Reno Beauty Part 1

     As a Reno native, I know the kind of view that awaits the newcomer to town from an insider's perspective. Where the dust encircles small casinos, I enjoy a special advantage most observers don't have. Sure writers of this town focus on the food of gastropubs, keep up with the hipsters of breweries popping up everywhere and Pin the art of the week. But this post, ladies and gents is on the culture of Reno Beauty.

     I imagine the subject of our cultured beauty as a rock-a-billy, hardcore punk scene. In a city with an artistic heartbeat, I went organic and asked some people and friends in the business as to what they see daily in our town. I knew that there is a mix and needed an outside perspective on what could be included. One of my bestest friends who received her education through Milan institute and offered the trends she's recently seen throughout Reno. The Country look. The Punk Rock. Check and check. There's also the tattooed indie/boho look of clean hippies here in town. And while we have the artsy folks downtown and in midtown, there are the active and wealthy women not more than 45 minutes up Mount Rose into Tahoe.

     Now that I have the main types of Reno localized, what are their common trends on beauty? In the past, silvers in women's hair and hombres were the signature look. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. If you would've asked me a year ago if I could ever see myself asking beauty professionals what the "in" trends were for a blog I'm writing, I would've given you a resounding No Way. Writing stories about my hometown, though, I would jump at any subject because I love a challenge.

     Fearless I was in asking what could be trending in beauty now. Me - a woman never really focused on creating different styles for my own self, finds herself taking notes on this unique blend of country, rock and Earth styles worn by the women in my city. The most difficult part of doing this research is boldly creating a confident piece. 

     My best friend, the professional Stephanie Pakalns, at Cottage Clips & Tips Salon tells me how the market is crowded with requests for mermaid hair; and as we eat at Greatfull Gardens she points out a prime example. Fortunately, I had seen the teal and green hair enter simultaneously as my friend's verbal observation. 

     This particular blog post has offered me a transformative experience in seeing how the women of Reno want themselves to be seen. Circling back on why trends are critical, as well as short lived, I noticed that it's the diversity that lends to the importance of Reno beauty. It seems like an opposite effect to be hyped for a natural look.

     "People are embracing their natural looks alongside the spring trend of mermaidism," Steph tells me. 

     I've never thought this way. I do, however, understand the wild connection and intense feeling our Reno residents have with the region around us. Typically, I see the Reno beauty scene as dreadlocks to community garden tenders and short, sporty Bob's  fo the ladies up north who bike the Tahoe rim trail.

     While these looks are systematically true, what's starting to manifest are curls, brows and lashes. The compelling part is that age difference plays no part. Curls for the younger Renonian involve free flowing waves synonymous with the mermaid visual I'd mentioned earlier. Curls for an older, active type so seen in women's business faires are naturally short and out of the way of a bike helmet and easily subdued in case the Zeohyrs pronounce themselves. Quick and thin are the days of eyebrows past. Thick but clean brows are the natural look for the groomed millennial and Boomer alike. Lashes seem to satisfy the criteria of draping the windows to the soul. 

     Very often my questions help me to see things I didn't before. Perhaps it's the money involved that I fail to value most in understanding why people go to such lengths to achieve beauty. Digging deeper for inspiration, I'm finding that people will pay any amount to look like the lastest Kardashian. People will advert their eyes, lick their teeth and hold their chins to get that shade of beauty just right. Embellishing their looks with far too bright of colors and detailed cat eyes takes away the desired view they truly crave from society. I admire the ambition of embracing a natural look for women who have tried every trend out there. 

(Stay tuned for Reno Beauty Part 2 tomorrow!)