Continuing Education and How it Affects You!

Hey there y’all, we hope that Thursday is treating you well!!

Our Owner and Lead Stylist Jasmine is currently in Las Vegas, Nevada, furthering her education at the Wedding MBA Convention! If you’ve followed us for a bit then by now you know that somehow all of our posts tie in together, and as we’ve previously talked about in the past, perfecting our craft not only positively impacts us, but YOU the client as well.

Not only is it required of us to take Continuing Education classes as cosmetologists, but it is extremely beneficial for us to do so. There are so many different techniques, as well as trends that come and go in this industry, and it’s super important for us to immerse ourselves in this knowledge and apply it to our own business. There is nothing better than having the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the industry, and being able to learn tips and tricks to better serve your clientele. We do as much as we can to keep ourselves up to date with what’s new and are constantly practicing to make your experience as amazing as possible!

No harm comes from perfecting your craft. As previously mentioned, not only does practicing/taking classes/etc. help us improve our technique but also helps us with our timing so that we can continue the timely manner in which we beautify our clients! Making it so that you are able to spend more time on what matters, enjoying your big day!

We are so excited to hear about how amazing and inspiring the Wedding MBA Convention was when Jasmine gets back, and cannot wait to use what she’s learned to further enhance your experience. We appreciate you all and hope that y’all have a rockin’ weekend, until next week!

Why (Not) Alter Image?!

Hey y’all! How’s this Thursday treating you?

Engaged and still searching for the right Glam Squad for you? We’re here to help! If you’d like to know more about the experience we provide here at Alter Image, keep reading below. Be sure to visit our previous posts, as well as our Instagram @alterimagecharleston, to see some shots and sneak peeks of our work!

What Makes Us Different

When you book with Alter Image, you will have a pleasant and stress-free experience from the time you first reach out to us! Not only is it simple to contact us to book/send us inquiries, but we will take the time to ensure all of your questions are answered promptly. We aim to please, and if there’s anything that we can do to help, just let us know! Whether it’s questions about where to start looking for vendors, or even concerns you may have regarding your wedding day look, visit our contact page and we’ll get back to you in a flash.

To piggyback off of our previous point, we make sure to keep an open line of communication. We love to coordinate times with you, your planner and your photographer(s), to guarantee that you as well as your party’s services are completed within enough time for you to do what you need to do! No need to stress over being ready on time for getting ready photos, we’ve got you covered!

Everything that we do, we do in a timely manner! We also provide our clients with a timeline of services, so that everyone (stylists, bridesmaids, photographers, etc.) is aware of what services need to be completed within what time frames. What’s better than being able to spend quality time with your loved ones and to enjoy the getting ready process without having to worry about who should be in who’s chair next?! Grab that mimosa and chat with your girls!

We Take a Limited Number of Bookings (Per Year!)

As mentioned in this portion of the blog’s title, we only take a limited amount of bookings each year! Right now we cap it off at 51 weddings per year, so if you’d like to secure your space, act fast! We love answering questions and providing help where we can, so if there’s any additional information that you need, visit our Contact Us page.

We always suggest booking in advance when possible, and we will be having a slight price increase effective after November 30th, 2018. So if you’d like to lock in your 2019 wedding date, trial date, etc. at our 2018 prices, reach out to us ASAP!! Again, we only take a limited amount of bookings per year, so jump on it if you don’t want to miss out!

As previously stated, the best way to contact us is by visiting our Contact Us page, at the top of our website. This is especially the best point of contact for appointment bookings, as well as general pricing inquiries. So what’re you waiting for? Head over to that page and let’s have a chit chat! We look forward to hearing from you, and hope that y’all have an amazing weekend. Until next time!

The Importance of Perfecting Your Craft

Hey y’all, happy Thursday!! Have you had time to reflect yet today?

This week we wanted to talk about how important it is to take time to perfect your craft. Whether you’re a hairstylist, florist, photographer, etc. you should always be doing something to further your skills. If you know us or have been following us for a while, you know that we’ve always got our hands in hair and makeup!

We love doing training sessions for our team, and the pictures for today’s blog are from the previous session led by Jasmine for our stylist Shelby! Even if it’s just taking a few minutes each day to stay on top of the latest trends, immersing yourself in the industry you’re in will keep you inspired and eager to broaden your skills. You can always learn something, so let’s make the most of our screen time!

Taking the time to perfect your craft not only allows you to expand your knowledge, but also gives you the opportunity to tweak your techniques! By having some extra tips in your bag, you’ll be able to answer more of your client’s questions, and maybe even be able to better direct them when it comes to knowing what they want. And as if it couldn’t get any better, practicing often helps with timing, so you’ll be able to do more in less time! Score!! So what are you waiting for? Get to practicing, and let us know your favorite way to perfect your craft!!

Here is the Final look that we did on our Model who is currently Engaged. We gave a a soft tousled Round Brush Blow Out. For her Makeup she has on Traditional Foundation for one of our favorite Brands that can last up to 18 Hours long. We went with a soft Day Time Look for her and gave her some amazing Lash Clusters.

Tips for Healthy Hair

Happy Thursday y’all, we hope you’re doing well and our thoughts are with everyone being affected by Hurricane Michael.

This week we wanted to share with you all three tips to help you on how to keep your hair thriving!! Everyone wants healthy hair, but sometimes it helps to keep the following tips in mind to have your tresses in tip-top shape.

Tip #1: Hydration!!

Now we’re sure that you’ve heard this a million times before, but the best way to keep your mane looking it’s best is staying hydrated! This doesn’t just mean drinking plenty of water, which is definitely a key point, but it also means keeping your hair moisturized as well. Drinking water will help you stay hydrated from the inside out, but you also need to be sure to keep your scalp and ends hydrated. Deep conditioning treatments are a great way to do this. If you apply a lot of heat, are chemically treated, or your hair is just on the drier side, you can also use a heavier oil to moisturize, otherwise a light oil is just fine! Massaging the oil into your scalp a few times a week will also increase blood flow, which promotes hair growth!

Tip #2: Use Sulfate-Free Products

Sound familiar? If you’re color treated or have had any other chemical process done, we won’t be surprised if you’ve heard this from your stylist! Even if you have virgin hair, using products that are free of sulfates and other harsh chemicals will tremendously improve your hair game. Products that contain these products can not only be drying, but strip color and your hair of it’s natural oils as well. You also want to keep a lookout to make sure that your conditioners don’t contain any alcohol!

Tip #3: Add a Supplement into Your Routine

Lastly, adding a hair, skin and nails vitamin definitely doesn’t hurt! Of course, we aren’t doctors, so always be sure to talk to your doctor before taking new supplements! Taking a hair, skin and nail vitamin, is a great idea especially if you are mainly looking to maintain your hair’s health with the possibility of growth as an added bonus! If supplements aren’t for you, you can always talk to your doc about other dietary changes you can make to help your hair stay healthy.

We hope that we were able to give you at least a couple of new tips to add to your hair care bag! What did you think, will you be using these tips to enhance your locks?!

Thomas House and Garden Ridgeway, South Carolina

Hey there, happy Thursday everyone!

This past Monday we had the privilege of going back to Thomas House and Garden in Ridgeway, SC to work on an amazing shoot with Heather Benge, the founder of Styled Shoots of America! This gorgeous venue, owned by Jessica Drew, also of Jessica Drew Photography, is one we were so excited to return to!

We’re so thrilled that we were able to travel back to Ridgeway earlier this week! It is such a cute town, and we’re so obsessed with Thomas House and Garden! Not only is this venue beautiful, but the natural light y’all…GORGEOUS! It was such a pleasure working with so many wonderful photographers and vendors, and to get to travel back to such a breathtaking place!

At this styled shoot, both Jasmine and Shelby did hair and makeup for each model! The look for this shoot was very soft and natural. Jasmine created a look for Kennedy Kapanzhi, and Shelby a look for Ashton Crow. Kennedy wore a beautiful, low messy bun, and Ashton wore a beautiful and boho inspired half-up half-down style.

It was so much fun to see so many creative people in one space! We got to work with some amazing vendors, and got a glimpse at an awesome floral workshop in action. Thomas House and Garden is seriously such an amazing place y’all, and we’re so eager for you to see how the pictures turned out! Head over to our Instagram and Facebook if you haven’t already to see some gorgeous photos!

The Venue:

The Thomas House and Garden is Perfectly located in Ridgeway, SC - a  quintessential small southern town, The Thomas House & Garden is only  ten minutes from Blythewood, twenty-five minutes to downtown Columbia, thirty minutes to Irmo and Lexington, and one hour to Charlotte.

"What's Your Why?" Stylist Spotlight Series

Hey Gorgeous!

Today’s Blog is feature our very own Communications and Social Media Manager Shelby! She has been working with us now for a while and aside from helping out on the back end she is a major key part of our team. Not only does she makes our clients feel amazing she is an amazing hair and makeup artist in the Carolina

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Hello everyone, welcome back and happy Thursday!

First, we’d like to send our best regards to those affected by Hurricane Florence this past week. We hope that y’all are safe, and experienced minimal to no damage during this trying time.

This week we’re going to be starting our “What’s Your Why” series, in which we’ll be giving you an introduction to each of our stylists/team members, and giving some insight as to what led us to do what we love.

The Stylist: Shelby Lace

Q: What made you decide to go to school for Cosmetology?

A: I actually discovered my passion for Cosmetology in high school! I was in theater and was fortunate enough to have multiple opportunities to help with hair and makeup for a few of our productions, and learned how to do special effects makeup in class. After going to college for 2 years, I decided that it was time for me to turn my longing into action and pursue my passion thus making the switch to cosmetology school!

Q: What joy did you want to bring to clients after upon receiving services from you?

A: The joy that I want to bring to each client after receiving services from me, is the feeling of “Wow, I look and feel like an enhanced version of myself!” There’s nothing more rewarding to me than knowing someone feels comfortable in their own skin, and it’s important to me that they know that their beauty was there all along! We simply enhance the canvas we are given.

Q: Why do you enjoy what you do?

A: Call it cheesy if you must, but I honestly enjoy what I do because I know that I am doing something to bring someone happiness. As I said before, nothing makes me feel better than seeing someone look at themselves in a mirror after and watching a huge grin appear on their face! I love it!

Q: How are you perfecting your craft?

A: I am perfecting my craft by keeping myself as immersed in the beauty industry as possible! Whether it be reading articles/searching Instagram hashtags to find out the latest trends, or reading and watching the materials given to me by our amazing owner and lead stylist, I like to try to keep myself in the know! Practicing different styles in my down time helps as well.

We hope that you enjoyed learning a little bit more about our stylist, Shelby Lace. We always want to to know “What’s Your Why?”!

Karmen and Kerry gets married at the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina

Wedding Details and Mentions

Wedding Venue Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina

Wedding Photographer The Wedding Click

Hair and Makeup Altler-Image

Top 3 Wedding Venues in Charleston, South Carolina

Welcome back to the blog!

Today we are talking about our favorite top 3 luxury wedding venues location in Charleston,SC

Top three wedding Venues location in Charleston South Carolina!

When it comes to big events, location is EVERYTHING!! We love helping out our brides, especially in the early stages, and what better way to do so than to help you start your search for the perfect vendors? This week we wanted to provide all of our lovely brides to be with a quick list of the most popular wedding venues at the moment! 

Historic Rice Mill

This beautiful, waterfront venue also overlooks the Ashley River, and is located at 17 Lockwood Drive, Charleston, SC. The Historic Rice Mill was built in 1861, and offers a breathtaking event space.

This venue is also perfect for weddings of all shapes and sizes, and is definitely worth looking into especially if you're in the market for a place that offers event space for both indoor and outdoor weddings/events!

We hope that these few were helpful suggestions, and will make the planning process a little bit easier. We've listed the websites within each title to help you if you'd like to get more information about these venues. Be sure to keep a lookout for our YouTube video tomorrow, where our very own Jasmine Jones shows you how she perfects a beautiful, tousled blowout!

Lowndes Grove Plantation

Lowndes Grove Plantation is an absolutely breathtaking venue! Located off the Ashley River, there's something so special about the way that the sun shines on this place, and when your décor is in place -- talk about magical! It is located in the Downtown Charleston area, at 266 St. Margaret Street, and has the space available for you to get ready onsite which our carolina bridal hair and makeup team loves!

The Cedar Room

The Cedar Room located at 701 East Bay Street, The Cedar Room takes the cake for ultimate spaces. This venue is ideal for those who like to have a little bit more space, and is perfect for those with larger guest lists!

This venue strongly encourages making an appointment for venue tours, so be sure to head to their website for more information!

If your a bride to be getting married in the Charleston, South Carolina area and looking for a gorgeous wedding venue we hope that we were of help to you. Don’t forget to get on to our beauty news letter to see a few behind the scenes of our owner Jasmine and Hair and Makeup Videos to check out!

What is a Hair and Makeup Trial Run For?

If you're newly engaged and have already started the process of deciding on what you'd like your hair and makeup to look like on your big day, then you've likely heard about or been asked about booking something called, a 'Bridal Trial'. So, what exactly IS a Bridal Trial and are they worth it?!

Typically, once you've found the team or person you'd like to provide hair and makeup services for you, the stylist/makeup artist (MUA) will suggest that you book a trial with them prior to your wedding date.

 Bridal Trials are an extremely useful service when it comes to choosing a wedding hairstyle and makeup look, especially if you're feeling unsure!During a Bridal Trial, your hair and/or makeup artist, (who will likely be the person providing your services day of) will be there to help you brainstorm different ideas for both hair and makeup looks. 

Finding and bringing in pictures of inspiration for different looks via Instagram, Pinterest, magazines etc. will make your trial go much more smoothly, as well as insure that you and your service provider are on the same page. If you're using Pinterest as a medium for inspirational photos, this is the perfect time to make use of those wedding boards! Creating a separate 'Wedding Hair' board is a great way to keep your ideas organized, and in one place so that they're easy to pull up during your Bridal Trial. Bridal Trials are also great tools because they grant you the opportunity to make any necessary changes if the look that you choose, isn't actually the look that you wanted.

One of the best things that you can do for yourself before your wedding to help ease stress is to be proactive. The last thing that you want to be worried about on your wedding day is the way you look, so why wait until the day of to figure out what does and doesn't work?! Being a bride can be stressful enough, that's why we try to offer services that will only make your life easier!

So, what do you think? Are you convinced that trials are a godsend?! Let us know by leaving a comment and share your new Bridal Trial knowledge with a fellow Bride to Be!

Photo Mentions & Details

Venue Society Hall

Wedding photographer Candi Leonard

Flowers My Darling Flowers

Hair & Makeup Alter-Image

Wedding planner Nicki Paige Collection

3 essentials every bride need in her beauty touch up bag!

Must have beauty items for your wedding day!

Here are 3 must have beauty items every brides needs to have in her bridal touch up bag!

Hey Beautiful!! Lets chat about a few essentials that you will be needing on your wedding day makeup bag. Your wedding day will be the most joyous day ever and you will have a lot of emotions that you will be feeling that day. Excitement, anxious, nervous but over all super excited to finally tie the knot with your best friend that you love so much.

Jasmine has been a special event hair and makeup artist in Charleston for over 7 years and she knows what you will need to make sure you stay picture perfect all day!

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The number on thing you will need in your bridal beauty bag…

Bobbi Pins

Bobbi Pins are a must have in your touch-up kit. The Hair and Makeup Artist on our Carolina Beauty like to insure that your hair will not move a single muscle once every thing is all hair sprayed away. But just in case you get a little too crazy on the dance floor and a curl comes out of place we love to give a complimentary cluster of Bobbi Pins for any mishaps that may occur.

This may seem small but it makes a huge difference. Can you imagine removing your veil after the ceremony an a few hairs come out of place and you stylist didn’t show someone how to fix it.

We know how important your wedding photos will be so we always shows the mother or the maid of honor how to safely remove the veil without messing with your hairstyle. Jasmine like to overly prepare each bride to make sure that even without her their that your look amazing all night!

The absolute must have item you need in your wedding beauty bag

Lip Stick

If nothing else a touch up Lip stick or Gloss is extremely needed as a back up on your wedding day. You’re going to be kissing, drink and don’t forget to eat through out the night and your makeup needs to stay fresh for photos!. After all of our bridal makeup services we like to complimentary gift our bride with a small touch up kit with the lip stick shade that they will wear that night so you can do touch ups when needed.

3rd most important item you need in your bridal touch up kit

Blotting Papers

You may think this tip is a bit old school but blotting sheets are my jam and a complete life saver. The Carolina has its own version of heat and it can be a steamy day regardless of what season we are in so this is a item you do not want to skip out on.

Blotting Sheets are good all year round in my opinion. All you have to do Is take a thin sheet lay it over the area that is shiny and boom the oil is toned down. If you wanted to take an extra step you can add a light layer of press powder on top for extra control and boom no one would ever know.

Blotting sheets are my favorite over press powder because they are tiny, thin sheets that don’t take up a ton of room because most likely you will have a tiny clutch to put your products in and not a huge beauty bag so the smaller the better.

These are some of the many tips that we like to give our Carolina brides prior to their wedding day so that they can be fully prepared for any and everything on such an important and most photographed day of your life. For more helpful tips to help you prepare for your wedding day or just to learn about fun beauty hacks make sure to join our beauty news letter below!

Blog Mentions

Features Alex our Charleston, SC Bride

Venue Alhambra Hall

Wedding Photographer Franzi Annika Photography

Gown Bridal House of Charleston

Flowers My Darling Flowers

Planner Direct My Day

Hair and Makeup Alter-Image

Perfect Day to get married in Charleston, South Carolina

Wedding Details and Mentions

Getting Ready Location The Francis Marion Hotel

Wedding photographer Jolie Conner

Wedding Hair and Makeup Alter-Image