Our New Bridal Studio Is Open!

Three years ago I was sitting in my living room talking to my husband about a crazy idea I had. I was thinking about leaving my comfortable job at a top salon in Charleston and starting an on-site bridal hair and makeup company. He encouraged me to open my own business and that’s how Paper Dolls came to life! I was fortunate enough to make some great contacts in the wedding industry and met some really inspirational women. They have all became friends of mine over the years and still inspire me all of the time! My dream 3 years ago for Paper Dolls was just to be able to make my own schedule and enough money to live a comfortable life. I didn’t even dare dream that some day I would own a beautiful studio in the heart of Downtown Charleston!!! Well here we are 3 years later and thanks to all of the wonderful brides that I’ve had the privelage of working with and with all the love and support of my family and friends I am proud to announce that Paper Dolls has opened our first bridal studio!!! We are located at 209-C Meeting Street directly next to the Charleston Place Hotel in a stunning brick studio built in the 1800′s. I would also like to thank all of the planners, property managers, photographers, other hair stylists and other makeup artists in Charleston that have sent me so many referrals over the years. I would also like to thank the girls that have worked with Paper Dolls and have always maintained our standards of putting out our best work every single day for every single bride! They have grown with me along the way and have always taken company changes in stride and have shown me so much loyalty and patience. I absolutely wouldn’t be here today announcing the opening of this beautiful space without them!

We will be offering several new services at the bridal studio. Alise Buckner will be there full time offering full hair salon services. We have a beautiful spa room where Kristen Brown will be offering sugaring hair removal services, organic airbrush tanning and a large variety of facials. We will also be doing makeup applications, makeup lessons and special event hair styling. My hope with the new studio is that we can offer a variety of services for our brides prior to their wedding day as well as offer services to other brides who’s wedding days we aren’t available for. All of the services at the new studio will be done to the high standards that we always strive to provide at Paper Dolls! I would love for everyone to come by and see the studio in person. Here are a few sneak peeks courtesy of the super talented Erin Sage Photography!  To make an appointment please call:  Carrie McLeod 843.602.6486  - Wedding hair and makeup and organic airbrush tanning. Alise Buckner 404.247.0473  - Hair cuts, colors and styling. Kristen Brown 619.370.8801  - Makeup applications/lessons, facials, organic airbrush tanning and hair removal services.

Bridal Hair & Makeup Studio

Bridal Hair & Makeup Studio

Bridal Hair & Makeup Studio

Bridal Hair & Makeup Studio

 

Bridal Hair & Makeup Studio

Bridal Hair & Makeup Studio

 

Bridal Hair & Makeup Studio

Bridal Hair & Makeup Studio

 

Spa Room

Spa Room

 

Spa Room

Spa Room

 

 

Lauren & Matt’s Wedding

I had the honor of doing hair and makeup for Lauren in March! We instantly hit it off! She is quite the prankster and smack talker and I can appreciate that because those are definitely two adjectives used to describe me all the time!! Here are a few shots from the wedding day…

I had to include this last picture because it’s the two of us cracking up!!

I’ve also included a link for their wedding video. Just a warning…..it’s a tear jerker!!! :)

Watch Lauren & Matt’s Video

 

 

 

A Few Of Our Lovely Brides

I haven’t been on here in a while because we’ve been blessed with the opportunity to do so many brides so far this Spring Wedding Season! This is just a quick sneak peek of some of the brides that we’ve done so far! Trust me…….I’m still waiting on a ton of pictures but all of the talented photographers in Charleston are really busy this time of year too! I promise as soon as we have more I will post them. I hope everyone is taking a moment to stop and enjoy this beautiful weather that we’ve been having! xoxo Carrie

2012 Bridal Hair and Makeup Trends

Made very clear by all of the celebrity engagements over the holidays (hello, John Legend, Matthew McConaughey, Steven Tyler, Danny Gokey…), Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve/Day are some of the hottest dates to pop the question. For you newly engaged brides-to-be, I know your heads have already been spinning with all of the planning you’ll be doing in the coming months.

As with the end of every year, predictions and trend alerts are hitting newsstands and websites for the hottest bridal looks for 2012. Washingtonian Magazine laid out some excellent trends for color, cake, fashion and food that are worth reading.

Here are some trends I think will be all the rage in bridal hair and makeup for 2012.

If bold pops of color is making its way into accessories and fashion, why not incorporate it into makeup? Just think how stunning your wedding photos will look if the bride has youthful, pink lips or gorgeous shadow that really makes her eyes stand out?! Of course, you should play with colors during a trial run to make sure it really is the look you want for the big day. I know few brides who want a Big Top theme to their wedding.

Bold Lips

Photo Source: WeddingObsession.com

Yes, Kate Middleton (Princess Kate? Katherine? Duchess Kate?) got married in 2011, but we’re seeing her romantic, royal look still heavily duplicated. Soft retro hair worn down and loose definitely complements this look very well.

Soft Retro Waves

Photo Source: MitchellWade.com

Spend any time on Pinterest and you’ll notice that the updo is as popular as ever. Except, today’s updo is modernized with interesting twists – wear a low bun to the side or in a super high ballerina-style; incorporate Grecian-style headbands or braids; add flowers or sparkly combs. Any of these options will add pizzazz to an updo and speak to your personality and style.

As we head into awards season – you know, the Golden Globes, Emmys, Oscars, etc. – keep your eye on the red carpet. I guarantee many of the styles worn by the celebrities will be duplicated down the aisles this year.

What wedding trends do you think will be most popular in 2012? Which do you wish would just go away?

Resolve to Achieve Beautiful Bridal Hair and Skin

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, New Year’s resolutions are all the buzz this time of year. I’ll admit it, I’m not the type of person go to all gung-ho on making resolutions because, like most people who do make them, I typically start strong and fizzle out pretty quickly.

However, I think there is something to be said about recognizing that there are things you’d like to change and taking small steps to get there. Kudos to those of you who resolve to work out every single day or keep your home clean year round, but most of us don’t have the focus, time, energy or stamina to make it actually happen.

So, whether you start on January 1 or sometime in June, here are some pretty awesome (and easy) things you can do to make you feel and look better – especially your skin and hair!

For all of you ladies who got engaged over the holidays – congratulations! Now would be an excellent time to resolve to try one or all of these tips to help you be a more radiant bride on your big day!

Wash your face every night. By simply adding an extra two minutes to your “getting ready for bed” routine, you’ll add years to your skin and look so much more refreshed. Your skin comes into contact with so much dirt and bacteria throughout the day and replenishes itself as you sleep, so going to bed with a fresh face really does make a difference!

Drink water. I know we’re all supposed to drink 8 glasses a day, but how many actually do? Water makes your skin softer, brighter and just plain pretty. It also strengthens hair and nails. If you have a hard time getting all 64 oz. in every day, try adding one more glass than you normally drink each day and gradually build up.

Glass of Water

Sleep more. This is probably one of the most difficult things to achieve, but makes such a huge impact on your mental and physical well being. Instead of vowing to get 8 hours of sleep each night, try going to bed just 15 minutes earlier than normal and build up to a full night’s sleep. I promise you’ll be so much more ready to take on the day when you wake up from a great night of sleep!

Walk it out. In lieu of making some unattainable fitness goal that is just setting you up for failure, start small. Try taking a 30 minute walk every day – after dinner, over lunch, whenever. It’s good to get your blood pumping and who knows, maybe you’ll love how being active makes you feel so much, you’ll start adding in extra workouts and eventually reach that pie-in-the-sky weight loss resolution without even knowing you got there!

Take a Walk

Do any of you make New Year’s resolutions? What has been your most successful resolution? The most ambitious?

Help Your Wedding Hairstylist Help You

You ever have one of those moments where you realize that if you had only known then what you know now you’d have saved a lot of time, money, energy or even embarrassment? Yeah, I’m pretty sure we all have.

Unfortunately, weddings seem to be one of those things where you just learn as you go – sure, you’ve got checklists and planners and guides, but unless you’ve already been through one, you just don’t know what to expect for you.

I’d like to share a few tips that I’ve gathered along the way that will definitely help brides with the hair and makeup process. Some of these are things that typically aren’t talked about because maybe they’re considered taboo, rude, or you just don’t know how a bride will react. Some are things you just don’t know until you know, you know? I hope all of them will help you have the best wedding day possible.

Timing is everything! In order for your wedding day to move along like a well oiled machine, you need to have a schedule. I’m not saying every bride should be Type A and lord knows nobody loves a bridezilla, but those ladies that have an organized plan of action find that they can enjoy their day so much more than those who don’t.

It’s very common for brides to start their day with hair and makeup. Knowing how many of your bridesmaids, moms, grandmas, flower girls, etc. are getting their hair done beforehand will definitely help keep you on schedule. As your stylist, we’re prepared to deal with the unexpected, but it makes our jobs (and the rest of your day) so much easier if we know hair and makeup aren’t going to make you late for everything else.

Clean hair makes for a happy stylist. Somewhere, somebody decided that dirty hair creates a better up-do. I’m here to tell you that’s not the case. Not anymore, anyway. Advances in product technology let us create pretty much any texture or feel we want for your hair. We also have products that we know work well and that we prefer to use. If you show up to have your hair done on your wedding day with product already in your hair, we can’t guarantee that it will hold like it’s supposed to. Please, have everyone in your bridal party that is having hair and makeup done show up with clean, dry hair and a clean face.

Ambiance is underrated. It’s your wedding day! You’re getting your hair and makeup professionally done!! You’re surrounded by your BFFs and people who love you!! Exclamation point overkill? Maybe. But I wanted to prove a point. Your wedding day is a happy day, so make sure every part of it includes things that make you happy. Music, food, drinks, conversation…all of these elements can help set the tone for the entire event, so use them.

You are in charge. Not your mom, not your maid of honor, not your mother-in-law-to-be. You. It’s absolutely astounding how many times I’ve seen personalities flip on a wedding day, making everyone uncomfortable in the process. As with the scheduling advice above, make sure everyone in the room knows what the expectations are (in a polite and pleasant way, of course) for hair and makeup and stick to it. Please don’t make your stylist have to play police officer as well.

Trials are a must. Especially if this is the first time you and a stylist have worked together. You may have a style that you love in photographs, but change your mind once you see it on you. Trials also give us a chance to get to know one another, let me know what your plans are for the big day and let us work through any potential glitches that may come up.

Bonus tip: Schedule your hair and makeup trial for the same day as your bachelorette party or other important event. You’ll look fabulous out on the town and get to test the endurance of your look throughout the evening.

Do you have any additional tips to add? Anything you wish someone would have told you before the big day?

Bobby Pin 101: The First Step to a Great Up-Do

I’ve noticed a lot of DIY up-do tutorials floating around the web lately. If you’re on Pinterest (and you should be; it’s totally fun and inspiring!), you know what I’m talking about. While most of these tutorials boast super-easy steps, it dawned on me that none of them will be easy if you don’t know the proper way to use a bobby pin.

Sounds silly, right? You might be surprised to know how many people improperly use bobby pins, resulting in an up-do that quickly becomes an up-don’t (or perhaps a down-do?). Anyway, I’ve outlined a couple of simple tips to help you get the most out of your bobby pin usage.

Tip #1: Don’t open the pin.

It may seem like the more hair you can shove in the bobby pin, the better. It’s not. A bobby pin is meant to hold only as much hair as it can hold when inserted from a closed position. No more; no less. In fact, when you over stuff a bobby pin, it forces the pin out of your hair, causing the hair to fall out of the up-do.

To properly insert a bobby pin, simply slide it into the spot you want it to hold in its natural, closed position. You might be surprised at how much more effective a bobby pin is when inserted correctly.

Tip #2: Use the right bobby pin for your hair.

If you’ve ever shopped for bobby pins, you know that there are several types to choose from.

Photo source: Photobucket

If you have fine, thin hair, a smaller bobby pin is what you want to use. If you try a pin that’s too large, it won’t hold your hair. On the contrary, ladies with thick or curly hair should use the larger bobby pins – you’ll need the extra oomph behind these pins to hold your locks.

A hairpin is a bit of a twist on the bobby pin and is distinguished by its U shape and wavy pattern on both sides. I never use these types of pins on their own to create an up-do. They’re more useful in holding down an unruly piece that has escaped or for pinning a longer bang piece back into the up-do.

Tip #3: Don’t put too much thought into it.

Unless you’re going for a very sleek look, don’t try to be too “perfect” with your up-do. Agonizing over the exact placement of each pin and whether or not any of them can be seen takes all of the fun out of getting a great look.  Besides, slightly messy, imperfect hair is an absolute “do” right now!

What are some of your favorite up-dos to do to your hair? Have any additional bobby pin tips or tricks?

Items Every Bride Needs to Survive Her Wedding Day

Bridal emergency kits are a thing of genius. They can completely save the day if any unexpected mishap occurs, which will definitely let everyone breathe a little easier. And believe me, just when you think a mishap is not going to happen, it does.

There are some very comprehensive lists available online – The Knot offers a stellar one – and plenty of pre-made kits to purchase if you’re not the DIY type.

Of course, there are going to be items that are specific to your needs and to your wedding that should probably be added to your kit. Getting married in a humid, hot environment? Might I suggest adding blotting papers to your list? Nobody wants a shiny wedding party in their photos.

Winter wedding in a snowy environment? ChapStick is a must to avoid dry, peeling lips – your first kiss as a married couple should be memorable for the right reasons.

I make sure I leave my brides with hairspray, a comb and bobby pins. All of them also have the option of having me pick up a lip gloss or lipstick at their trial, which they then keep to reapply throughout their wedding day. It’s important to look just as great in reception photos as you do pre-ceremony.

Do you have any additional items that should be added to every bridal emergency kit? Have you been in a wedding where one came to the rescue?

Jump into Fall Weddings with a Copper Mane

I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t a bit impartial toward red hair…I love it. It’s fiery, conveys a spunky personality and there are just SO many shades to play with.

As we inch closer to fall my head has been swarming with visions of brides with tresses the color of changing leaves, so I thought I’d share some of my favorite red looks with you!

For a more subtle red, auburn is a great choice for brunettes and blondes can kick it up a notch with a strawberry color.

Photo: Fashionising.com

 

Photo: everythinglovely.tumblr.com

However, if you want to really let your hair flame, these options are super fun and will definitely turn heads:

Photo: flickr.com/photos/velvettears

I love the mix of highlights in this one – it really does look like a beautiful fall landscape!

Photo: beautifulredheadoftheday.com

Keep in mind that if you do decide you want to be a ginger for your big day, you should definitely experiment well in advance. I absolutely advise against drastic color change too close to your wedding day – especially if it’s a tone or shade you’ve never tried before.

Also remember that red is one of the most difficult colors to maintain and can be incredibly high-maintenance. Because it fades so quickly, you’ll want to cut the hair washing down to only a couple of times a week and definitely use a color treating shampoo. I also recommend throwing a color depositing shampoo into the mix every couple of weeks. It will give your red a boost and can help keep it from looking dull or brassy.

Who are some of your favorite redheads?