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  • About Us
  • Read Geaux Girl!

The New Orleans summer is hot, humid, and loooong. Local beauty experts Brittani Irons and Zariane “Zari” Nuñez showed our cover models, Gianni (14) and Summer (16), how to keep looking fresh and radiant no matter what.

Bring it on, NOLA summer!

Brittani’s vision:

“HEALTHY BEACH HAIR”

Brittani Irons of In the Master’s Hands Salon and Spa (@hairartist_brittani)

Zari’s vision:

“GLOWING SKIN & A POP OF COLOR FOR THE EYES”

 Zariane Nuñez of Czar Cosmetics (@czarcosmetics)

Brittani’s Survival Guide for your hair this summer:

  • During the summer, your hair may need to be shampooed more than usual; use conditioner each time. Always shampoo with a clarifying shampoo after swimming.
  • Cover and/or coat your hair when swimming and in the sun for long periods of time. UVA and UVB rays can damage your hair and scalp. (Hair can be coated with cholesterol, conditioner or heavy moisturizer.) Even when you’re not poolside or lounging on the beach, cover your hair as much as possible with a hat or scarf on sunny days.
  • For fine hair, dry shampoo is a fast and easy way to remove oiliness from the hair without cleansing it.
  • For coarser hair textures, doing a co-wash (aka conditioner-only washing) is a fast and easy option for a midweek refresher without thoroughly cleansing the hair.
  • Drink lots of water to keep your skin and hair hydrated!

Keep in mind: Everyone’s hair is different. The best way to know exactly how to care for your tresses is to have a consultation with a licensed hair care professional.

BEACH WAVES are the ultimate way to show off your healthy hair in the summer. Here’s how Brittani gave Gianni and Summer their beachy waves:

Brittani wrapped wide sections of Summer’s hair flat around the curling iron, leaving the ends out, to create a soft, relaxed look.

To create a tighter, spiral-like curl, Brittani twisted small sections of Gianni’s hair before wrapping them around the curling iron. After removing the iron, you can loop up the curled sections and fasten them with a clip. Leaving them like this for a little while will give your hair additional texture.

Sugar scrubs are a great way to exfoliate and moisturize your skin. Zari swears by this easy-to-make-at-home scrub to let your skin shine. And it works just as amazing for your lips!

FACE & LIP SUGAR SCRUB

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup honey

Mix the white and brown sugar, then add the remaining ingredients and keep stirring until blended completely. Honey is naturally hydrating and soothing. The coconut oil adds an extra layer of moisture after the sugars remove dull surface cells. To use, apply the scrub to your lips or face and rub gently in a circular motion for 30-60 seconds. Rinse, then moisturize. Do this every other day before bed for baby-soft skin and oh-so-smooth lips.

This scrub is best kept in a sealed plastic container (always on sale at Michaels). Store the scrub in a cool, dry place.

ZARI’S MAKEUP TIPS:

If needed, begin by lightly filling in the brows with dark-colored eyeshadow or a brow pencil (BH COSMETICS for Summer; NYX for Gianni), starting at the end to make the tail more prominent. If you have fair skin or light-colored hair, a great rule of thumb is to choose the color for your brows based on the color of your hair roots so you get the most natural result.

Adding a pop of highlighter (WET N WILD) to the brow bone gives the illusion of a more defined brow without doing anything to your brows. It’s better to leave them to grow than to over-pluck and tweeze. Full brows are a trend that keeps coming back!

To make Gianni’s eyes pop, Zari used a soft pink eyeshadow (BH COSMETICS) and applied it in gentle swiping motions from left to right to give the eyelid some color. If you want your eyes to shine even more, use the same highlighter from the brow for the inner corner of the eyes.

By lining the bottom of the lash line with blue eyeshadow (BH COSMETICS Take Me to Brazil Palette), Zari made Summer’s green eyes appear more intense. You can add a pop of highlighter in the inner corner for this look as well.

To complete your summer eye look, brush the pink across the bottom of your lash line, then add mascara (WET N WILD)!

To brighten your entire face, give the cheeks some color along the cheekbone near the apples of the cheeks. Zari used a soft pink blush (COVERGIRL Blush Trio) for Summer. You can also apply a light layer of your favorite lip gloss (Zari used NYX). Glitter glosses are extremely popular these days!

Thank you to In The Master’s Hands Salon & Spa (inthemastershands.com) for partnering with us and letting us take over the salon!