Every woman knows there are several different ways of looking at Valentines Day.
Your thinking…. If I’m single I’m going to stay at home in my PJs wearing no makeup with my hair in a sloppy bun, watch The Notebook and have pizza and ice cream OR I should go out with all my single girlfriends, get a cute dress and doll myself up hoping their will be some single guys out too.
If you are in a relationship, you could also be thinking that your man is taking you out somewhere so you must look super cute. Whether you love or hate this heart filled holiday, you have to admit as a women we tend to love giving ourselves a reason to get all dolled up and play with different hair and makeup looks.
Whether it be a sweet and flirty look or a romantic and striking look I am here to give you a few hair and makeup tips to achieve either of these looks. All you need to do is choose which one below fits you best and follow along step by step.
First Things First
When you are choosing the hair and makeup look you want to create for the evening first think about the color outfit you may wear. It doesn’t really matter if it is a shirt and jeans, a dress or a jumper- you can use both of these looks that I’m going to outline with all styles of clothing.
Decide on What Features You Want to Make Pop
Whichever Valentines Day look you decide to go with, you always want to think about the features you want to draw attention to.
Have you ever looked at someone who is all done up from head to toe and your not sure where to look because there is just sooo much going on? Bold lips, bold eyes, detailed hair, heavy contouring, big statement earrings, jewelry, eye grabbing shoes (try to wear cowgirl boots canada along with this outfit to add more style to you)… Its like when Roger Rabbit gets so excited that his eyes pop out of his head and spin like crazy!
We want to try to avoid this. Think about your favorite features- this could be your eyes, lips, or just having flawless skin. The key is making them pop.
Create a Sweet and Flirty Valentines Day Look
Makeup: Bronze Eye with a Natural Lip
- First prime your eyes with your favorite Longwear Eye primer – I am using MAC Paint Pot in soft Ochre for a flesh colored matte look
- Place a lighter matte skin colored shade from lash line to brow bone (this being used to set the primer and slightly brighten the lid) — Color I used is Heaven from Toofaced’s Natural Eye Palette
- Place a matte soft brown color lightly in the crease area. This will help the blending process in the next step look smoother — I used Soba by MAC
- Grab your favorite brown-bronzey cream shadow ( Beach Bronze by Bobbi is a dream), or grab an eye pencil (MAC prolong wear cream pencil in the color Teddy is amazing) to fill the lower lid area (lash line to crease), blending out with your finger or a fluffy brush (try #217 by MAC) at the crease to help the product blend easily and have that soft fading look at the crease. Repeat after me.. NO HARSH LINES. NO HARSH LINES! :)
- Go back in with the first color we used in step 1 and re-highlight right under the brow bone (directly under the eye brow)
- Tight line the lash line with liner, put mascara on and if you want to doll the eyes up a bit more pop on some of your favorite strip lashes– I’m using Demi by Ardell
- To finish up this look, simply apply the rest of your makeup by placing your favorite foundation, concealer, powder, bronzer and blush on to give yourself a flawless face
Why are we putting our foundation on after the eye makeup?
Because when using any kind of dark colors on the eyes we want to make sure we are able to wipe away any fall-out that happens to most of us right under the eye area, or at the top of the cheeks where it likes to drop, without messing up our perfectly set concealer.
Bonus: One of my-go to lip colors that myself and my clients are obsessed with when wanting to achieve a natural pop to the lips but still go a step up or two from your natural color is Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Creamy Lip Colour in Blue Raspberry! Its a creamy, shiny, build-able color that I’m in love with.
Hair: Textured French Braid Soft Bun
This look is face opening with a flirty braid in the back
- Flip your head over and from the nape of your neck to the top of your ears french braid your hair
- Place your hair in a high pony tail (think high-school cheerleader)
- With your fingers tug lightly on the hair that is tight to the scalp to bring texture and lift to that area
- Grab a sock bun (from the store) and put the pony tailed hair through the sock bun, laying the bun right where the pony tail holder is, allowing your hair to waterfall evenly all around the bun. Use a little hair spray to help add tack and help with wild flyaways
- Start in the front and start swinging the waterfalled hair clockwise until you have no ends hanging out. Bobby pin until you feel all edges are secure
- Hairspray one last time and you are a good to go!
Create a Romantic and Striking Valentines Day Makeup look
Makeup: Classic Marilyn Monroe-y Look
- Start off by placing your foundation, concealer, powder, bronzer and blush
- Prime your eyes with your favorite long wear eye primer — I am using MAC Paint Pot in soft Ochre for a flesh colored matte look
- Place a lighter matte or a light shimmer shadow from lash line to brow bone to set the primer and slightly brighten the lid– Color I used is Vanilla Loose Pigment by MAC
- Place a matte soft brown color focusing only on the crease area, with this being the focal point of the shadow– I used Kid and Soba by MAC
- Grab your favorite gel eye liner to create that striking winged liner – my all-time favorite gel liner is Laura Mercier liner in black. It stays glossy black and is waterproof & sweat proof
- Add some short black individual lashes, or some demi whispies from Ardell to add the final touches to the eye
- Add gorgeous long wear red lipstick to finish the look. Line and fill in the lips with a red lip liner to really help control the lipstick so that it doesn’t bleed into the lines of your lips. This will also help the lipstick stay on longer. Place the red lipstick over top. You can either choose matte or add some high shine gloss to make them shine
Hair: Old Hollywood Waves
- Make sure your hair hasn’t been washed for at least one day. Why? Because when your hair is not so freshly washed your hair style will stay longer
- Swing all your hair to the side you love taking selfies on and starting from the top of the crown grab 1 1/2 inch sections and curl towards your face (do so for all your curls).
- As your release the curls grab and keep hold of the curl, not letting it drop out, using a bobbi pin or a single prong clip to clip away the curl.
- Let the hair cool for at least 15-30 mins. The longer it has time to cool in that position the longer the curl will hold
- The hair setting position should look like the photo above on the left
- Unclip all hair and take a wide toothpick comb and gently brush through the curls leaving you with a beautiful side swept wave
- Bobbi pin or use a cute clip to secure the lower back area of the hair to keep it locked to the side of your choice
Have any questions about how to create these looks? Feel free to reach out by e-mail or social media.
