Nail Theory

Hi Everyone!

Very much overdue for a blog post, so I thought I'd share a few nail designs that I've done over the past few months for different editorials!

Quick backstory to my "Nail Art", Nails were my obsession when I was younger, second only to a new tube of lipstick. At every chance I'd spend my allowance on little baggies of press on nails and sparkly nail art, I remember I used to be frustrated that my press-ons didn't look "thick" like some ladies nails. Until I finally discovered that it was acrylic and NOT 100 coats of nail polish, hey! Don't judge, I was thirteen!

It's fun having a third outlet for my creativity on set.

Aqua Glitter Nails

Gold Leaf Nails

Soft Nude Nails

Fishnet Nails

Galaxy Nails

Purple Drop Nails

Reverse Halfmoon Nails

Bionic Nails

nail art

Saj Mack is a Professional Makeup Artist in Atlanta Georgia providing over 6 years experience in Beauty, Commercial, Film, Television, Special FX and more. See her work at www.makeupbysaj.com

"Just" How Disrespectful Are You To An Artist

It's been a minute since I've blogged in this tone i.e vent/mini rant.

But I wanted to share my rage feelings and thoughts about the word "Just"

Let's look at it again.....

" Just"

As a freelance makeup artist and hairstylist I hear that word often, and over the course of 8 years, it has become an instant trigger for this reaction:

But why Saj? Okay, I'll tell you

Phone call exibit A: " Hi I'm Someone That Wants Your Services But I Don't Really Respect What You Do,  I'd like to know how much it is JUST for my makeup and hair to be done for my uber important event"

Phone call exhibit B: " Hi I'm Another Person That Wants Your Services But I Don't Really See The Need To Pay You,  I too have an uber important event and JUST need makeup and hair so how much"

Phone call exhibit C: "Hi I'm One Of Those and I was referred to you by one of your clients, I'd like to know how much is it for JUST my makeup and hair to be done".

Do you see it?! ( stay with me, can u tell the emotion as I type?)

Why is there a need to add the word JUST in front of my services? I'd understand if included in a package was a new car and lifetime supply of protein powder, so you'd only JUST want makeup and hair....not the new car.

I do makeup and hair, what else could I provide but just makeup and hair?

You may think oh it's just a way of speaking. Actually, no, it's a way of being disrespectful to my profession and expertise, you are immediately, upon contact downgrading my services with the tone that this really should be craigslist cheap since it's JUST MAKEUP.

These phone calls ALWAYS end the same way, " Okay well I'm still calling other people for more prices so I'll get back to you"

(Shout out to the previous artists that they called that stuck with their rates!)

Phone Call C is always my favorite, If you were referred by a previous client, 99% sure they told you how much they paid, so you prepared your fave word "Just", because you've decided you should pay less.

I've even had the " Oh that much for just my hair? I really only need JUST curls since I'm no good at curling my own hair"

Ma'm that is actually why you should pay me.

To my fellow colleagues, understand that they are 100% aware of what you can do for them, they are 100% aware of your value, because someone at some point told them. You cannot blame someone really for trying to score a bargain, but do not be sucked into lowering yourself below your standard of business.  See this POST on standard of business and this POST on working for free.

Do you call Lowes and ask how much is it to JUST install a fence? chances are you don't.

Saj Mack is a Professional Makeup Artist in Atlanta Georgia providing over 6 years experience in Beauty, Commercial, Film, Television, Special FX and more. See her work at www.makeupbysaj.com

My Deva Cut and Experience

It was time, time to get my curly mushroom mullet shaped.

I spent some time doing research on what the Deva Cut is, the technique for both cutting and styling. Based on the (tons) of reviews on Internet land I made an informed decision. After 2 years of growing my hair with zero cuts and trims.. girl...u need to get this mop cut.

Initially I planned on waiting until I was in New York to go to the actual Devachan salon but I realized the "Review cuts" that I saw that I really loved were done by independent stylists trained in the Deva technique.

I also figured it's the same way we advise never trust a makeup artist that uses only ONE brand of product, an independent stylist won't be forced to use only the Deva products and instead would really do what my hair needs.

That's where I found Curltopia a curly hair salon here in Georgia! I booked my appointment with stylist Staci, I saw lots of positive reviews for her and they were all telling the truth!

Now to the good stuff.

I co-washed my hair the day before and styled it as usual so that I went in with second day hair. ( look at me using all these naturalista terms! )

Air drying before and day after hair before my appointment

She started shaping my hair dry based on a picture I had of a shape I liked, from You Tuber Summer Kellsey that was similar in length to my hair.

Hair shape inspiration pic from Summer Kellsey who also had a Deva Cut

I really wanted to keep as much of my length as possible with minimal bangs ( hate those..) and flexibility in the front to switch up parts etc.

Then we went to the shampoo bowl, I have to say it was the most comfortable shampoo bowl I've ever experienced, being 6ft tall the shampoo part is always a painful neck breaking experience for me, but not this time, yay!

She cleansed and conditioned my hair with Jane Carter products and spent time de-tangling with fingers only.

The styling products proved to be the tricky part ( which I expected) the Deva styling products did not work for my hair as they were not conditioning enough for my thirsty hair ...srsly thirsty..and ended up flaking at one point. So we washed that out and went in with Miss Jessie's Curl Pudding and Buttercreme combo while "noodling"

After I was dry she went back in to cut and shape some more and bring life to my hair.

The official before picture: 

BEFORE Deva Cut, in my 4 texture, thirsty hair, mushroom mullet glory...

one more time for the mushroom mullet...in case you thought i was joking

After:

After Deva Cut Shape! Shine! Definition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After Deva Cut !!!!!!!

After Deva Cut at home selfies yay! 

I love my cut so much! I also learnt a lot on how to handle the multiple textures in my hair, I have about 4.5 extremely visible different textures.

The Miss Jessie's products did work great to give me definition and shine but I'm not 100% crazy about the slightly crunchy texture, I do prefer slightly bigger/softer curls.

I've since washed and styled my hair using my regular products after having my Deva cut and the difference is so dramatic. I usually loose about 10 lbs of hair with each wash, I kid you not, two giant balls of hair, this time only a few strands of hair came out.. did you get that? a few.strands.

Staci has a loyal customer for the rest of my curly hair life.

Are you a curly girl? I'd love to hear your experience if you've had a Deva cut!

curly hair products

Saj Mack is a Professional Makeup Artist in Atlanta Georgia providing over 6 years experience in Beauty, Commercial, Film, Television, Special FX and more. See her work at www.makeupbysaj.com

My New Glam Makeup Vanity

A forever dream of mine was to have a Makeup Vanity where I could sit like a Hollywood starlet and get all pretty for my day. Years later now married with a new home it's been back in my thoughts even more. I finally decided that I should NEED to have my little "space". Now on to deciding what it should be!

I obsessed for months trying to decide if I should go with a vintage style or super modern, I knew for a fact that I didn't want to just have a "table", this baby had to be sparkly special.

*fast forward weeks of searching on Pinterest for vanities*

It was then I stumbled on a mirrored vanity. Need.want.please can I haz.

I found so many options online at different price points but I hesitated with them all, for me that usually means it's not the one, and I am so happy I did.

*cue music and spotlight*

The most random find in Home Goods, okay maybe not as random since I'm live in visit there often, but to my defense I didn't plan on going that day, I swear! It was perfect! The size height and finish!

*side bar* Can I take a moment to talk about a rude lady that shoved stepped in front of me while I was admiring my table, I turned and purchased that so fast she didn't even see it coming. It.is.mineeee. * evil laugh*  HA! Saj-1 Rude Lady-0

Now to find a mirror for the wall above! Originally I planned on a rectangle shaped mirror to hang above, but I decided on this piece:

Another random find, I went to Ikea to prep for a shoot and walked past this mirror. I've seen this mirror a hundred times and was never interested in it, but that day I stopped at its perfectness for this project.

Yay DIY time!

I painted it a few different shades of grey and silver to give it a Pewter finish, I was aiming for a slightly darker tone to the table.

Here is the finished set up!

My makeup now happily lives in a cute 5 drawer acrylic box, where they enjoy being on display.

I accessorized with a crystal beaded table top mirror and crystal perfume bottles and chair from TjMaxx.

I'm still hoarding adding cute little knick knacks to it, I'm trying my best not to cover the entire surface of the table lol. I also plan on printing two of my wedding photos for the small frame.

Do you have a special vanity set up? I'd love to see!

Xoxo

Saj

Saj Mack is a Professional Makeup Artist in Atlanta Georgia providing over 6 years experience in Beauty, Commercial, Film, Television, Special FX and more. See her work at www.makeupbysaj.com

Make Up For Ever Pro Brush Launch

Event: Make Up For Ever Pro Brush Launch

@ New Museum Sky Room NYC

What They Say: 

"As the fundamental tool for the MAKE UP FOR EVER universe, the brush has always been an essential element since the creation of the brand in 1984. The brushes have been developed and improved over time, and are now close to a new level of perfection.

WITH THIS COLLECTION’S LAUNCH, MAKE UP FOR EVER HAS CREATED TOOLS THAT WILL MEET BOTH THE MOST SPECIFIC DESIRES AND THE SIMPLEST OF NEEDS.

For the choice of materials, Dany Sanz, creator & Artistic director of the brand, selected from a variety of technological breakthroughs in terms of synthetic fibers of the most perfect quality, close to the silky softness that natural hair offered in the past.

The basic essential brushes have been combined with the most technical tools, for professionals with skillful strokes who seek out specific shapes and particular effects, especially for body painting.

The collection is both useful and highly creative, and it will meet all the needs and desires of make-up artists and make-up brush enthusiasts (foundation, blush and powder application, etc.) around the world.

With this new range of brushes, there is an even stronger link to the world of painting and artistic creation. MAKE UP FOR EVER is showing more than ever how close it is to the cutting edge of innovation with this bold, radical (choosing to create a range of 100%newsyntheticfibers), ambitious (a vast offer of 76 references) and highly creative (new shapes, original tools) collection."

Saj Mack is a Professional Makeup Artist in Atlanta Georgia providing over 6 years experience in Beauty, Commercial, Film, Television, Special FX and more. See her work at www.makeupbysaj.com