned each curled section to the scalp and set it with  TRESemmé Ultra Fine Mist. Once the hair was set he removed the pins and finger combed it .  The left side of the hair was swooped around to the right side of the head into a low, tight bun and secured to the nape of the neck with bobby pins.  The back 2/3 of the right side was secured into a low wraparound and the front half of the right side was left loose (so that it would hang and give her some playful movement in her hair.)  He then spiral curled  the loose, hanging section of the hair, smoothed the edges with a rat tail comb and used TRESemmé No-Frizz Ultra-Light Shine Spray to complete the look.

The finished product was effortless, chic, flirty and fun all at the same time.  After it was all over I was more motivated than ever to hit the gym… I too (like an SI model) wanted to be able to request Rodnei Ferby at will, whenever an event demanded amazing hair.

Gail Lewis

Gail is at times a model, most of the time a blogger, but always a beauty junkie.

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It’s almost that time of year again! In just a few short weeks Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week will be upon us once again. As we have in the past, A Girl’s Gotta Spa! will be there to recap beauty trends and try to get you as much behind the scenes info. as possible!

I thought it would be fun to let you in on the inner workings of an expert hairstylist working the shows at fashion week, and who better than my friend Pearson Knight who has recapped trends for us the last few seasons? Pearson works with the Aveda team at some pretty rockin shows. So enjoy some of his backstage photos that he shared with me and hear all of the fun and interesting tidbits of the intense and exciting week that is Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week!

Shannon: When assigned to do hair for runway shows at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, how much notice are you given regarding which designers you’ll be working with?
Pearson: Fashion Week is such a crazy venue, week and experience that it doesn’t surprise me everything is done on the fly. I usually get my schedule for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week just a few weeks prior to the shows. The schedule, teams and times are constantly changing as we get closer to go time! There are some staple shows every season which gives a chance to get to know the designers style more intimately to help produce better results creatively. Although, having new designers on the schedule is always exciting and challenging.

Shannon: How far in advance does the lead hairstylist prep you on the hairstyle for a particular runway show?
Pearson: I have been fortunate to have been the Lead Stylist, Assistant to Lead and Team Member. The prepping of the team is done on the first model that shows up for the show as it starts. No pre-knowledge goes beyond the Lead, Assist and Designer until go time! 

Shannon: How many tests do you go through and is the designer present?
Pearson: I have been on numerous tests with many designers and each one is different. Usually two days before the show, but the designer is almost always very present and involved in the hair testing. Some designers have been very particular on how it should look or an idea for the vision of their show. Other designers have given total room creatively for the ability to drive a look. Some designers have loved the first look done on the test model and others have been a grueling few hours of banging out look after look trying to find that perfect match for their collection. I have also led some shows where the test schedule was canceled and the looks were created on the spot at show time. Got to be ready!

Shannon: Runway shows at fashion week notoriously start late. Has a runway show ever run so far behind that it intersected with another show you needed to be backstage for?
Pearson: I have definitely needed to be at more than one place at a time during fashion week. Somehow with the teams being amazing it always works out even as stressful as it can get in the moment. So much goes into starting on time. The make up prep, hair prep, wardrobe, the run through, the show previous’ holding crowd and models, models being on time, as well as snow storms and traffic. We share 4 hours together to get all that done!

Shannon: Can you describe to the readers a typical day backstage during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week?
Pearson: As soon as production has the space ready and we can enter the backstage we get set up. We typically eat a little of the catered food and meet each other as we wait like hunters for the first model to start the prep frenzy. As soon as the first model arrives the Lead Stylist will do the look as the team gathers around to learn the look. Usually we set up in teams of 2 or 3 stylist per model to get the work done as fast as possible. Everything usually goes smooth as butter for a while as we laugh and enjoy the work. Then production people start yelling for first looks and we have to stop what we are doing and let the models go. You only hope the model finds you so you can finish what is running around backstage half done. The Lead starts to feel the pressure as most of the press starts to file in right about the same time production tells us Marc Jacobs’ show ran late and 7 models will show up 5 minutes before they walk. The press interviews, photographers and camera crews are filling the space as we get cramped while production people are constantly yell how many minutes we have left. If you’re anything like me, you live for the pressure of perfection and precision in the final 20 minutes before show time. It is so intense!

Finally the models head to wardrobe and begins the line up as we run around doing last minute touch ups as they get dressed and line up. The Lead is right up front typically with the designer being the last to overlook the creation before it hits the runway. The 3 hours of prep is done and the show starts. There is an energy backstage that is indescribable the whole time, but especially right when it ends. Live it, love it!

Shannon: Of all of the designers you have worked with, who has been the most creative when it comes to hair and why?
Pearson: This is a tough question because some designers are more aggressive and some more elegant, but hands down my favorite show is Rodarte every season. The sisters are so creative and make sure the runway, make up and hair are just as amazing as their collection. It is always so fresh!

Shannon: Who is one designer that you have not yet worked with, but would like to?
Pearson: Although I unfortunately will not be able to meet him, I would love to work for Alexander McQueen. My favorite. He is brilliant for so many reasons.

Shannon: You always give A Girl’s Gotta Spa! readers a great hair trends recap each season, this time we’d love a prediction! What do you predict the look will be for AW11/12?
Pearson: I predict for Fall/Winter 2011/2012 we will continue to see a lot of texture in hair. The trend of wave, curl and natural texture in daily wear is still on the rise. The blend of 40′s styling with 80′s texture and size was great, but we will move more towards modern appeal all the way. This runway season will be a mix of hair being styled up creatively with big texture and some naturally down staying soft. Looking forward to a great season.

Be sure to follow Pearson Knight on Twitter: @1Pearson1

Like him on Facebook: Facebook.com/PKHair
Check out his website: www.PKHair.com

To keep up with all of our fashion week ramblings like us and follow us, as well!
Facebook: A Girl’s Gotta Spa!
Twitter: @AGirlsGottaSpa @ShannonNelson and @GailSLewis

Shannon Nelson

Shannon Nelson launched A Girl's Gotta Spa! in 2005. She currently works with beauty brands as a social media consultant, freelance writes for magazines and is a public speaker at beauty industry conferences.

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I think we can all clearly say that celebrity hairstylist, Nick Arrojo, had us at hello back when he was on TLC’s What Not to Wear. I was always mesmerized by the way Nick could turn the ordinary into something extraordinary. Then one day in March of 2009, me and my 22 inches of hair decided to visit him in his New York City salon. It was quite an experience of a lifetime. Nick has a lot going on these days; a book, a product line, his salon, his academy and his new co-branded effort with Giella for custom-made cosmetics.

Shannon: Your passion for the hair industry is so apparent in all that you do from your newsletter to your salon to your academy; what drives you to educate and create innovation among salon professionals?

Nick Arrojo: I love the business that I’m in; my work is a labor of love. And I’m very fortunate to have such a varied, rewarding and successful career. This gives me a sense of duty to use my knowledge, experience and skill to raise standards in the whole hairdressing craft. It’s also something that has been instilled in me from my early days in the industry. I’ve worked for top-notch companies like Vidal Sassoon, Wella, and Bumble and Bumble. At all these places the commitment to education and excellence is strong, and this helped me see that the best chance of success for you and those around you is to continue to grow, innovate, inspire and improve. I take ownership of what I do for the benefit myself, my business, and those around me. And if I do that, it means I’m contributing to a stronger, more dynamic hairdressing industry, which is exactly what I want to do. 

Shannon: Which do you prefer, styling hair for celebrities or styling hair on the everyday person?

Nick Arrojo: I get asked this all the time and the only answer is there is no answer. I don’t prefer everyday people or celebrities. To me every client is as important as the last, and the next. Whoever the person in my chair may be, my goal is to do the right thing for the individual––make them feel special, and make them look their sensational best.

Shannon: In your book, “Great Hair,” you say you can tell someone’s texture and hair shape in 30 seconds. Do you often find when you are out and about in New York City that you are sizing up everyone’s hair and thinking up their perfect style and cut?

Nick Arrojo: No. In the book I was talking about when a client first sits in my chair and I’m assessing their hair so I can understand how to achieve the best style for them. But when I leave work I’m good at switching off and not worrying too much about the hair of people around me. I don’t feel it necessary or appropriate for me to give advice to every head of hair; but if a person asks my advice, be it in the salon or on the street, I’m happy to help. Otherwise the only time I give a style a close inspection is when I see something that looks really creative, new, innovative or different (in a good way). In New York City you do see some fantastic hairstyles walking around the streets, and I like to use this as inspiration for my own new ideas.

Shannon: What do you feel is one of the biggest myths about hair care and why do you think people still believe it?

Nick Arrojo: There’s quite a few and they do make me laugh. I’ll give you two of my favorites, which are closely related. First: Hair grows faster if you trim it. I’m sure this myth is born out of the idea that trimming ends makes your hair look healthier. True, because you’re cutting off all those nasty split ends, but hair grows at the same rate no matter how often you cut or trim it. Second: The notion cutting your hair short makes it look thicker. No, cutting hair short gives the illusion of thickness. When hair is on the longer side, the extra weight pulls it down, making it appear fine and thin. Conversely, when cut short, hair lies on top of each other and with it comes the illusion of thicker hair. For anyone conscious of fine or thinning hair, a shorter style might be just the ticket.

Shannon: What’s next for you; new products, working on your cosmetology school?

Nick Arrojo: Yes, I want to continue to grow and improve all the elements of my business: the salon, the advanced education academy, the cosmetology school, and the product company. My commitment to education is a huge part of my business. We’re already booked for major hair and beauty trade shows in 2011 and we’re hosting our own hair show called ARROJO Expo this month. It’s the first time we’ve done an event on this large of a scale; we’re looking forward to welcoming 300 hairdressers and salon owners from across the country to our salon in downtown NYC. It’s going to be a weekend full of education, inspiration and if you know hairdressers, a lot of fun. Basically my plate is full, just the way I like it.

Places you can find Nick Arrojo:

www.arrojostudio.com
www.arrojoproduct.com
www.arrojoeducation.com
www.arrojocosmetology.com
@ARROJO

(And yes! That is me with Nick in 2009!) If you are interested in seeing my transformation checkout my makeover with Nick Arrojo.)

Shannon Nelson

Shannon Nelson launched A Girl's Gotta Spa! in 2005. She currently works with beauty brands as a social media consultant, freelance writes for magazines and is a public speaker at beauty industry conferences.

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As beauty addicts, we often want to know how to duplicate a celebrity’s hair style (Jennifer Aniston anyone?) or rush out to buy the lipstick Scarlett Johansson wore on the red carpet. But what about their nails? Surely there’s got to be a well skilled manicurist behind the scenes making sure those hands and nails look as well groomed as the rest of their appearance! Naturally there is, and I was able to track down very busy celebrity manicurist, Jenna Hipp, who has not only worked with some of the best in the business, she is also passionate about using nail lacquers and treatments that are green.

Shannon: Everyone who focuses on a particular niche in beauty seems to have had that one moment in their lives that evoked that passion. Can you recall the moment you knew you wanted to be a manicurist and more specifically one that focused on green nail lacquers and treatments?

Jenna Hipp: Five years ago, I personally experienced formaldehyde poisoning (while on a job!) from breathing in and overexposure to nail polish. As soon as I got home, I began researching alternative, high-quality polish options that would still meet the expectations of my clientele. This is how I discovered SpaRitual and ORLY, both free of harmful chemicals, while also being mindful of the environment, thus beginning my passion for spreading the word.

Shannon: What is the one mistake you find women make when it comes to their nails?

Jenna Hipp: French Pedicures! (I know so many women are gasping for air right now!) But seriously, do you really want to pay good money to give the illusion of grown out toenails? Just say no! Also, not using a base coat is a big mistake a lot of women make. Base coats not only give the polish a tough foundation for staying power, but they also protect nails from being stained by the lacquer and create a guide for the nail polish so it can glide on and grip to the nail much easier. Be sure to use nourishing base coats free of DBP and other harsh chemicals as it absorbs into your body.

Shannon: You recently said that applying a lacquer that complements your skin tone is just as important as matching the right foundation. Are there colors in general that don’t look good on any skin tone; and which colors are universally appealing on every skin tone?

Jenna Hipp: Just like eye shadow or lipstick, you should choose the right nail polish to complement your skin’s natural undertones. The right lacquer color can elongate the fingers and beautifully enhance the entire appearance of your hands and feet. But be careful! Accidently painting the wrong color could cause an effect that’s, um, not so flattering.

If you have fair skin like Winona Ryder or Kirsten Dunst, try neutrals with pink or blue undertones, tawny and beige’s with a white base, and coraly reds if you like an extra pop.

Medium skin like Jessica Alba and Vanessa Hudgens should wear toffee beiges with warm undertones, plums, berries, and coppery cinnamon with gold undertones.

A dark skin tone such as Halle Berry, Rhianna and Beyonce can get away with more color options than the rest of us. Consider coffees, and shimmerless bronze as a neutral. Plum and mauve will always be a safe bet, but choose a cherry red sometime, just for fun.

Because there are so many colors out there, choosing a color for your skin tone can be a little intimidating. I suggest bringing in your favorite lipstick, eye shadow, and/or blush and choose a nail lacquer that blends in with the same family of colors as your makeup.

ORLY’s Enchanted Forest is my absolute favorite color right now. I’ve used it on all skin tones and have yet to be disappointed. Black, of course, looks great on everyone and is still the only color you can get away with wearing a little bit chipped.

To add depth to any color, just use black as the first coat of a lacquer layer. For example, I layered one coat of black and topped it with “Enchanted Forest” on a shoot with Anna Paquin from “True Blood.” The final color was much deeper and darker than the original and can be described as “black with a hint of green.” Not only did she love the final color, it set the perfect tone for her outfit and accessories.

Ultimately, the rule to remember when it comes to color – you don’t have to follow any rules! The most important thing is to get out there and paint with a color outside your norm. You’ll never know unless you try!

Shannon: You have worked with a lot of celebrities, is there any one in particular that stands out that you have enjoyed working with? Can you tell us a little bit about your experience working with her (or him)?

Jenna Hipp: I actually get most star-struck by photographers and hair and makeup artists sometimes because I admire their talent so much! To answer your question though, Jessica Alba and Fergie are so awesome. They were some of my very first celebrity clients and they’ve been hiring me ever since. I owe them a lot because by requesting me on jobs, they opened up a lot of doors for me in the industry.

Shannon: Do you have any collaborations or projects you are currently working on (or coming up)?

Jenna Hipp: I have a little something in my back pocket right now, but that’s top secret and will have to be continued! You didn’t ask me this but, I would love to work with Dolly Parton. Actually, I would probably faint. She’s my all time favorite and how she can play guitar with those nails, I’ll never know! Unless, of course, I meet her someday. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

You can check out Jenna’s portfolio online at www.JennaHipp.com.

Shannon Nelson

Shannon Nelson launched A Girl's Gotta Spa! in 2005. She currently works with beauty brands as a social media consultant, freelance writes for magazines and is a public speaker at beauty industry conferences.

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My week at Fashion Week started out with a bang! First was the largest fashion show ever, Fashion’s Night Out, and then the new location for the tents. I think moving the tents from Bryant Park to Lincoln Center threw everyone off a bit, but I thought it was a cool area with total upgraded work space. I was immediately thrown into a 12 hour day with 3 hours sleep on day 1. I had the pleasure of styling Maggie Grace’s hair so that she could attend Christian Siriano’s show. When I saw the Christian Siriano dress she had chosen to wear, I decided on a “lived in-last night’s upstyle” with some pieces falling out to framed her up. What can I say she is as sweet as she is beautiful. I enjoyed my time with her.

One of the many great shows was Jason Wu. I always enjoy working his shows with everyone. He seems to usually book some of my favorite friends like Joan Smalls and Aline Weber. I think he is extremely talented and I really like his collections. We threw in a side part and brought everything to the back where pieces of fabric from his collection were twisted and braided into four sections. We then loosely brought them under themselves and pinned, creating a soft, clean look with unique elegance. It was a great show.

Milk Studios is so fresh and that’s where Suno was held. The hair was fun with a mixture of sleek and dry texture. We set the hair with Aveda Control Force and irons. We then built the back shape by twisting and looping sections back and forth pinning them on top of each other. The sides we brought back tight then secured in the back with Aveda’s Retexturing Gel giving a wet sleek appearance with shine. Finally we loosely placed the top up and back in an “S” pattern with a rockabilly feel giving the look a lot of playfulness, like the collection, which I was into. This show was a lot of fun!

Last but not least, everybody knows I love Rodarte! We started the show back in the original space I first worked with them many seasons back, which was cool. They are so innovative and unique. I look forward to the girls every season! The hair was simple, but very effective. We blew the hair out first with Aveda’s Air Control to give a bit of texture and volume. Then with a deep side part and a draped loose bang we secured it with very interesting barrettes. The collection’s pattern and hair gave off a strong beautiful 70′s look. The girls know stuff…so watch out, 70′s maybe the new black!

I have exciting news about putting 100% of my energy into PKHair.com. To start, I will be focused on Editorial, Runway, Inspiration, and International Salon Consulting. This is just a teaser…because kids ain’t ready for this! Keep up with me on Twitter @1Pearson1 or on Facebook.com/pkhair for more detailed updates!

Once again thank you to A Girls Gotta Spa!, all the designers, models, friends, photographers, press, Aveda, PR, Production, Hair and Makeup, and New York City for another great season. I always have a good time, thank you for letting me be a part of it!

Photos (c) Pearson Knight.

Shannon Nelson

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(Left to right: Mary Palmieri (HBA Honest Beauty blog), Shannon Nelson (A Girl’s Gotta Spa!), Nadine Jolie (NadineJolie.com) and Lianne Farbes (TheMakeupGirl)

Do you know what I love just as much as beauty blogging? Speaking to beauty brands and marketers about beauty blogging.  And I did just that alongside fellow beauty bloggers Nadine Jolie and Lianne Farbes moderated by Mary Palmieri of Honest Beauty last week at the HBA Global Expo. It was a great Q & A panel about 90 minutes long where we spoke about our relationship with you, our readers; how we decide what to write about, how to send us information to consider, as well as starting a blog from scratch.

Below are some pictures…I even included some I thought I was making funny faces in. And as for the above picture, yes I am aware of how very short I am. :/ 

At this point in the panel a photographer was walking up the aisle. I literally stopped what I was talking about and said, “Oh wait, he wants to take my picture,” and proceeded to smile. Lianne got a kick out of that. Additionally, when CEO, Ron Robinson from BeautyStat entered the room, I also interrupted myself by saying, “Oh hey Ron!” causing the whole room to turn around and look at him. That’s just how I roll. ha.

I love this picture because it captures me really getting into what I am talking about. I am so passionate about beauty blogging and social media. I feel blessed to be in the position to educate beauty brands on the topic.

I laugh when I look at this picture. I don’t recall what was being said, but obviously Lianne and I were like, “Umm, no.”

Taking questions in the social media lounge. At my table were ladies from Merle Norman and mySkin.

If you read A Girl’s Gotta Spa! and happened to be in the audience of the panel, please leave a comment and say hello!

What’s next for me? Speaking at Cosmoprof North America in 2011. (Go me!)

Shannon Nelson

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I had the fantastic opportunity to meet up with Tiffani Thiessen during New York fashion week to discuss the importance of good oral hygiene. (Oh Shannon–I got Tiffani to say “A Girl’s Gotta Spa!” You’re welcome!)

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Nando

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