09 Feb
Pro Hair and Makeup
My maternity pictures are on Friday with this lovely lady, as I think I’ve mentioned several times. Can you tell I’m excited?!?!?! I have a bit of “wedding regret” regarding my hair and I wish I had budgeted to hire a specialist to come in and do it. Thanks to all of you*, I’m splurging on myself this Friday and spending some time with Angie Williams while she works to make me look pretty.
I resurrected my wedding hair inspiration folder to come up with some images to show Angie so she can get an idea of what I’m looking for, but all of my wedding looks of choice were updos and I’m looking for something a lot more casual than that. My goal is to find a style that works with my hair, shows off the length, has lots of height (I love big hair but mine doesn’t hold a back-comb well), and is curled without a lot of frizzies. Here are my favorite options so far:
Yes, this is Mrs. Bee of Weddingbee, my adoration for her knows no bounds. I love the soft and natural look she has for her own maternity photos. I realize that some are probably thinking “I make my hair look like that all the time without paying someone to do it for me.” For whatever reason, loose, natural looking curls without a multitude of frizzies are beyond my abilities.
I like that this hairstyle Beyonce Ashanti (thanks Jasmine!) is sporting would give me a bit more height though. I tend to like “Texas beauty pageant” when it comes to hair.
Source
While I was hunting for hair inspiration photos I figured I might as well look for some makeup ideas as well. My instructions for Angie will definitely include the phrase “Make my face look as skinny as possible”, but a little more guidance than that might be helpful. I started looking at celebrity makeup, but I soon realized that I didn’t just want their makeup, I want to be transformed into the celebrity. As in, please just make me look exactly like Katherine in this photo:
which just isn’t possible. A bit more stumbling led me to the blog of a real girl, Tiffany, who spends her time executing different makeup looks and doing product reviews and sharing her results through photos and video. If I was more adventurous with my makeup routine I’m sure I’d be tuning in to see what she comes up with on a regular basis, but I really enjoyed scrolling through her blog to see all the different looks she has come up with. I like looking to her for inspiration because she’s a regular girl with blue eyes taking snapshots of herself with her camera. A few that caught my eye:
Look 1
Look 2
Look 3
Look 4
What combination of hair and makeup would you suggest? Or do you think I should go a different direction altogether?
I’ll be wearing this dress with black tights and heels for the first “look”:
And either this dress or another brighter purple floor length one with rain boots for the second:
There won’t be any naked belly shots and I have props galore that I’ve brainstormed and collected. The focus is going to be color and childhood nostalgia and it’s going to be like no maternity shoot you’ve ever seen before (at least, I’ve never seen anything like it.) The forecast has gone from 70% chance of rain to sunny and in the 40′s. Let’s hope it stays that way! That Husband will be there as well, which reminds me… I’ve been so focused on myself I forgot to figure out what he’s going to wear. 
*Ummm, yeah, did I mention that I recently cashed a check for $500(!!!!!) from Tulle because so many of you took the time to vote for me back in November! I’m working to gather up several different types of goodies for a giveaway the last week of February. I love you bunches!
Also:
I'm a farm-raised almost-crunchy stroller-pushing picture-taking lifestyle-blog-writing gastronomy-obsessed divine-seeking thrift-store-combing cheese-inhaling pavement-pounding laughter-sprinkling lover of individuality and taking chances.
Jenna that’s Ashanti not Beyonce
1Can’t wait to see the results of the shoot! I think it’s great you’re getting your hair done. My hair has no body or style, so it would be a must for me!
2p.s. I like the Look 1 for makeup - just the right amount of drama without being too overdone.
3I love makeup look #2. It’s a great day-time smokey eye with just the right amount of sexy, powerful Mama mojo.
4Yey! Can’t wait to see the end result - I know you’ll look beautiful!
5Ashanti’s hair - definitely. It’s less safe than the others & the height will flatter your face shape. And I like Makeup #4 because it’s bold & will show up good in pictures (especially outside)
Have fun - can’t wait to see them!!!
6I know when I don’t like the way something looks on me it doesn’t help to hear things like this, but I just wanted to say that I thought your hair looked gorgeous in your photos, I’m really surprised that you had wedding hair regret. From an outside perspective it was very beautiful IMO
I like the purplish eyeshadow look, but I’m biased towards purple. And I love Mrs. Bee’s hair, but again I’m biased because I love my own hair and it kind of curls like that on its own, and I’m lazy, and don’t brush it/fix it/cut it once a year, so I like things that let me be lazy, haha. Plus I love soft curls in blonde hair, it looks like something out of a fairy tale.
Jenna Reply:
February 13th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Don’t we always have to find at least one thing to pick apart when ti comes to important events?
I admit I’m being incredibly picky here as it just wasn’t everything I wanted.
I really like the last makeup look - it’s just natural and warm, perfect for a momma-to-be!
8I think you should def. try the tousled curls look for the shoot! It’s very relaxed and soft and beautiful. So many decisions, can’t wait to see what you come up with!!
9So excited for your shoot! You’re gonna look adorable… and I agree that Bee’s hair looked amazing in that shoot, so soft and romantic!
Be sure to send the info on time and whereabouts!!
10I love Mrs. Bee’s hair! That look is stunning! I think soft and natural is perfect for a maternity shot.
11I like Mrs. Bee’s hair the best. Does Katherine’s look remind anyone else of a “Glamour Shots” from the ’80s?
12I am really surprised about your wedding hair and makeup regret. Your look was and is pretty much my favourite wedding look ever (probably because it fits my person aesthetic). So don’t regret it, you looked gorgeous.
I don’t think you should do the Ashanti style, I think it might…date…or something. My favourite is Mrs. Bee. I can’t get my hair like that without the frizzies either. Boo.
I like makeup option #1. The others might be too much colour for TH, no? Kidding! Kidding!
Jenna Reply:
February 13th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Ha! I laughed at your comment about too much color, only because it’s so true. Happily, this is one of those times where I get to do what I want without any input from him. Sometimes I welcome his opinions, other times, I just want to do what I think is best.
Oh I’ve never seen this done before - I’m so excited to see yours!
14Thanks for the link to Tiffany’s blog! Can’t wait to see the finished product!
15Can’t wait to see the photos! I still adore your wedding photos. I would kill for shots like that.
16What a lovely idea! Will your make- up include a nice manicure? Whether you do that our not, be sure to get you hands in some pictures. This 50 plus lady who had 6 children, & used cloth diapers for all (so hands were in lotsa water to rinse them) wishes that she had a picture of her hands from the early pre-abuse days.
Jenna Reply:
February 13th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
I am treating myself to a mani-pedi as well! I’ve been really frugal with my “personal care” area of the budget so I can splurge this month. I’m thinking blood red toenails with white hearts on the big toe would be oh-so-cute, especially for this time of year!
Oh this makes me wish I had done a professional maternity shoot when I was pregnant. Maybe next time! Pregnancy really is a beautiful thing…especially in retrospect when you don’t have any of the aches and pains:)
Love the hair ideas and any of the makeup options look gorgeous.
I would say on the hair and makeup thing to make sure and do a test run…I did have a makeup person and a hair person on my wedding day, but I did not like how it turned out and wished I would have done it myself. No one knows your face like you do.
I have heard that many celebs wear fake eyelashes for photoshoots and my SIL used to get fake eyelashes (professionally put on at a salon) in just the edge of her eyes and it looks awesome! Definitely a great confidence booster that photographs very well.
Nails. I just discovered these awesome nails at Wal-Mart. Revlon Naturally Chic French manicure medium length. They are $7.50ish a box and have several sets in each box. It includes everything you need…file and glue. I saw it on a tv show and put mine on 4 days ago and they look awesome and it’s way easier than keeping up my natural nails…but I have bad nails, and maybe you have nice pregnancy nails:) But just in case you know:)
Fun fun!
Jenna Reply:
February 13th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Do you have to file your real nails down to put the tips on? I don’t like wearing tips because filing down the tops of my nails makes me sad. Also because I hate typing with them on (something I obviously do a lot!)
First, I thought that your hair looked great for your wedding. Second, I can’t wait to see the end result. I like the idea of the loose curls!
19I didn’t know you won that contest! Yay! Good for you and good for you for splurging on yourself for your maternity shots, I love the second hair with the poof and the last eye look… love the dresses and you are going to be beautiful! I can’t wait to see the outcome!
20I’m curious, why no bare belly shots? You’ve posted them on your blog before so I’m assuming it’s more about doing a different kind of maternity shot, and less about modesty. But I’d love to know your thoughts on it!
I definitely like the first hairstyle, and a more natural makeup. You still want to look like you, just a wee more glam
Jenna Reply:
February 13th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
My belly still isn’t as big as I would want it to be for bare belly stuff, but this photog is moving so it’s now or never. Plus I want to wear dresses! Definitely not about being against bare belly pregnancy shots for any modesty reasons though. I think modesty is about respecting your body and not using it as a sexual object. I’m not sure posting my stretch mark riddled belly would turn anyone on.
I think I’m going to convince TH to drive down to the bluebonnets with me and do some bare belly stuff right before I deliver. The benefit of having my own camera I think!
I love the second dress (the purple one) - I think it will look great on you!
22Oooh, wish I had been able to get a headband to you in time for these! I love your outfits and am SO psyched to see your pictures. I adore maternity shoots. Makes me want to be pregnant just to have a maternity shoot…j/k…mostly…
23oooooooo yes, that hair! do it! let’s pray for some light like that too! i am loving the dresses so much, they are perfect! i am so so excited, i can’t even tell you. ps. geez that girl looks like celine dion.
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