Style

Skincare

Low Full Pony Tutorial

It’s one of the most common requests I get in the salon: “How to do I put my hair in a ponytail without it looking sloppy?” Martha Lynn here and I have great news for you — this is super easy and once you learn these quick tricks your ponytail will never feel boring again! […]

How to Look Awake

The summer sun is officially gone (well, not gone, but decidedly more elusive), the temperature has dropped, and our school/work schedules are officially in full swing. Fall is certainly an exciting time of year, but between the go-go pace and the chilly, overcast days, I admit that I’m having a harder time feeling energized these […]

Berry Lips

There’s just something about a berry stained pucker that screams drama! I must confess that I am crushing on the fall lip trends big time — especially these berry options. I love that you don’t need to do much else with your makeup when it comes to a bold lip and it is something you […]

Fall’s Best New Mascaras

If you’re like me, you usually slap on your mascara as the last step in your beauty routine without thinking twice. While we may swap out eyeshadows and lip products according to our moods and the changing seasons, mascara is one of those old faithful products that can remain static in our makeup bags once […]

Perfect Skin with Mineral Makeup

I thought I’d tried out every foundation on the market: from BB (and CC) creams to tinted moisturizers to fuller coverage liquids, I’ve had brief love affairs with them all. Recently though, I realized I was way overdue to try out mineral powder foundation, so I picked up the classic from the brand that brought it into the mainstream. I […]

From Flat to Full

When a new client is in my chair I always ask if there’s anything about their hair drives them crazy. Most everyone wants to go from frizzy to smooth or from flat to full — turns out we all want what we don’t have (sigh). This is important for me as a stylist because it […]

Decoder :: Fall Foundation Finder

I’ve never understood why women seem so hesitant to admit that they wear (and like!) foundation. In almost every beauty interview I read, the subject either denies wearing anything at all on her skin, or hesitantly admits to sporting tinted moisturizer or BB cream. (FYI: Most BB creams are essentially foundations with some bells and […]

Decoder :: Mani-Pedi Polish Duos That Are Meant To Be

I don’t know about you, but by this point in the summer, my hands and feet are looking… less than pretty. After a summer spent tromping around New York City in sandals, getting assaulted by mosquitos every evening, and sadly living without professional mani-pedis, my hands and feet have certainly seen better days. So, when […]

Pretty Simple :: French Braid Bun

French braids bring back so many childhood memories… I had hair down my back growing up and I pretty much lived in some kind of braid. I love how sophisticated and “grown up” this updated version of the french braid looks. Once you master this classic braid, you can really have fun by trying it […]

Decoder :: The Best End of Summer Scents

August can leave us ladies in quite a pickle: on one hand, fragrance can be a lovely reprieve from inevitable ripeness of our sweatier, stickier state. On the other, the last thing we need is to overwhelm our senses even more with a too-strong fragrance. As someone who has a love-hate relationship with summer (I […]

Pretty Simple :: The Subtle Shimmer

Don’t you just love it when a new eyeshadow or lipstick completely shakes up your makeup routine? As a makeup artist, even I can get in a product rut. We all need our go-to “five minute face”, but it’s good to try and stay open-minded to new products, too. You never know — you might […]

Decoder :: The Best Bright Lips For Every Skin Tone

Despite the fact that I love makeup and embrace trying new products with possibly too much vigor, I absolutely sympathize with women that shy away from wearing bright lipstick. First of all, poppy lipstick shades undoubtedly make a big statement — one that can make some women uncomfortable if they’re used to neutral makeup looks. […]

Pretty Simple :: Low Twist Chignon

With the temperatures rising (triple digits here in Texas), that means most of us just want our hair up and off our necks!  Martha Lynn here, and I love the idea of this braided updo as an alternative to a plain pony tail. While this look can work with casual daytime clothes, it’s sweet and […]

The Decoder :: Beach Bag Beauty Essentials

In my summerland fantasy, I make like Anne Marie Chadwick (Kate Bosworth’s character in Blue Crush, one of my favorite movies as a teen) and simply brush my teeth before putting on my bikini, grabbing my surfboard, and dashing to the ocean to hang ten. Unfortunately, my reality is a little more complicated (girly?) than that — […]

Pretty Simple :: Coral Lip

This summer I’m finding myself skipping the reds and pinks and going for a bright coral lip. As with any bold lip color, you can go lighter on other areas on your face and let the lips take center stage — that means high impact with a minimal effort (which is an A+ in my […]

The Decoder :: Summer Skincare 101

It’s the Sophie’s Choice of sun care in our new hyper-informed world: To tan, or not to tan? Of course, we’ve now all had the mantra of no sun, ever drilled into our heads for years now, with the threat of premature aging and cancer looming over our heads like proverbial dark clouds. On the other hand…well, […]

Pretty Simple :: Hair Flower

I think a pretty accessory in your hair can really bring something special to even the most basic style. Martha Lynn here, and this look is no exception: instead of adding an accessory, we created one using her hair! This style is easy to achieve and you don’t have to have hair down to your […]