Sebastian Hair Backstage at Alice & Olivia Video

Here's  a good look at what happens backstage at fashion week via Sebastian  and lead stylist Thomas Dunkin.  Stacey Bendet of Alice and Olivia talks and I spy Sarah Lucero of Stila doing the makeup.  Love the Grace Kelly updo reference photo they use.

Sebastian Backstage at Pamela Love for NYFW

Sebastian provided hair for the Pamela Love show during NYFW last month. No secret how much I adore their products and lead stylist Thomas Dunkin even mentions one of my favorites- Gel Forte.

I am totally jonesing for some of that jewerly. Well almost all of that jewelry.

The whole video gives a great behind the scenes look at exactly how it is backstage. It's a fun place to be and watching this is making me long to be back there ( minus the very bad flu that mostly kept me away).The venue was Milk Studios with MAC providing makeup.

Sebastian Volupt Collection

I call Sebastian hairsprays " the gold standard" I just told a fellow beauty blogger that 2 weeks ago when she asked about great hairsprays and said she had never ( gasp) tried Sebastian.

Their Shaper Plus, Shaper Fierce and Re-Shaper are all staples for me and mine . I like Shaper Fierce and Plus the best, but the Mom uses all 3 plus regular Shaper. I suspect over the past 15 years she may be the one keeping the company going. Then last week, the Dad ran out of his cheaper spray, grabbed her Shaper Plus, got chastised that night, but noted " That's good stuff, my hair didn't move all day". And he works outside . Do they sell company stock ?

So now there is Volupt. The line is a spray , volume- boosting shampoo and volumizing conditioner.

The Volupt spray is a leave in spray- gel that gives great root lift and overall volume . Spray in, style and vavoom volume, epecially if used with the coordinating shampoo/conditioner . All are meant to give that volume while keeping hair soft and weightless.

To celebrate the launch Sebastian teamed up with vertical thrillist Rose Mallare from Fuerza Bruta and a special 4 piece set was put together. You get all 3 hair products plus a makeup bag for $ 40.00 ( This is a good deal). Find it at Sebastian salons as well as individual product.

Also, a contest is going on to win a trip to NYC to see Fuerza Bruta and more.

The "Big in NYC Volupt Sweeps" runs through June 30th.

You can win:

2 round-trip plane tickets
2 tickets to see Fuerza Bruta
3-day, 2-night stay at the W Hotel
$500 shopping spree

Enter here or read more about all Sebastian: http://www.sebastianprofessional.com/en_US/volupt_sweeps/

Sebastian Texture Collection

Sebastian Texturizer is part of a small new line called Texture from the company. New products from Sebastian are always worth checking out. After all their Shaper hairspray line is not just a staple here but for stylists everywhere. While this new Texture line is geared more towards giving those with long hair the texture and hold but softness they crave, it's been great on my short hair as well.

My favorite of the line is called a liquid gel , full name Sebastian Texturizer Flexible Bodifying Liquigel , but is really more gel. Just a thinner gel than others like their Liquid Steel.

Texturizer gave me great styling ( applied in damp hair before drying) , great lift, good style hold and piecey-ness. All the things I want. Nothing to weigh my hair down or add any greasiness to it. Worked as well as my gels and my hair was left super soft .

Also new are :

Matte Putty- Soft-dry Texturizer( a dry paste for piece styling, it does a nice job and will be great for dry hair. It was too much moisture for me ) and Microweb Fiber Elastic Texturizer-(inspired by the properties of spider silk – flexibility, invisibility and invincibility – to create soft texture that’s malleable and touchable . This one I haven't tested)

Great videos and more are at http://www.sebastianprofessional.com/

Sebastian at Costello Tagliapietra

Sebastian has always been one of my top hair brands. They only did a few shows this fashion week season, but the looks from Costello Tagliapietra were so pretty.

The stylist gives tips on how you can recreate some of this at home.

(The makeup here was done by MAC using Industry Powerpoint on eyes, Studio MoistureTint applied where needed, Optimistic Orange Creme Blush and Ember (new) Lipglass.)

To do a modern twist on a ‘40s staple, Sebastian Professional lead stylist Thomas Dunkin recommends a method of building texture and shape with techniques that keep the hair looking soft, romantic and not too “done.” Finish with an elastic touchable texturizer or flexible shine spray to create a look that’s elegant yet playful.

Here’s how to create your own ‘40s inspired faux bob:
1) Apply Sebastian Professional Texturizer to damp hair; distribute evenly throughout.
2) Blow hair out straight with a medium to large-sized round brush.
3) Spray hair with a flexible hairspray for added texture, section hair, curl it with a medium-sized barrel curling iron and set.
4) Take out pins, gently brush out the curls and then roll hair under, section by section, fastening it under at the neck with bobby pins.
5) Apply Microweb Fiber to hands and gently work through the front of the hair to create an imperfect, lived-in effect. Finish by misting with a strong-hold hairspray.

Products used:

Texturizer – Flexible bodifying liquigel for bendable texture
Microweb Fiber – Elastic texturizer for malleable, touchable texture
ReShaper – Brushable, humidity-resistant strong hold hairspray
Shine Define – The ultimate versatile hairspray for shine and flexible hold *(One of my absolute fav, best hairsprays )

Sebastian Hair at Charlotte Ronson's Fall show

Ok a bit more fashion week recapping. One of my fav hair brands- Sebasatian did the hair at Charlotte Ronson. I was supposed to be backstage for this but was not well that day and didn't make it. At least I got the info on the look and products even if it's not the same as being there. Lets hope for next season.

"Sebastian Professional lead stylist, Thomas Dunkin didn't want the ponytail to look too harsh so he juxtaposed a taught sleekness over the crown of the head with a natural texture at the back half of the ponytail for an interesting exit. Thomas ironed the first third of hair pin straight and misted a shimmer complex over the top of the head to create a surface shine that dramatizes the smoothness of the hair. Once combed back to a taught ponytail, the hair on the top of the head was smoothed with a shine spray and ultra-firm holding spray to control the look"

One product he used to finish the look is Shaper Fierce. This is a super haispray that I highly recommend for strong hold. Love the stuff.

Dunkin suggests layering shine stylers to maximize sleek
definition and finishing with a firm spray for controlled hold.

Try:
Trilliant – Thermal protectant and shimmer complex to add
ultra-light body and a shiny finish

Halo Mist – UV filter weightless shine spray

Shine Define – The ultimate versatile hairspray

Shaper Fierce – Ultra-firm finishing hairspray

MAC did the makeup here and that great deep lip is Chestnut and Nightmoth lip pencils blended over lip conditioner. Lip pencil used like that makes a lip that lasts for hours and is a great trick.

2008 Favorite Things

Thanks to great blogger Grayburn( over in the Netherlands) for putting together the Favorites posts this year. A number of bloggers have joined together and will all be posting today. A full list will be at the end of this post.

Some of these will be ones I have reviewed before , a few are new. I will try to include links back to the original review in case you are interested( Right now they aren't working. Will try to fix that) Also, let me say, it's hard to pick the favorites as I really liked much of what I tried/used. So these are the very tops.

Please add in the comments what some of your favorites were. I love lists like that and there are so many choices and opinions out there.

-Favorites 2008-

-MAC Tendertones- makes the list again this year. New shades, same great balm. Color, tons of moisture, a little gloss. If only they came in a tube, could it be better.

-Bobbi Brown Glitter Lip Balms- I didn't think anything could sway me from my Tendertone love, but these are up there with them. My eyes lit up when I found out there would be a bronzy lip balm. You hardly ever see that. Copper Bronze is so beautiful, it's perfect. A warm , not too dark, but definitely there, golden brown with plenty of shimmer. Not only that but it moisturizes in a big way, and the color and moisture last really long. It's unusual to get long color out of a balm. It will wear down some but still be there for hours. I use this instead of lipstick a lot. Again, if only it was in a stick, but I'll take what I can get. The Pink and Clear versions are nice too.Review Here

- Biotherm Multi Recharge Energizing Eye Care serum- something that didn't make it to a regular review, but I wanted to. A great light serum. Sinks in fast and is so refreshing and slightly cooling. It only gives a little moisture but does firm and just feels so good after a long day or first thing in morning. Peps up and soothes the eye area and has mother of pearl for brightening.

- Chanel Beige perfume- Chanel managed to give us one of the best this year, or any. Beige went straight to the top of my favorite perfumes ever list and if you saw my collection, you'd know that was major. I always have a hard time describing it, but lets say it's a bit floral, a hint of honey and barely there warm woods . It's just beautiful, thats all. This is my favorite of the year in beauty period. Review Here

- By Kilian Prelude To Love - Another gorgeous scent. This one is all citrus and a little floral. Zesty and wonderful. My new favorite By Kilian. Review Here

- The Body Shop Cranberry Body Butter- ok this isn't new, but it sort of is. No more parabens . I had stopped using the butters for awhile as I wished they were paraben free. Now they are and I am back in love with my most favorite Cranberry butter. The smell is a bit different from when I last used it and it's pink now instead of of white, but it still is awesome smelling and moisturizing. Glad to be back together with it.

- Sebastian Liquid Steel Styling Gel- another product thats been on the "to post" list. My all time favorite hair gel ever was Sebastian Control Top. This is their newer gel and it's pretty darn good too. Serious hold and styling ability. No grease, wax or shine. The name says it all.

-L'Oreal Beauty Tubes mascara- mascara that never ever runs, or smudges, stays put all day & night. Lengthens in a big way , even adds some volume. Honorable mention to Estee Lauder TurboLash- truly fabulous, super long lashes and long wearing.

Clinique Turnaround Concentrate- this is a release from last year but it made tops this year as I used it all summer and fall. A fab product for people like me who have super oily skin especially in hot,humid summers. About the only thing I can put on my face in summer. Makes skin glowy and smooth and because it's a gel serum, it feels cool going on. I tend to love this whole line so wondering if the new body version will make next years tops? About to test it shortly.

-Eve Lom Cuticle Cream- Best stuff I have used. My nails look so shiny . They are also stronger and the cuticle and area around the nails is staying more moisturized. A tiny bit does several nails . It just works. Review Here

- MAC Pearlglide eyeliners- Oh the colors. Bankroll and Rave, swoon. Wolf is great too. I can't use these enough but don't want to wear them down either . You want fast color with no effort , grab one . They go on smooth, creamy, and shimmery. I want them all and in backups. Too bad they were LE, but some counters have a few left. I only bought Wolf a few weeks ago.

-Lady Caron Parfum- A longtime fan of Lady Caron in EDP( thanks to Blogdorf Goodman contributor Cavewoman), I tried the pure parfum recently. It was mind altering. There is nothing like pure parfum in general, and this was just glorious white florals. Not loud, but stunning.

-Biotherm Eau Pure Body Spray/Fragrance- the second Biotherm on the list. I don't think many summer days went by when I didn't spray this on. Refreshing citrus , immediately uplifting on a hot day.Review Here

- Nixie Large Fan Brush- Do I use this brush a lot? No. Do I love it? Yes. It's just the coolest and it is wonderful for bronzers and Mineralize Skinfinishs from MAC. Great quality and fun.

Full List of Bloggers doing the Favorites:

Beautiful Makeup Search

Beauty 411

Beauty Talk

Beauty Tyrant

Binary Star

'*:.blu3.:*'

For The Love of Beauty

Grayburn

Life Of A Ladybug

lily loves mac

Make Do Style

Miss Whoever You Are

Perfume Shrine

Platinum Blonde Life

Searching the Inner Me

Slap Of The Day

The Beauty Alchemist

The non-blonde

Urbane Girl