From dramatizing your eyes with faux eyelashes and plumping up your lips, to beating those hard-to-tame hair frizzies, let these tips bring out the best in you.
At last, your prom night is fast approaching. You have a dress fit for a princess and your shoes match perfectly. Your accessories are shimmery bits of enchantment to say the least. Kristi Fuhrmann answers some of the most-asked questions and provides inside tips on how to be poised and polished for prom.
Eye Candy
PEEPS THAT’LL POP: Applying eye shadow, highlighter, and eyeliner correctly will provide eye-opening improvements.
My eyes are fairly small. How can I make them really pop and look larger?
First of all, avoid lining your entire eye. While lining defines the eye and can create a smoky, sultry look, it also tends to close them and make small eyes look even smaller. Lining only the upper lid with a clean liquid liner can draw attention to the eye without drawing attention to the size. The solution is to create the illusion that the entire eye area is larger. This can be done by lightly shading the entire eyelid. Shaping the arch of the eyebrows and applying a highlighter under the brow will also help to open the eyes.
My eyebrows are wild and out of control. How can I tame them and what are the guidelines for shaping them?
Nature provides each of us with the right brow shape. We just need to define it on occasion. When grooming your brows, it’s best not to radically change their natural contour. Use a professional slant-tip tweezers to take care of stray hairs below the arch or between your brows. Once you have shaped your brows, use an eyebrow brush such as Face Secrets Brow Groomer to smooth everything into place. Use an eyebrow sealer or brow gel to control any unruly hairs.
Lush Lips and Lashes
EYE-CATCHING GUY CATCHERS: A set of faux lashes and a strategic lip-lining session will help set his heart aflutter.
My lips are a little thin. Are there any tips to make them appear fuller?
To create the illusion of full lips, start by using a pencil lip liner to define the outermost part of your natural lip line. Apply your lipstick with a professional lip brush, blending the lip liner, and then add a slightly lighter color in the center of the lips. Avoiding dark-colored lipsticks will also add to the illusion of plump lips. A shimmery, light lip-gloss is the best route to lush lips.
I would love to use false lashes for prom. How do I select the right style and what is the trick to applying them?
Fabulous faux lashes have indeed made a comeback. Now that the selection is wider, it is much easier to get a natural look. For the most natural look, use individual lashes with a medium flare. Squeeze a tiny drop of glue on your finger or a clean surface, and dip the tip of the lash into the glue. Insert individual lashes between your natural lashes, spacing them a little less than 1/4-inch apart, starting at the outer corner of your eye and working inward, to the middle of the lid. As an alternative, band lashes are a bit easier to apply and will give a very dramatic finish. A professional tip: Don’t be afraid to cut the band lashes to fit your lid width and the fake lashes to match your natural lash length.
Should I apply eye makeup before or after my false lashes?
Before you put on your faux lashes, apply all of your other makeup, and then apply the lashes. Afterward, you may want to touch up your eyeliner to disguise the lash band. Finish with mascara, which helps to lock your natural lashes with your faux lashes.
Tempting Tresses
I have naturally curly hair that is always out of control. What can I do to smooth and control my curls and eliminate the frizz?
Start with a shampoo and conditioner specially formulated for curly hair such as Ion Curl Defining Shampoo and Conditioner. These products are specially formulated to gently clean hair and moisturize your curls to prevent frizz. A shaping cream or styling cream can further smooth and define your curls while adding shine and bounce. A large-barrel professional curling iron that reaches higher temperatures can tame any runaway curls. A curling iron with a rheostat that allows you to control the temperature works best for curly hair.
HAIR CURLERS & FRIZZ TAMERS: Conditioning products will smooth out the kinks, while steam roller sets will add waves in a jiffy.
I have layered hair that is straight and lifeless. What is the best set of hot rollers to give my limp layers a boost?
Select a steam roller set like Caruso Proset Steam Hairsetter. The steam provides a firm set without damaging the hair. The curls set in 5 to 10 minutes, or you can achieve the 30-second curl by using a blow dryer to speed the process.
Kristi Fuhrmann is a Hollywood stylist who works with major studios and is a spokesperson for Sally Beauty Company, the world’s largest distributor of professional beauty products. Ernie McCraw is director of beauty education for Sally Beauty Company. He is a frequent contributor to fashion and beauty publications nationwide.
Just as you wouldn’t expect to paint a masterpiece with a box of crayons, you can’t achieve cosmetics perfection without the proper tools. This guide can help you make all the right strokes.
