I'm not bashful, I'm from Nashville.

So even though I love Austin and proudly consider myself a true Texan, I decided to pack up my teasing combs and curling irons and head to Music City. (That's Nashville, TN for you non-natives.) Why Nashville? Well that's a story that begins in the Summer of 2010, my first summer of marriage and "The Road Trip" when my husband and I and our dog Shelby drove all around this great country to explore the sights and extend our honeymoon.

As we cruised down from West Virginia, we stopped over at Loretta Lynn's place for a bit of a souvenir overload. Then we barreled down the highway through a huge thunderstorm straight to Downtown Nashville. We stayed at the Hermitage, a historic hotel and probably the most beautiful place I've ever stayed, and enjoyed a few blissful nights on the town. Even then I think we knew that we were Nashville-bound.

It took about a year to make the arrangements, find a place, and say goodbye to our family, but it's been a beautiful transition. First off, Nashville and Austin are a lot alike. Besides the abundant music scene, there is a huge appreciation for local business and culture. Nashville keeps up with Austin's "weirdness" with its farmer's markets, local restaurants - sometimes known as "Meat 'N Threes (or Fours)" - and even local cultural phenomenon like "Hate Life Thursdays," a weekly meet-up at Dino's, home of Nashville's best burger and of a burgeoning hipster scene, where the classic tracks from Ben Swank of Third Man Records carry the crowd into another Friday hangover. These gatherings seem to act as the pulse of the city, and much like in Austin, it's where the lines between people become shorter and shorter, and it begins to feel like a small town.
 

Just like that we're home. Bring on the big hair and say it loud and proud: There's no such thing as natural beauty! I hope there will be some major overhaul on a mild mannered bridesmaid in the very near future. I'm thinking of something like this...

LD Featured in WeddingChicks.com

A couple of months ago my friends, Leah Muse and Lindsey Baker, from The Life You Love Photography had a brilliant idea for a photo shoot. They found the perfect dress and the perfect model, Taylor. Doing hair and makeup for shoots like these can be challenging. You're never really sure how the foundation and colors you choose are going to look on-location. Often times I work off-location and the model arrives at the shoot fully made up. This is a perfect example of good communication before the shoot.

We shot in downtown Austin, TX near a hike and bike trail. Believe it or not, a highway overpass is just out of view in some of these stills. Gotta love Austin...

I wish I could say doing the hair and makeup was hard work, but it was a delightful afternoon. Taylor is darling and effortlessly beautiful. We wish her tons of luck in her career as a model. And I can't say enough great things about Leah and Lindsey. They're chock-full of vision and inspiration. Can't wait to see what they come up with next. :)

To check out all the images go to WeddingChicks.com

Jennifer

 I've been friends with Jennifer's fiance, Seth, for many years. I saw him at a party a few months ago, and he told me he was getting married and "lucky for him" I was doing bridal hair and makeup! I gave him my card not completely expecting him to remember to actually give the card to his bride-to-be. But a few weeks later I got the call from Jennifer. She is just lovely. We did her hair, makeup and lashes at their apartment in South Austin and hung out with Seth and their beautiful baby girl, Stella. Jennifer was relaxed and happy and excited about her plans for the rest of the day. When I asked about the ceremony and reception, she casually replied, "We'll probably go out dancing after the dinner, who knows?" and sipped her champagne. Gotta love the awesomely relaxed bride! Congratulations, Jennifer and Seth.

Last year I was a Salon Consultant/Marketing Intern for CurlStylist.com, a sister site of NaturallyCurly.com. During that time, I learned a ton about online marketing and social networking from the owners and staff at NaturallyCurly.com. They're a widely used website for people with curly, kinky, and wavy hair, and they're based right here in Austin, TX. They recommend products, provide forums for "curlies" with questions and advice, and write brilliant articles packed with insights into the world of curly hair. While I was there another student interviewed me about my then budding business venture, Lovely Day. This is the article she wrote about mobile hairstyling and working in the wedding industry. Thanks Foram, for writing such a great article. 

Mobile Hairdressing: Stylists on the Go
by Foram Mehta on Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Rachel Peters-Monahan
It’s a typical day of work and hair stylist and makeup artist Rachel Peters is getting her things ready to make over a bride for her big day. Hair products: check. Makeup: check. Hot iron, pins, and brushes: check. Rolling cart to transport it all to the bride’s house: check. Peters is one of the many burgeoning cosmetologists who have taken their talents mobile, choosing to work out of their clients’ homes rather than a conventional salon. And it seems for both bride and stylist, the benefits of taking the show on the road definitely outweigh the drawbacks.
Peters didn’t always work on the go. Of the nearly nine years she’s been working as a cosmetologist, only the last two and half have been mobile. The Austin stylist, who entered into cosmetology school right out of high school, worked both commission and contractor-based stylist positions before starting her personal business, Lovely Day Hair & Makeup. After going back to school part-time to obtain her advertising degree from St. Edward’s University, Peters continued the full-time salon work. The slow progress, though, she says, finally pushed her to make a change.
“It was taking so long, and I was like ‘I have to get my degree’. So that’s when I quit, and started my own business.”
Now, her work predominantly includes styling brides for their wedding days. Because weddings are scheduled largely on weekends, Peters says she has the freedom to work a day job at a recruiting company to add to her income.
“Because my business is still growing…it helps pay the bills,” she says.

Working individually can have a few drawbacks in comparison to working in a salon. The responsibility for personally scheduling appointments and providing all of the products can be tedious at times. And mobile styling doesn’t allow much leeway for sick days—should they land on appointment days. Even then, Peters says mobile stylists have the benefit of getting to choose how little or how much they work—something that definitely allows for flexibility and helps the stylist and client create a personal connection.
“It’s nice to have that privacy and that quiet time . . . and it’s just less hassle,” Peters says of working out of her clients’ homes.
Often, the clients mirror the same sentiment. Millie Patel, a bride who opted to hire a mobile stylist for her bridal party to get ready for her 2008 Austin wedding, says she really appreciated the convenience of her stylist coming to her for the multiple events that were held for her traditional Hindu ceremony. She and her bridesmaids were able to relax and spend some time bonding before her nuptials in the privacy of their own hotel room—something that, she says, would have been hard to do rushing back and forth from a salon.
“It was more relaxed. We were all just being goofy in our room, and we didn’t have any restrictions. We could leave when we wanted and make as much noise as we wanted, so it was [a good experience].”
The money’s not bad either. Because mobile stylists are their own bosses and essentially in charge of their individual success, they don’t have to worry about getting portions of their paychecks cut in commission and seeing another chunk automatically deducted for taxes. Plus, the experience and talent set the fees—not an arbitrary boss.
Some also appreciate the freedom to grow as an individual stylist because one can really let the creative juices flow without outside influences. Justin Samuel, a senior at The University of Texas at Austin, has been working as a part-time mobile stylist for years, and says the lone-ranger tactic has definitely helped him develop his signature style. He says it’s a perk to the mobile profession that makes it more profitable than working as a conventional salon stylist.
“If you are an individualist, like myself, working as a sole entity helps you have a creative vision that is a signature of your own. When working at a salon, there is constant competition all around you, not to mention your boss hounding you. Mobile styling has really helped me grow as a stylist.”

Casey & Paul

A few weeks ago my friends, Casey and Paul, were married at The Lodge at River Oaks in Austin. The venue was perfect for an intimate hodgepodge of friends and family. Everything about the wedding; the homemade brownie cake topped with Day of the Dead skulls to the thoughtfully colored prayer ties were unique. Perfectly Casey and Paul.

These two have been together through hell and back, and to see them united in love and commitment  in spite of "the rules" made everyone proud to call them friends. We were elated to witness and be a part of their day. I love you boys so much.

Deana

A few weeks ago I did hair for Deana's wedding. Deana = cool as a cucumber. What an awesome group of bridesmaids too. My favorite things about their wedding: red & black for Texas Tech, they got ready at the lake, and oh yeah - the bride and groom have known each other since they were kids. Moms were best friends, the whole deal. Their wedding was like a reunion for the two families! Check out more of Deana at Haydon Photography. 

April

April is without a doubt one of the cooler brides I've worked with. Laid-back, great style, and incredibly sweet. When she called and asked if I did Liberty Rolls I had to refer to a few older sources ie. my Cosmetology Handbook. When she said she had long hair I didn't believe her. Boy, was I in for a surprise. April has hair down to her waist. I imagined it down to her bra line - maybe. This vintage style worked beautifully with her long hair though. It was a really fun group. Makes me love my job even more.