The 30 Club

September is finally here! I thought it would never come! I celebrated my 30th birthday a few days ago, which I spent with my family hanging out at the beach and we had a small cookout. I have been pretty busy at the shop and other freelance gigs that my birthday, I just took it slow. I did get myself these cute Hello Kitty Sunglasses! Arent they adorable?

Here are a few little things I got for presents from my family:

Here is my little cake I had that I am still working on finishing.

I don’t feel any different, I know when I was younger, it seemed like turning 30 is a big milestone, but if anything, I am glad to have hit my thirties. I learned a lot in my 20’s, but its time to move on. I am at this point where I am focusing on raising my kids,and building my business up, I am not one to go out and go to the bars and clubs, and “turn up” and waste my money on foolish things. okay, okay- enough on my soap box.

The salon is starting to pick up more, we got pretty busy right before school started, here are a few pics from this week!

I tested out the galaxy design on my nails which I though came out decent since it was my first time doing it.

I also have been working on my blow outs more with ethnic hair, which I think I am getting better. One thing I have learned is to use this nozzle to help blow the hair out: and I picked it up from my local beauty supply store for $3!

Besides the salon flow, I have had a few facepaint gigs, I managed to take a few snapshots for ya

I drew up this custom butterfly tattoo design for one of my good friends in Florida.

That is about all that has been going on, I know its not a very interesting post, but I just have no energy lately but I would at least want to post something than nothing at all.

I am off to go get my beauty sleep and get ready for the rest of the week. I hope you all have a lovely week and see you in the next post.

Trending: Fusion and Micro Link Extensions

I have noticed more and more lately that micro link and fusion extensions are becoming more popular in this area of Virginia Beach. Many stylists I know have paid a fortune to become certified in this technique of extensions, and I’m talking about hundreds of dollars (which is completely ridiculous). I also know of many salons (mostly upscale) that perform these extensions and charge an insane amount for their clients in the range of anywhere from $1500 to $3000. Like, for real????? Sometimes, more often than not, the extensions are not properly applied and it ended badly for the client. I have taken out some pretty jacked up extensions. I have been wanting to learn how to do this, so I did some research.

Technically, you don’t have to be certified to do these type of extensions but as a licensed hairstylist, I think in order to do this service, a stylist should be certified and have the certificate posted in the salon or at the station so that the client can have peace of mind and be reassured that the stylist is trained properly.  This technique does not have to be limited to the wealthy and that it can be affordable to become certified and to have these services offered at a decent price for your clients.

There are many different companies that offer this certification from Cinderella, Pure Extensions, just to name a few. There are so many to choose from. I want to talk about Donna Bella Hair, because so far it is the best certification program that is affordable.

Donna Bella Hair offers online education and certification is not just one technique but 3:  I-Link (MicroLink), Kera-link (fusion) and Tape-In. Each course is $99, but when you enroll in all 3 the price is only $229. This is a killer deal. The only thing is that tools are not included, but of course Donna Bella Hair has various kits to help get you started.

This kit is only $175 and you have everything you need to get started to include fusion heat tool, color swatch ring, and other fun goodies. Now that I am the manager of a salon, I want to help the staff at Layla Glam Squad get certified so that we can offer this to our clients. I didn’t want to keep this info to myself, so of course, what better way to let the world know than to blog about it?

I hope this was inspiring for any of the hair stylists out there reading this to inspire them to learn a new technique to help expand their skills and services.

Thanks for stopping by and see you in the next post!

Xoxox, Cecilia Marie

Makeup Class was a Success

Good evening my loves! I hope everyone is having a good start to their week, as for me, Monday’s are my days off from the salon, but that doesn’t mean I actually get a day off. Since I am involved in so many different things, my schedule stays pretty busy.

Last friday, we celebrated Lah and Michael’s wedding ceremony and it was just so beautiful. Jermie and I got all dressed up in matching outfits (cheesy I know) which is rare and we loved it.

Jermie and I taking selfies while we waited

Layla Glam Squad: Nita, Chavonne and myself!

Pretty in Purple! I love this dress! ( I got it at Burlington Coat Factory for $15!!!)

Wedding Gifts on our table!

The beautiful bride, Lah with Hair done by Eyesha and Makeup by Gi Gi- our other members of the Layla Glam Squad!

Of course, Jermie and the Groom Michael getting it on the dance floor! We had a great time and it was so much fun to celebrate the love of two people vowing to share their lives.

Layla Glam Squad held our first monthly makeup class this past Sunday and I’m proud to say it was a success! We had several young ladies come out to learn tips and tricks of a makeup artist, ask questions and mingle with other professionals in the beauty industry.

This first class was our Intro to Glam, the next class will be held at the end of September and it will be “Eyebrows, Eyeshadow and Eyelashes”. I cant wait for that class! It was so much and I love meeting new people and artists in the industry because we are all so diverse with our skills all coming together for the love of makeup.

After our makeup class, my friend Chloe asked me to help glam her up for an 80’s work party and so here is a few photos of that as well!

Don’t they look so adorable???

It is almost the end of the tourist season here in Virginia Beach and so my hubby is pretty much done with stilt walking at the oceanfront. Here I am painting his face one last time for Beach Street.

In case you wanted to see my makeup of the day, here is a close up. I did a purple and black smokey eye with a lil eye design for fun with a plum lip!

This is the last week of August and soon it will be September which my birthday is in a week and then the kids return to school. I am excited for cooler weather and less mosquitos and more hot coffee and sweaters and boots. For now, It is time for me to go get some beauty sleep!

I leave this post with my Monday Motivational Quote!

Sweet Surrender Ink

Hello my mah-ve-lous dah-lings! Its Monday night and I am finally able to have a moment to myself to blog!!! I wish I had enough energy to blog everyday like I used to, but when I get home- it’s the last thing on my mind! And its crazy to think I havent blogged all week because I have been on the computer most of the time. So, what have I been doing? I have been promoting my butt off! More like my fingers with all the typing I have been doing!

I have been online-promoting the salon and trying to get people in the salon and so far-its been great! We have been having many specials and promos and been all over social media websites. I am sure a lot of people are sick of me posting, but its time to WERK!

All the promoting and hustle is paying off, I am happy to announce that the fabulous owners of Layla Glam Squad has promoted me to manager! I am so excited to be working some a group of talented stylists as well!

At Layla Glam Squad, we now have the Facebook page up and running- as well as Instagram so if you are in the local area, def check us out and stop  by and say hi!

Yesterday, I was able to check out the First Annual Tattoo Festival in Virginia Beach! It wasn’t as big as the one in Hampton that I attended in 2012, but it was still fun. I love everything about the tattooed culture- the energy is amazing and I get so inspired by the different styles of all these talented artists.

I picked up a few new inks from Eternal Ink- which I used earlier today! I love the pink and the purple!

I love picking up all the stickers and business cards from expos- especially tattoo artists. We are such a creative rare breed and I love to see how artists express themselves through their art.

I ended my night tonight by doing this tattoo on my friend Cori, I didn’t tattoo the big star in the middle, I tattooed the smaller ones and the cheetah print and I was excited to have a lil fun with color, seeing as all the other tattoos I have done, have been all black, some red and some graywash.

I created a new Instagram ( I know that makes 3 separate accounts) named: Sweetsurrenderink and it will feature nothing but my tattoo designs and tattoos that I am doing. So, make sure to follow!

I am exhausted and its time for me to go nighty night. So thanks for stopping by as always and see you again in the next post!

Social Media Werk

I finally got a chance to sit down and blog. I have been busy..and usually I say that I am busy a lot, but I actually was busy. Being in a new salon is work. We are constantly promoting with social media, passing out flyers and running promotions to help promote the salon and ourselves. I can say this, most stylists wouldn’t do this, they wouldn’t go with a brand new salon with no client base or steady flow of walk ins. But even when a stylist goes to a known salon, you still need to put yourself out there. This is good experience for when I open my own studio, this is what I will need to do to promote myself. Its good to form the habit now.

I never know what I am going to blog until I actually sit down and start typing, but I was having this conversation earlier today the importance of social media and business. Everyone is online. I mean from kids to grandmas and even great grandmas are online in some form. Its entertainment and it’s a good way for people to share info in cyberspace. I love it because you can keep up with people in Australia, London, Africa, India (just to name a few) and its better than googling it. Platforms like blogs, youtube, instagram, twitter, vine and there are many more.

I have been at the salon busy making flyers, posting ads, passing out flyers and taking my clients and having fun doing makeovers.

In case you don’t follow my Instagram (sweetsurrenderart) and my new instagram account strictly for the salon (cia_la_glam)

here is a recap of the past week:

I have been drawing too, just not as much I want to. By the time I get home from the salon, I am just exhausted and lately Ive been taking too many naps. But I have a lot of work that is starting to get booked so, I need to get back on the grind!

Tomorrow is Tuesday, which is my Monday, so I am off to bed to get some shut eye! Thanks for stopping by! See ya in the next post!