Insider Tips From Portland's Grooming Experts
Image: Amanda Lanzone
If you’ve yet to read our Grooming Guide, best to get to it. The all-inclusive guide tells you who to see for shaping hair, removing hair, adding hair, and yes, non-hair related needs as well. We gathered some of Portland's best beauty minds to give their insider tips on primping.
Peach swears by Lime Crime.
"With the cold weather I feel like not only is my skin dryer, but also my hair. I use Oribe's Gold Lust Shampoo and Conditioner that not only is moisturizing, but lightweight. This is great for all types of hair that need some love.
My favorite makeup is a bold lip and I am obsessed with Lime Crime's Velvetine lip colors. They go on glossy and dry matte, allowing you to eat and drink all day with out fading.
I am also obsessed with Enzo Milano curling wands to give that beachy, not trying too hard look. It’ll give you a nice bend in the hair with out making it look too overdone. "
"Everyone appreciates small pores. In order to change the size of your pores, it is extremely helpful to have manual deep pore cleaning (extraction) in facials. Pores clog from the inside of the skin, and, in my experience, (28 years of doing facials) it is near to impossible to dramatically change their size through the use of products, machines, or chemicals used at the surface. Rather, by manually pushing out clogged pores as part of a consistent facial service, room is created for the pore to heal and shrink in size."
Starks sporting her own natural curl.
"Know your curl pattern and texture! Are you a 3a, 4b/c, or a mix of patterns? Do you have a rough texture or is your cuticle smooth? Once you know your natural hair you can learn how to best care for and mange it. You can learn to modify and style your curls to your liking and you will understand which products work with your specific pattern and texture. Finger-combing is a curlfriends best friend. Many of us are using combs way too much, the wrong way, or even the wrong type of comb. I'd suggest starting your detangling with your fingers and then if necessary use a wide-tooth comb at the ends only if you can remove dense, matted tangles. (I only fully detangle with a comb if I'm going to braid hair). And never, I mean never use a parting comb to detangle. You will lose more hair than ever this way! Sometimes we curly girls use methods intended for straight hair on our hair and we end up with breakage, frizz, unnecessary pain, and frustration."
"If you're headed out and you don't have time to revamp your hair, spray in some Death Valley dry shampoo from R+Co, pull it up into a loose top knot by twisting it around on itself and secure with a hair elastic. Leave it up for at least 15 minutes or as long as it takes for you to get to the party.... When you let it down, you'll have some volume and movement and the winter frizzies will be calmed down. Easy peasy.
Buy great shampoo and conditioner. If you spent the money for your stylist's knowledge and expertise, you really want it to last and your shampoo makes a huge difference. For color treated hair we love R+Co's Gemstone shampoo and conditioner: paraben-free, sulphate-free, with UV filters (yes, you still need that in Portland) and concentrated so it lasts. For those of us with dry locks (face it, all of us) go with Oribe Gold Lust Repair and Restore Shampoo. Anti aging hair care has never smelled this fantastic. The Gold Lust products from Oribe are all about bringing youth back to strands with scalp exfoliating enzymes and nourishing argan and maracuja oils."
If you're not up for the drama of eyelash extensions, Midori says perming is a more subtle option. The results last 1-2 months and cost just $35 a pop.
"Lash extensions are sometimes not ideal for everyone, such as those who are more active and prefer a low maintenance beauty enhancement. Lash Perming helps to open up the eye area by temporarily curling the lashes, which can last for approximately 6 weeks. When paired with an eyelash serum like Revitalash it's a comparable alternative to extensions.
Use LED Light Therapy (Light-emitting diode). A UV-free way to receive beneficial light rays so your body can naturally regenerate cells, which helps to increase collagen and elastin production, reduce inflammation, speed healing, increase circulation, and destroy acne bacteria. A rewarding compliment to a well formulated daily skin care routine and facials. "
"Prepping is the most important and overlooked part of the shaving process. A good prep opens the pores and cleanses and softens the skin. To prepare the skin for a smooth shave, always shave after or at the end of a hot shower. Always use a high quality shaving cream (look for those that are glycerin based) and stay away from products that contain menthol, which can close your pores and stiffen your bears. For those with especially tough bears or sensitive skin, a pre-shave oil (you can even use olive oil if you’re on a budget) may be applied to further soften the beard and reduce razor drag. When applying the shaving cream, use a badger shaving brush to apply the cream in a circular motion. This action will produce a better lather, lift the whiskers, and exfoliate the skin."
