For a stress-free day, choose the right wedding hair and makeup artists

Our goal is to make sure that every bride’s wedding day is stress free, enjoyable, and memorable for all the right reasons. Choosing the right wedding hair and makeup artists is a crucial part of that, so we loved hearing this feedback from our bride Allison:

“Working with Once Upon a Bride was one of the best decisions I made for my wedding. I worked with Karen and Angela. They were amazing! Karen and Angela made me and my family look absolutely beautiful. They both are extremely talented. Each of them was able to accommodate anything for everyone’s hair and make-up. They made the whole day go smoothly, which put me at ease. Karen and Angela made the day fun, exciting, and entertaining. I look back at my pictures and am so happy with my entire look! I felt absolutely gorgeous!”

And we agree that Allison looked absolutely gorgeous! Karen and Angela both used their favorite products to achieve Allison’s look. Using Nars, Mac, and Laura Mercier, Karen achieved a glowing, natural look that highlighted Allison’s amazing eyes. Angela used Oribe and Phyto products and set Allison’s hair using a wand to create her chic, long-lasting updo.

Allison’s gown was by Lazaro, her shoes were by Kate Spade, and the wedding was celebrated at the grand, historic Oheka Castle, on Long Island. Ronnie from Giovanni Photographic Artist was the wedding photographer.

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Bridal hairstyles for long hair: the red carpet look

Looking for bridal hairstyles for long hair? The glamorous side-swept red carpet style is a great alternative to leaving your hair down. My bride Kristi looked stunning when I styled her golden hair off to the side, using all luxurious Oribe products, for her wedding to Brett at Liberty House in Jersey City.

And in true red carpet fashion, Kristi walked down the aisle in stunning blue Manolo Blahnik sandals. “Brett and I went to Barcelona last spring and he bought the shoes for me there as a surprise because he saw me eyeing them through a local store window all week,” says Kristi. “They ended up being my something blue!”

Photographer:  Hechler Photographers

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July discounts, specials, and news

We love July, as our summer brides get ready to walk down the aisle. And at Once Upon A Bride’s home base, Loft 26 salon, we’re also busy getting girls ready for all the parties and events going on around the city.

Learn to style your hair like a pro

If you’re about to head off on vacation or your honeymoon and wish that you could re-create all your favorite hair styles even when you are far from your salon, Stacey is available for private one-on-one sessions. Whether you want to learn how to create your favorite celebrity style, do the perfect blowdry, achieve beachy waves, or do a quick but professional-looking updo for a night out, Stacey or Angela will break it down into simple steps for you. Learn which products are best for your hair type, and which tools to use and why. Each session is 1 hour long, personalized according to what you want to learn, and takes place at Loft 26 salon. Leave with a goody bag of products, notes, and step-by-step photos of the lesson.

Stacey: $100 for 1-hour lesson
Angela: $75 for 1-hour lesson

Featured Product: Rough Luxury Soft Molding Paste by Oribe

Oribe products are flying off our shelves this summer. Many of you are popping in just to get Oribe at 10% off, and it’s always a pleasure to see you. Keep coming in and enjoying the free samples with products! This month we’re offering a 10% discount on the ultra-pliable molding paste Rough Luxury. It smoothly slips through hair before taking hold for definition, texture, and shine, lending a soft touch to short cuts and long layers alike.

July Special: $20 discount

Hope you had an awesome July 4th! We’ve declared the rest of the month a celebration, too, by offering  $20 off your next visit to Stacey’s salon, Loft 26. Just mention “JULY SPECIAL” when you book. Call 212.414.2626.

Stacey’s News

Hot new social media site Archetype Me featured Stacey’s advice on the latest hair and makeup trends and tips for brides, wedding parties, and guests. For all the site’s “Fashionistas,” Stacey shared the lowdown on the big bridal look of the moment, braids, retro glamour à la The Great Gatsby, the latest in hair accessories, and the hair styling essentials you simply must have in your evening bag this summer. Check it out at Archetype Me.

Happy Hour

Summer has really only just begun, and Happy Hour is still going strong. Come get a sexy blowout or have gorgeous makeup done for your night out. Bring a friend and sip Skinnygirl cocktails while our professional hair and makeup artists pamper you.

July through August, Tuesday to Friday
4pm to 7pm
Price for each service: $40

Romantic bridal style: Ashley and Zach’s South Carolina wedding

Our bride Ashley chose a classic, romantic bridal look for her wedding at the elegant Sanctuary hotel at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Her gown was amazing, with a lace bodice and skirt with flowing, frothy ruching. A soft, romantic updo was the perfect choice to complement the dress and her veil.

A pearl brooch at the back of her hair teamed beautifully with her pearl bridal jewelry and the light, creamy tones of her bouquet.

On this October weekend at the South Carolina seashore, I knew humidity was likely to be an issue. So I went prepared with all my luxe Oribe products, especially the anti-humidity hair spray Imperméable, which prevents frizz in even the sultriest weather.

Ashley’s makeup artist was Veronica — you might know her better as “Rara” on “Bethenny Ever After,” as we work together as Bethenny’s hair and makeup stylists. Veronica went with a clean, fresh palette and light pink lip for Ashley, with a smokey eye for a bit of drama.

 

 

Bridal hair trends, tips, and tricks: Stacey’s expert advice to Oribe

Because it’s so important that a bride’s hair is in perfect condition on her wedding day, we use Oribe luxury haircare products. Our stylists swear by Oribe’s line of conditioning gels, oils and sprays that hold, and skincare-grade shampoos are all lightly scented with specially commissioned French perfumes.

So we are honored that when Oribe wanted to find out the latest bridal hair trends and tips, they called upon Stacey. Now we’re letting you in on their Q&A session. Find out what to watch for in the coming seasons, and how to get your hair in gorgeous condition for the day you walk down the aisle . . .

What are some of the top bridal hair trends for summer 2013?

Braids are still really in, with fishtails being the most popular. Brides are opting for side parts over center parts and hair that’s clean, youthful, and smooth. We’re also seeing a lot of sleek updos that lie low on the nape and don’t have as much texture as in previous seasons.

How do you determine what style to do on a bride?

I first get to know her personal style—what she wears as an everyday look and what she does for the weekend. You don’t want to stray too far from who she is. I then look at the dress and figure out something that matches both the style of the gown and the bride’s personality.

What do you do if a bride asks for a look that you don’t think will work for her?

A style can look completely different depending on the person’s face shape, hair color, texture and more, so what works on a celebrity or a friend may not work for you. I ask my clients to only bring in pictures of people with at least their same texture and hair color. If they bring in options that won’t work, I try to present similar styles that I think would complement them and their dress.

What styles work best for various dresses?

If the dress has a high neck, hair should be up or off to the side. I suggest a low ponytail, chignon, or side braid. For a sweetheart neckline, I like to see the hair down to minimize the amount of skin showing–too much skin can distract from the beauty of the dress. When a dress has an asymmetrical top, it’s important to maintain balance. Contrary to what you may think, you want to style the hair on the side that has the strap or the most weight so that you don’t confuse the eye and force it to choose where to look.

How can brides inject some personality into a more traditional look?

Accessories can really help add a bit of the bride into the hair. Flowers or something meaningful like an antique brooch can add a special, symbolic touch.

What about bridesmaid hair? How can the bridal party’s style complement the bride’s?

The bride’s hair should dictate her bridesmaids’ styles. I like for everyone to have a similar vibe but with slight variations. For example, if everyone is wearing their hair half up, you can modify the look with braids, twists, and more.

What are some of your tricks for keeping hair in place from the walk down the aisle to the last dance?

First of all, brides should always arrive with day-old hair; styles stay in better when the hair has some oil, and overly washed hair can be slippery. If a bride’s hair is too silky, the stylist should use Dry Texturizing Spray to add some texture and cut the gloss. It makes it much easier to work with the hair and helps secure pins.

How can brides prevent helmet head from too much hairspray?

Everything should be done in prepping the style so that the hairdresser doesn’t have to “shellac” it at the end. Using the right products and tools while prepping the hair is essential to getting a style that looks natural and stays in all night. You should only need a light misting of hairspray at the end.

How can brides prep their hair for the big day?

I give the bride shampoo and conditioner samples at our initial meeting and encourage her to use quality products to get her hair into great shape for the wedding. If the bride needs cut and color services, I recommend doing those two weeks beforehand—that allows time for any necessary fixes and gives you time to re-book if your stylist or colorist happens to get sick and cancel your appointment.

How can brides prep for bad weather?

Always go into your wedding day with two options that you love—one for good weather and one for bad. A lot of girls will go for something slicked back out of fear that it will be humid and their hair will frizz, but it may not necessarily be the style they’ve been dreaming of. Make sure your stylist knows both.

How can brides touch up their hair throughout the night?

If hair starts to fall out or fall flat, have a few products handy to refresh your style. I like to give my clients Oribe purse-size sprays for touch-ups.

Discounts, specials and news from the salon

It’s important to look after your hair (and relax and have some fun!) in the months leading up to your wedding. Once Upon A Bride is located at Loft 26, Stacey Weinstein’s very cool salon in Chelsea, which is running some even cooler special offers during May. Come on in and let us take care of your locks so they are in perfect condition on your wedding day.

Happy Hours
Join us for Happy Hour and get a sexy blowout or have gorgeous makeup done for a night out. Bring a friend and sip Skinnygirl cocktails while being beautified by our professional hair and makeup artists.

Available May through August, Tuesday to Friday, 4pm to 7pm. Price for each service: $40.

Oribe Haircare Products

When you next visit for a service, your hair will be nourished, treated, and pampered  with Oribe products, the brand used by those who are serious about their haircare. Oribe delivers truly original formulations: gels that condition, oils that hold, sprays that don’t flake or clump, and skincare-grade shampoos that prep hair for styling while protecting it from the environment — all lightly scented with specially commissioned French perfumes.

10% Off Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil in May
This luxuriously light oil from Oribe absorbs instantly to restore hair to its prime. It deeply conditions, strengthens and smooths, imparting intense nourishment and incredible shine. And Gold Lust works wonders on dry, damaged, and color-treated hair. Receive a 10% discount on Gold Lust when you come in to the salon in May.

Mother’s Day 20% Off Special
We are celebrating Mother’s Day by offering a special treat to all of our customers. Visit the salon and get 20% off all services during the whole month of May.

For Summer Brides
Our organic highlights and organic balayage services are more popular than ever — blonde hair has never looked so shiny, natural, and healthy! 

Stacey’s News
Stacey Weinstein, founder of Once Upon A Bride and Loft 26 Salon, is the trusted stylist of entrepreneur, author, and TV star Bethenny Frankel. So when Bethenny was looking for a hair expert to contribute advice to her website, bethenny.com, naturally she called on Stacey. Recently on the site Stacey shared with Bethenny’s readers how to do the perfect blowout at home and how to create Bethenny’s favorite hairstyles.

Bethenny Frankel by Forbes

Romantic bridal beauty: Megan & Bill, Rye, New York

I loved the style of our gorgeous bride Megan, who wed Bill on a crisp late summer day, wearing a crisp white strapless mermaid-style gown. Using all Oribe products and my trusty Sedu styling iron to set her blonde hair, I created a romantic low updo — my softer, more playful twist on a classic bridal style. I worked fabric flower hair accessories into the back, to complement the pearls Megan wore and the delicate floral patterned lace overlay of her gown.

Makeup artist Nichole accentuated Megan’s stunning blue eyes with a light champagne smokey eye, dramatic eyeliner, and a soft, natural light pink lip. To create this look, Nichole used a combination of MAC, Armani, and Make Up For Ever products.


Photographer Kathi Littwin did an amazing job of capturing the day, from the moment Nichole and I began preparing Megan, right through to the waterfront ceremony in the gardens of the Wainwright House in Rye, and the reception where the couple danced the night away.

Congratulations, Megan and Bill. Nichole and I are so happy to have been part of your perfect day!

Stacey styles Megan’s hair into a soft, romantic low updo (Photo by Kathi Littwin Photography)

Nichole puts the finishing touches on Megan’s makeup