Hope you’re sitting down…Because this blog is a real game changer!
I’ve been busting at the seems to bring you an exclusive interview with the fabulous, stylish, beauty expert, celeb makeup artist & hair stylist…
She just so happens to be my girl, and I couldn’t be more proud of her accomplishments.
What I admire most, is her dedication, hard work, attention to detail, and that a real passion is her driving force to succeed in life. It’s impressive.
Oh boy, is she a real spit-fire too! Countless memories filled with so much laughter, it hurts with this one.
+Hey doll, introduce yourself and give us some deets:
My name is Tonya Brewer. Born & raised in sunny San Diego. I didn’t grow up with much…just enough, but I always knew I wanted more. From a young age, I was always obsessed with beauty & fashion. I always tried to make new trends of my own.
Fast forward to my late teens, fresh out of high school I enrolled into cosmetology
school.
To pay what little bills I had, I also started working for MAC Cosmetics. MAC really helped me find my passion for the art of makeup. While working at MAC I never turned a job down; weddings, Quinceañeras, parties, family photos…you name it, I’ve done it. Eventually that turned into bigger jobs. Performers, photo-shoots for magazines, TV Shows.
Then, finally I got THE phone call. I was asked to be the MakeUp Artist / Hair Stylist for the Demi Lovato’s South American Tour. I literally dropped everything & my life has never been the same since.
After the tour, I was lucky enough to sign with an agency & I have had the opportunity to work with celebrity clientele ever since. Love my life. xxxo
[Tonya with Demi and crew on tour]
[Visit Tonya’s website/blog to find out more on how to get Demi’s look]
+Favorite makeup/hair trends right now?
Right now I’m obsessed with LESS, minimal everything. For hair I’m loving the undone look. One of the latest looks I did on my client, Bella Thorne, for her last red carpet was a messy fishtail braid. I threw in some cute velvet ribbon to keep it young & fresh like her.
As for makeup, I die for lash overload. Lately my go-to look is a boyish, smudged eye shadow, with a pink or berry lip stain.
+What one hair styling product are you loving?
Hands down can not live without Shu Uemura Volume Maker. Easiest way to add volume & texture.
+Any new makeup you are obsessing over?
Where do I began? I have to narrow it down to 3…
+Where does most of your inspiration come from?
Honestly, everywhere. But mostly from the runways, NY Fashion week & Paris Fashion week. Louis Vuitton Spring 2013 collection: Shut It Down!
+Piece of advice for up and coming makeup artists?
Make your own damn rules. I was never too fond of taking direction from others. I credit my strong will [as I like to call it] for where I am today.
+You’ve worked a bunch with the beautiful Bella Thorne, share the deets on the look you created for her:
For the makeup in this look I kept it simple. Clean cat eye. Lots of lash.
Dewy skin. {<<Tonya mixes Givenchy & YSL to get the perfect look}
I used the infamous Candy Yum Yum (by MAC) on the lips.
The how-to for Bella’s braid is to be released in a magazine soon, but I’ll share it with Loveleigh Beauty first…
To recreate Bella’s fishtail braid you will need the following items:
*A few bobby pins
*2 pieces of thin ribbon( about yard of each color-more or less depending on your hair length)
*Clear hair tie
*Scissors
This was a very fun red carpet look. Bella and I wanted to put a twist on one of our favorite hairstyles, which is a fishtail braid.
Exact Steps to Bella’s Fishtail Braid:
+For Bella’s fishtail braid we started with damp hair.
I applied Shu Uemura Fiber Lift Protective Volumizer from root to tip and blow dried the hair in large sections using a round brush.
This product is great for adding volume & protecting the hair from heat.
+Once the hair was dry, to keep the fishtail secured to one side, I braided starting at her right ear and continued the braid down the nape of her neck towards her left shoulder.
+You only take the regular braid to the nape of the neck. Doing this keeps the hair secured to one side.
+Before starting the next step, I lightly misted the hair with Shu Uemura Sheer Lacquer Finishing Spray. Bella and I thought it would be great to dress the braid up by adding some ribbon that complemented the dress. So I took the two pieces of velvet ribbon, one blue and one green, tied them together at one end, and I used a bobby pin to secure the ribbon at the top of what will be the start of the fishtail braid.
+The first step in creating a fishtail braid is to separate the hair into two equal sections. Keep one section in your left hand and one section in your right hand.
+The next step is to take a thin section of hair from the outside of the right section of hair and cross it over to the left section of hair.
+Repeat the process on the opposite side by taking a thin section of hair from the outside of the left section of hair and cross it over to the right section of hair.
+Now the ribbon we pinned in, I treated as if it were an extension of her hair and crossed it back and forth in the same pattern.
+Once you complete this method all the way down you want to tie the bottom of the fishtail off with a clear hair tie.
+Once the braid was secured, I took what was left of the ribbons and wrapped them around the clear hair tie, tied a knot, and cut off the excess ribbon.
+Once the braid was finished I loosened and pulled at the braid & ribbons to give it a slightly imperfect look.
+I then secured any loose ends with bobby pins and lightly misted the hair again with the Shu Uemura Sheer Lacquer finishing spray.
Thank you Tonya!
Love, love, the fishtail braid look. [For more hair-spiration visit my previous blog post on Braids, Buns, Top, Knots & Fishtails...]
I love that a red carpet look doesn’t have to be perfect. Messy is so glam!
You will be seeing more of Miss Tonya, as she will be Loveleigh Beauty’s celeb beauty expert.
Let me know if you have any questions for her. She’s pretty fab, right?
Love,
LL
xo
