We all want to spice up our ordinary looks with a little pop of color. Highlighting and lowlighting the hair strands is no new concepts but the trend of ombre and balayage highlights are relatively new.

Many women are now opting for these newer highlighting trends because they give the hair a more stylish, even look instead of randomly highlighting a bunch of hair strands. But when you’re choosing between the two of these, the choice can become a little difficult.

From the outside, both ombre and balayage have some striking similarities but when you look closely, they really are unique in their own way. If you’re deciding to add a little color to your hair, don’t forget to use the Aveda hair colors for the best results.

If you’re ready to decide between ombre and balayage, read on these major differences to make the best choice for your hair!

Ombre

Ombre refers to highlighting from a darker shade to a lighter shade as you move down the hair strand. It’s a great look for evenly cut, shoulder length hair and suits brunettes the most. The transition is pretty obvious and in the face so ombre is considered a pretty daring look. A badly done ombre can seriously affect your entire hair look so remember to choose the best hair salon and high-quality products like those from an Aveda hair salon in Albany like Purity Hair Design.

Balayage

Balayage, on the other hand, doesn’t only involve only the bottom ends of your hair. Instead of a sharp transition as seen in the ombre hair highlights, the transition look in balayage is a lot softer. The technique involved is pretty much the same with starting with a darker shade at the top and transitioning to a lighter one. The balayage technique also retains some dark strands in the bottom to give a more voluminous effect.

Overall, balayage highlights look a lot more natural, sun-kissed and are require less maintenance than ombre does. Balayage also suits almost every haircut and color.

Greasy hair is every woman’s nightmare. It’s even worse when you have an appointment at the hair salon and have to suffer from the embarrassment from hearing the hair stylist comment on the grease in your locks. Unfortunately, sometimes regular washing doesn’t always prevent greasy hair and you could end up with oil pouring out of your scalp the very next day after a hair wash.

To effectively prevent greasy hair, you need to follow some tips to keep your hair healthy and oil-free.

#1: Keep your hand off the hair

Running your hand through your hair might be look charming to some people and it might even help some women concentrate but touching your hair too much can actually oil production and make your hair look very greasy. The science behind this is that you’re transferring whatever germs or grease you have on your fingers to your scalp.

Similarly, brushing your hair too much can also stimulate the oil pores and generate more grease so brush only when you actually really need to detangle them. You should also frequently clean your brush so the oils in your hair that have gotten into the brush won’t be transferred back when you brush them again.

#2: Using too much conditioner

Women who have naturally thin and fine hair usually suffer grease in their hair more than women with thick hair. That might be because using the same amount of conditioner on both types of hair will produce more grease in those with thin hair. Conditioning your hair might help to soften them but using it on a regular basis will make the oils come out more frequently. Pro tip: if you want to use conditioners on a daily basis, just use it on the ends of your strands.

#3: Use a dry shampoo

Using a premium quality shampoo from Aveda or an appointment at an Aveda Albany hair salon like Purity Hair Design can help to reduce the grease in your hair almost instantaneously. It’s a great short-term remedy for greasy hair that can save you from a fashion disaster in seconds.

Weddings are that one time a woman wants to look her very best. Most of the time, to achieve that perfect look you might have to seek assistance from a professional. A good wedding makeup artist knows exactly how to make any woman look amazing. With so many new ones popping up all over the world, it’s sometimes difficult to differentiate between the good and the bad ones.

Here are some important questions you need to ask your prospective makeup artist before hiring her:

#1: Ask for References

References can be helpful to determine exactly how the makeup artist has fared with previous clients. If the makeup artist has a Facebook page, you might find honest reviews from previous clients there. These references will let you know if the artist is easy to work with, punctual and knows how to do their job.

#2: Ask for a Portfolio

It’s almost impossible to hire a makeup artist without looking at some of their previous work. Check out her Instagram or Facebook page for the makeup they have previously done and see if it suits your taste. Some artists follow the latest trends in makeup while others prefer to stay on the safer, more traditional road. Knowing what you want and if they can do it is important, so don’t turn a blind eye and hire her without asking for a portfolio.

#3: Charging Policy

Some makeup artists charge by the hour while others charge per person. If you have a large wedding party with a lot of women that need to have their makeup done, you’d want the makeup artist to charge by the hour instead of per person. Determine what suits you more and ask for her charging policy.

#4: Ask for the venue

Not every makeup artist will travel to your wedding venue. Some prefer working in their own beauty parlor and you might have to travel there to get your makeup done. If traveling does not suit your schedule, time or the climate, then hire an artist who can work on-site.

#5: In case of emergency

Any unforeseen circumstance could lead to your makeup artist getting delayed or cancelling the booking all at once. These emergencies, however, should not affect your big day. Talk to your makeup artist and ask her if she has a plan B (another artist or other senior assistants) that can replace them.

Looking for a bridal hair and makeup specialist?  Or, perhaps you are looking for new hair salon in Albany you can trust?  Look no further than Purity.  Give us a call today!

When it comes to weddings, the sooner you begin the preparations the safer you are. And if by any chance, you’re the bride of the occasion, prepping early on becomes a necessity and not just a choice. But if your wedding is planned for next week and you really don’t have time to make those lengthy salon appointments or get monthly beauty treatments, it’s time to think fast.

Cosmetics and commercial skincare products are always the first option you should consider when you need the results to show fast. But despite the effectiveness of these products, some women still choose to steer clear from them and use DIY beauty remedies instead because:

·        They think commercial cosmetics are not safe for their sensitive skins
·        DIY products have all natural ingredients
·        Commercial products are too expensive
·        They’ve heard their mothers and grandmothers swear by DIY remedies

While there may be some interesting advantages to using DIY remedies for your beauty regime, you still need to consider the cons of them. In fact, for last minute bridal preparations, the cons might actually weigh more than the pros. Here’s a few you should remember:

#1: They’re not fast

Don’t listen to what those beauty gurus on YouTube tell you in their clickbait titles. No DIY product works like magic and gives you a Barbie doll glowing skin overnight. In fact, not even commercial products can do that but compared to DIY remedies, they’re still faster. So, if your wedding is the next day, rubbing tomatoes or honey on your suntanned skin won’t do you much good.

#2: They don’t last

One problem with DIY products is that they can’t be preserved for a long time. You might have to discard the face mask you made today and make a new one tomorrow. This could use up a lot of your ingredients and could cost you a lot in the long run.

#3: They’re not all great for your skin

Most commercial products are made to suit the majority types of skin and if some specifications or instructions are needed, they’re clearly written on the box or bottle. With DIY remedies, most women don’t really know what household ingredient is good for their skin. For example, the lemon whitening remedy can make sensitive skin sting and can make you tan even more if it’s used in the broad daylight.

Purity Hair Design offers a full suite of hair salon services as well as bridal hair and makeup services to brides-to-be in the Albany area.

When you think about the word wedding, one thing you probably imagine is hours and hours spent to perfect the bride’s makeup look perfect. But perfection doesn’t necessarily mean splurging on some hundred different makeup products and going overboard. In fact, there can be a lot of perfection in simplicity as well.

Natural makeup looks for brides on their wedding day aren’t unheard of but many women often it hard to adopt. That’s why most brides end up in layers of foundation and powder with blinding highlighter for their bridal look. You want to avoid going that road and sticking to some neutrality in your makeup.

The trend of a bride going all natural with her makeup is rising probably because women have realized that they need to look like themselves instead of just caked in makeup. Another important reason of this rising trend is that you don’t need to hire a professional makeup artist for it. It’s simple to do and it can save you a lot of money.

If you’re unsure of how to achieve the perfect natural makeup look for your big day, here are a few pointers to help you out:

Start with taking care of your skin

Sometimes makeup becomes a necessity to hide acne marks and blemishes. If you don’t want to use makeup, you need to make sure your skin is clear and ready to glow without the need of makeup. Taking care of your skin is a long-term process that needs months of preparation. This includes regular facials, drinking lots of water and using masks and other skincare products.

Eye makeup: Tightline the Eyes and Fill your Brows

Even for a natural look, your eyes need something to make them look more refined and less sleepy. Tightlining is a great way to achieve that effect. You also need to cater to your eyebrows, pluck them and make them look even. Fill them in with eyebrow gel and powder and brush them so they look neat and clean.

You can also buy a pair of false eyelashes to further enhance your look but if you don’t want your lashes to look too dramatic for your natural makeup then you need to use mascara on them.

Add a little pop of color

Adding a little color is important especially for women that have pale skin tones. Use a decent amount of powder blush and choose the right shade of lipstick to add color to your look. You can also contour your cheekbones to make them look sharper or use a bronzer powder for a natural tanning effect.

Once your makeup is done, don’t forget to set it with a setting spray!  Getting married and looking for a bridal hair and makeup artist who will make your day amazing?  Call Purity Hair Design today & schedule a complementary call to discuss your special day!

Destination weddings have become increasingly popular over the past few years and why shouldn’t they? They’re incredibly romantic and beautiful. Couples who can afford destination weddings often choose to stay in a nearby venue but the wedding ceremony itself is almost always out in the sun.

Brides who are planning to have destination wedding need to remember that they’re makeup and hairstyle needs to last under the sun for a good few hours. Even if the heat isn’t scorching, your skin might not be accustomed to the climate of this new place and you’ll have to take some extra precautions to make sure the makeup lasts.

Another obvious problem with destination weddings for a bride’s makeup is that it’s hard to find a makeup artist in a place you really don’t know much about. Unless you have a proper reference or have researched into the local artists a lot, you’re going to have a hard time finding the makeup artist that suits to your taste. After all, makeup beauty standards are vastly different in different countries.

If you’re opting to have your makeup done yourself, the most important thing you need to take note of is your skin. You skin will not be adjusted to the new climate and there’s always a possibility of an acne breakout or peeling, dry skin. Prepare your skin according to the climate at your wedding destination; moisturize and use skin care products as required.

If all else fails, you should have a high-coverage foundation at hand to hide all those acne marks and blemishes. Concealers, primers and other face products are always necessary to bring to your wedding destination.

If you’ve decided to hire a makeup artist to do your wedding makeup, have a proper consultation session with her before to clearly outline what you’re looking for. If you have time, then you should have some makeup trials done as well.

Pro tip: get your wedding makeup done in a cool place somewhere inside because you’re going to stay out in the sun for a long time anyway!

Purity Hair Design is a full-service Aveda Hair Salon offering bridal and hair makeup services.

We’re only a few months away from a new year and as we bid farewell to 2017, there are a few trends we need to say goodbye to as well. Every year some unique wedding trend sprouts out of nowhere and before you know it, everybody’s doing it. This year saw a similar fate but as 2018 approaches, let’s all ditch those unnecessary, outdated trends.

If your wedding is planned in the next year, make sure you stay in fashion and don’t follow these three 2017 wedding trends. Maybe 2018 will bring better trends so keep yourself updated.

#1: Sneakers instead of heels

No one really knows how this trend started but it’s safe to say that it’s become a worldwide phenomenon. Pairing those all-white sneakers with almost every dress is an outfit ritual practiced by millions on Instagram. Maybe we have the Damn Daniel! kid to blame for it but one thing’s for sure – you need to stop doing it on your wedding day.

Okay, it’s great you want to look like a casual and cool bride, but pairing those sneakers with your exotic, designer bridal gown really isn’t aesthetically pleasing. It’s a trend of the past; let’s embrace grace again.

#2: Flower crowns

Flower crowns are great! They’re girly and add a boho touch to your wedding. But they really are not suited for every wedding. If you’re planning a destination wedding out on an island somewhere, maybe the flower crown will actually suit the occasion. But if you’re walking the aisle somewhere in the heat of Arizona, maybe it’s time to ditch the flower crown.

#3: Getting a little too inspired by social media

When we’re planning a wedding, we naturally want inspiration from somewhere. Social media websites like Pinterest or Tumblr are aesthetic and contemporary but they’re not always the best option. For starters, you’ll need a lot of work done to replicate those ideas. Plus, sometimes these ideas can look just a bit too overdone.

Hire a professional wedding planner to help you out with these ideas instead of searching them up yourself!
Purity Hair Design is an Aveda hair salon located in Voorheesville New York.  We proudly offer bridal hair and makeup services to brides throughout Albany.

The winter season isn’t that far away. That means we’ll be seeing a lot of cold nights in front of the fireplace, unexpected snowstorms and hot chocolate. There is one thing that we might not see that often though and that’s weddings. Winter is known as the off-season for weddings because of the unexpected weather changes.

But there are a few perks if you’re a winter bride. No longer would you have to deal with sweat, melting makeup and an oily look. Plus it’s the off-season so you’re bound to get all your arrangements done at a much cheaper price than summer weddings.

Sure, there’s always the risk of snowstorms and static electricity but with these few helpful tips you can make sure you look absolutely stunning on your winter-time wedding.

Your hairstyle must be winter-friendly

Not every hairstyle can work well in the days of winter. With static electricity on the rise and dryness a particular problem, you might have to choose the right hairstyle carefully. Fight off oily scalp by washing it regularly or by using dry shampoo.

Try hairstyles that require less backcombing so your hair has less static electricity. Choosing a backup hairstyle can also save you from a potential fashion disaster.

Fight the dryness

Some women tend to get more dry skin than others. Regular use of moisturizers and lotions will help to keep the dryness at bay. Don’t forget to start your makeup with a skin and eye primer to let the makeup settle in nicely in your otherwise dry skin. You should also use a foundation product that is hydrating so your makeup doesn’t go cakey overtime.

Go easy on the glitter

Highlighting powder and other glittery accessories look great on any woman, especially a soon to be bride. But glitter was naturally made for the summers and can look too loud for a winter look. As with every other product, use shimmery ones with caution and try not to go overboard.

Purity Hair Design is a full-service bridal and hair makeup services company offering brides-to-be a unique experience in Albany & the surrounding Capital Region.

Any bride is incomplete without bridal accessories to spice her look up. Future brides need to take time and choose the best bridal hair accessories for their big day. With so many hair accessories in the market now, it sometimes becomes difficult to choose which one will bring out your hairstyle the most and complement your wedding gown at the same time.

Read on to get a look into the top considerations brides need to remember when buying their bridal hair accessory.

#1: Will it Suit Your Hairstyle?

Before choosing your hair accessories, you need to sit down with your stylist and discuss with her the best hairstyle that you can rock on your wedding day. Have some trials to finalize the hairstyle before looking for an accessory. You should remember that not all hair accessories can hold well on all hair types. Heavy tiaras or comb clips might not look great on fine, thin hair whereas delicate bobby pins might be too inconspicuous on brides with thick hair.

Similarly, hairstyles that involve adding volume to your hair and a lot of backcombing might need a heavy hair accessory; open hair or loose braids might require simpler ones.

#2: Consider the Theme

If your wedding is set on a particular style or theme then it’s probably worth considering as well when choosing your bridal hair accessories. If it’s a more beachside wedding theme, flower crowns might be the accessory you need to be looking for. For brides following the seasonal themes, fall accessories like rose-gold accessories are worth checking out.

#3: Don’t Forget your Wedding Dress

Finally, your bridal hair accessories should not look mismatched against your bridal dress. If the stones on your wedding gown are pearl and ivory, a gold-plated accessory might look a little too off.

Consult with a professional hairstylist for your bridal hair accessories to make the most appropriate season. You should make the choice as early as you can and not leave it for last minute – a common bridal mistake.

It’s the season of the falling leaves and with autumn in full swings in most areas, the season change demands a change in the look of a typical summer bride. Gone are the beach-orange shades of lipstick and the bold winged eyeliner; it’s time to revamp your bridal look according to the fall season trends.

If your wedding is set somewhere in this month or the next, you might want to check out the fall beauty trends to inspire your bridal look. It’s important to remember that these trends are for you to get inspired only and not to be followed down to the tee. Experiment with what looks best on you before choosing your final makeup and hairstylefor your big day.

Maroon Shades of Lipstick

With the launch of big cosmetic lines and their liquid lipstick products like Kylie Cosmetics, Huda Beauty and Color Pop, unconventional lipstick shades have taken the beauty industry by storm. One such unique shade is a deep berry maroon color. The shade varies from purple undertones to red undertones and it matches perfectly with the colors of fall. This shade of lipstick might come off as too dark for some women but it definitely makes an impression so make sure to check it out.

Smoky Eye Makeup

Smoky eye shadow is the staple fall makeup technique to adopt. Cut back on the eyeliner and try a sultry eye shadow look instead. This will leave your eye makeup looking dramatic yet soft at the same time – a perfect fall makeup inspiration.

Bronzers and Highlighters

Highlighter powder is a great way to shine on an otherwise colorless fall day. Adding a dash of bronzer powder to your look will enhance the color on your face. But be careful not to overdo the bronzer. You don’t want to end up looking as orange as the leaves behind you.

For all your bridal makeup needs this fall, hire a professional wedding makeup artist to help you achieve the perfect fall bride look.