The Best of 2014

As another year comes to a close I look back on what I've done and achieved and the fun I've had! This year has been exciting for me for several reasons, one of them being that I've branched out into other areas of hair and make-up that have given me the opportunity to go to exciting places and see exciting things. I'd also like to thank all of my clients. I couldn't do my dream job without you! Here is a quick round up of some of my favorite moments (not all can be included!).

Vogue

It was an honor to be a part of this shoot, styling hair for vintage haute couture expert William Vintage for Vogue.co.uk. To see the full shoot click here.

Beehive Tutorial with Melon Lady, Helen Anderson

It was a lot of fun to film this tutorial with Helen. Helen has amazing hair to style. I was so happy seeing her fans all over the world re-create this style in a competition we ran. To watch the full tutorial click here.

Topman

I was thrilled to be asked to come and do male grooming with Ellie Cain on the Topman Christmas shoot. I always love working with Ellie and you will hopefully see her with me a bit more this year.

Wig Restoration Challenge

 I enjoyed coming to the rescue when I was asked to rejuvenate these wigs that are part of the Fabulous 1950's Fashion exhibition at The Bridewell Museum. 

Upside down with Gizzi Erskine and Space NK

Earlier this year I was set a challenge when I had to create a beehive that would withstand being upside down. Gizzi Erskine created a fun video as part of Space NK's Beauty Council.

Wella Colour Competition Finals

 I was so proud to be the make-up artist for Sophie Morter at Flint who got through to the Finals of the Wella Colour Competition. This is a huge achievement for any hairdresser and I was so happy to be part of this. The finals were unbelievable in terms of the show and very impressive. I sure won't be forgetting this in a hurry! Last photo by Joanna Millington.

The Sunday Beauty School

Of course I cannot forget to mention The Sunday Beauty School. I cannot tell you how exciting it is for me to pass on my skills to others and see them work wonders with their own hair. I am in debt to my business partner Emily Turnbull of LoveMoi Makeup who has been a source of advice, wisdom, support and hilarity throughout our journey of putting the school together. More news of what is to come soon...

I think 2015 is going to be busy year. Bring it on. I'm ready. Thank you again and a Happy New Year to you all!

Amy x

Halloween Hair and Make-Up Fun: Bride of Frankenstein

It's been a while since I last posted, but I wanted to show you this group of photos without flooding your Facebook timeline. I love Halloween as an opportunity to have fun with hair and make-up, last year was Zombies, this year my ultimate favourite Halloween icon: Bride of Frankenstein!

Massive thanks to Lenore for modelling for me.

Hair, make-up and photos by Flamingo Amy

Enjoy...and Happy Halloween!

New Facebook Page for The Sunday Beauty School

You can now keep up to date at The Sunday Beauty School by 'Liking' our new page HERE

The Sunday Beauty School Mini Shoot

Those of you who are following me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook probably know that Love Moi Makeup and I have launched The Sunday Beauty School, starting on Sunday 10th November.

Last weekend I put together a shoot with Baskerville and Wild to capture photographs for the step-by-step guides that will be given to all those who attend the hairstyling demonstration. The gorgeous Katie modeled for us, and we couldn't help but get a few gorgeous non-technical shots too. Here are the results...

Before and After: Attendees will learn how to create this hair look at The Sunday Beauty School

The Sunday Beauty School - Curls, Brows and Eyes Masterclass

Halloween MakeUp and Photoshoot

Everyone loves Halloween right?

I certainly do. This year (after working the the Zombie Weddding muscial) I was asked to do Zombie makeup for a real life 'Zombie' wedding. The bride and groom were big zombie fans and I had so much fun making up the guests. This year I have also got to work on 2 World War II films, which has bought me into contact with prosthetics and the processes for creating scaring and gross wounds.

So all this lead me to thinking - I MUST do something for Halloween!

I have teamed up with the lovely Emily, owner of LoveMoi Makeup to present the you 'The Halloween Parlour'.

We'll be offering these on 2 dates as Halloween falls mid-week(ish). Saturday 26th October and Saturday 2nd November. 

I will be offering 2 'levels' of 'Zombiefacation'. The the first involves making you look, welll, dead. I can add scabs and blood and this takes around 15 minutes and costs £10.

The second and more detailed option includes special effects scaring and grazing using latex made myself. As this is latex you will need to come in for a skin test, as people can be allergic to this. You also have the option of cuts using special effects wax too if you are allergic to latex. This takes around 30 minutes ad costs £25 You can book by contacting me at mail@flamingoamy.co.uk.

Emily is best known for her gorgeous beauty work, but she will be taking it to a rather different level. She is creating some macabre (but actually quite sexy) looks like the one below. Contact her at lovemoimakeup@yahoo.com to book.

Last but not least here are some of the images from my zombie shoot with the very patient and game Alex. Thank you Alex for allowing me to take you to the park in Zombie make up - you're a star.

Photos, editing and makeup by Flamingo Amy. Enjoy!

Guide to Creating a Modern 1920's Look

After the hype surrounding The Great Gatesby Emily Turnbull (aka LoveMoi MakeUp) and I teamed up to create a guide on a couple of looks inspired by the film and the period.

A Vintage Wedding Guide has blogged our guide on these styles, the first one you can see here, and it's a modern version. The second is slightly more true to the period, but with an editorial look. Here is the sneak preview the that said style. You can learn how to create this one next week on the Vintage Wedding Guide blog.

The very talented Rekah Garton photographed this for us. Make sure you take a look at her work too.

Amanda's Make Over

Amanda very kindly, and bravely volunteered to have her before and after photo taken as I wanted to show how dramatically makeup and hair styling can change the appearance. I wanted to tell you a little about what products I used too.

Amanda was going to an event and her style icon is Audrey Hepburn so she wanted to channel a bit of her style. Audrey's style was so feminine and sophisticated and could be copied even today without looking out of date. Don't you love those brows?

Hair

Amanda's hair is fairly short (in terms of hair up) but could just about go into a chignon. I used a large Babyliss Pro tong to smooth out and set the set away from the face, and a straightener to smooth her fringe over to one side. Those of you who follow me know that my favorite hairspray is Tresemme Freeze Hold, so of course I used that here as well. Go easy if you haven't used it before - it's not called Freeze Hold for nothing.If your hair is finer try their newer finer spray, which gives the hold but isn't as heavy.

Make Up

I really love the brand Illamasqua, and their Skin Base Foundation provides excellent coverage. It's great for dryer skin too and really helps smooth out any imperfections and it has a satin finish which I really like. I used Illamasqua's Medium Pencil in Honour to gently fill in her brows to make them a little more bold and 1950's in shape. Amanda didn't want to go overboard with her eyes, and I used MAC's gel eye liner in Dipdown, which is a brown, to line her eye lid but didn't flick this out.

The before photo was taken on Amanda's camera, and the others on my own, if you're wondering why the colouring is different!

Hope you've enjoyed this post, hopefully I'll have some more posts like this for you soon.

The Norwich Vintage Fair - New Services!

I haven't blogged for ages. There's been no time, what can I say?!

I promise to start again soon, and properly this time, change is in the air...but not all can be revealed quite yet...

In the meantime some of you may have seen my recent venture into make-up. I get asked fairly regularly - 'Do you do MakeUp'? And my debut will be at the Norwich Vintage Fair on Sunday 24th February at St Andrws Hall Norwich. To begin with I will just be offering this service for events and photoshoots, but then...who knows?

Here is the list for the fair, email@flamingoamy.co.uk if you would like to book an appointment at The Pop Up Salon!

50sFest at Norwich Castle

For anyone that has been to Norwich city centre you couldn't have failed to have been the castle perched high upon a massive mount. Norwich Castle has a really interesting history, once being a Castle, then a prison and now a Museum - the natural course for a castle obviously!

 

In 2010 I was part of an event to Celebrate the Beatles to Bowie photographic exhibition, showing previously unseen photos of the major stars of the 1960's.

 

This time the event was to celebrate the opening of the photographic exhibition - Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton: A Diamond Jubilee Celebration

 

Pop Up Salon ready to go...

1920's Hair and Make Up Transformation

A couple of weeks ago around about 10.30pm I decided that I wanted to try a 1920's makeup look out after seeing a really ace 'modernised' 1920's shoot.

You heard me, 10.30pm. Inspiration takes us at odd hours sometimes.

I am in love with the 'faux bob' too, so for me this was just the time to try the makeup and hair together at once.

You must excuse the before photo, this is the makeup free, glasses-less Amy that not that many get to see (thankfully). But I wanted to post this photo to show the transformation, and everyone likes a transformation right?

MakeUp:

Foundation: MAC Studio Fix
Eyeshadow: Urban Decay (Naked Palette)
Lips: MAC Chilli

For the eyebrows I soaped over them so I could draw them higher - I've always wanted to try this!

Hair:

Easy. I tied it back in a very loose ponytail and tucked it under at the neck.

My husband described this look as 'pantomime' and maybe it is, but I still like it. I just need to find an occassion to wear it.

Zombie Wedding - A 1980's Undead Musical Spectacular

You may have possibley heard mummerings from my Twitter or Facebook that I'm designing and creating the hair for a new musical called Zombie Wedding.

I really am very excited about this! There's singing (from some stunning voices), zombies and it's based in the 1980's (crimpers at the ready!), what is there not to like? If you want to know more click on the link above, you can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook too.

The play is going to be performed for the first time in the UK on 18th and 19th October this year. It was performed at the New York Fringe Festival last year.

It is going be be performed here, at the Gorleston Pavillion. I visited it for the first time today and it is beautiful, a hidden gem! It's a great little theatre and you watch the play seated round tables for that cabaret feel. Look at the sun shining!

 

I think that there is going to be a real buzz about this play, plus there's lots of other exciting things happening around it, but I can reveal no more! If you want to keep up to date with all the Zombie happenings then you can follow the blog on their website.