I Can Style U Blog

Let the Sun Shine in!

The weather is beautiful and every one’s thoughts are drifting to beaches, tanning , outdoor photo shoots and fun in the sun. 

Models will be rushing to tanning beds and outdoor pools to get swimsuit ready( and I know your tricks of going to multiple tanning salons on the same day to try to get more time in the beds!  You naughty girls!!)

Crews will be spending long hot days in the sun (and no matter how much the Vanity Squad offers sunscreen you will put it on once and forget or become to busy to reapply and end up with a terrible burn!)

Here is a reminder on why being Sun Cautious is so important!

Below are statistics from The Skin Cancer Foundation 

http://www.skincancer.org/Skin-Cancer-Facts/

I know!  You’re saying ” I like the sun! I don’t want to avoid it!” and “I don’t want to look like Dracula all summer”

You can still enjoy the sun and have a nice tan.  You just need to be a little more creative with it!

 Here are several ways:

Sunscreen                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

With so many brands of sunscreen available, selecting the right sunscreen can be difficult. These tips from the American Melanoma Foundation may help you in making your selection:

• Dermatologists strongly recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or greater year-round for all skin types. If you are fair-skinned and sunburn easily, you may want to select a sunscreen with a higher SPF to provide additional protection. Using a cream, oil or lotion is a matter of personal choice, but keep in mind that most oils do not contain sufficient amounts of sunscreen and usually have an SPF of less than 2. All sunscreens need to be reapplied, so follow the guidelines written on the sunscreen bottle. Gel sunscreens tend to sweat off and, therefore, need to be reapplied more frequently. Remember, expensive sunscreens are not necessarily of better quality.

• Choose a “broad-spectrum” sunscreen that protects against UVB and UVA radiation. PABA, or para-aminobenzoic acid, was one of the original ultraviolet B (UVB) protecting ingredients in sunscreens. However, some people’s skin is sensitive to PABA, and it also can cause staining of clothing. Today, PABA has been refined and newer ingredients called PABA esters (such as glycerol PABA, padimate A and padimate O) can be found in sunscreens. PABA and PABA esters only protect against UVB radiation, the sun’s burning rays that are the primary cause of sunburn and skin cancer. Also look for other UVB absorbers listed in the ingredients such as salicylates and cinnamates.

CLOTHING

There are several places you can purchase UV-protective clothing ands hats.  REI carries a wide range but my favorite is Sun Precautions http://www.sunprecautions.com/

SUNLESS TANNING AND SUNLESS TANNING LOTIONS

Sunless tanning products, also called self-tanners, can give your skin a tanned look without exposing it to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Sunless tanning products are commonly sold as creams, gels, lotions and sprays you apply to your skin. Professional spray-on tanning also is available at many salons, spas and tanning businesses.

This one is for all my lovely models.   I am hoping you agree with me when I say that sometimes we all need a refresher course.  Remember  you are a mirror of what people want to strive-for, become or look like one day reflecting the image the client wants to portray.

 Models expressing their opinion at inappropriate times.  When to express them and when to repress them.

The following scenarios happen more times than not:

MODEL SCENARIO #1:
The stylist dresses you in clothing that the client has selected according to the look they are trying to achieve.  In some situations the stylist contacted  companies a month in advance to secure the latest trends in your sizes and sometimes the stylist has searched high-and-low, all-around-town, and late into the night to acquire the specific requested items.

You put them on, you walk out into a room full of clients, producers, photographer, etc.

You sulk around looking miserable and the client asks you “Do you like it?” and you reply “I hate it” or “It should be shorter” or “I would never wear this”.

They were asking your opinion to be nice, plain-and-simple. The client does not really want your opinion. The client has a specific look they are trying to achieve and the stylist pulled according to their directive.
 
I don’t care if they put you in a banana suit and asked you to sing “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, you should wear that like you own it! Be the “sexiest hottest banana” you can be!

If there is some sort of major problem with the outfit please talk to the stylist privately. Do not discuss the issue in room full of people.

We are here to work with you not against you, we want you to look your best (within the parameters the client gave us).

MODEL SCENARIO #2:
The same can be said for the makeup. On numerous occasions I have watched a client give the makeup artist instructions on how they want the makeup—the artist brings that description to fruition only to have the model sneak off to the bathroom to change it and magically appear on set completely different—then the client confronts the makeup artist with a “What happened? Why didn’t you follow my instructions?” Don’t be “Mary Kay” and start your own make-up business right then and there – trust in the artisan, believe that they will create an amazing effect on you that will translate beautifully to film.

After you read this blog post please read the one called “Models Causing Mayhem” as well.