The November Edit
Natalie Gordon Dunton | Owner, Pro Makeup Artist
Is there anything more elegant than an autumn wedding? While November might not be the first month to pop into our minds when we hear the words “wedding season,” there’s something to be said for a fall nuptial. The rich color palettes, the lush textures, the dark fall statement lip, not to mention the stunning scenery and the even more stunning wedding photos—there’s something in the crisp fall air and we like to think it’s love.
As winter slowly sets in, it’s time to stay warm and keep the ones you love close. I am so thankful for my Ave42 family and the part we get to play in each new couple and new family’s story. In addition to all of the gorgeous November brides we got to work with this month, I had the opportunity to do a very special cover girl and celebrity hair stylist’s makeup with one of my favorite partners in crime. There’s a lot to be thankful for this month: a great team, clients that make my job a dream, and a killer new line we’re honored to carry are just the top of my list.
Last month, Natalie had the absolute joy of doing Melissa McNabb’s glam for her branding photoshoot at POSH PR’s Doll HQ. Melissa is also a beauty industry authority—she is a seasoned hair stylist with big-name clients (some you’d recognize from the CMAs) and the owner of Sweet Melissa Salon in Nashville.
MELISSA MCNABB
Melissa is also an avid traveler, an adventure-finder, and a travel blogger like no other (follow all of her crazy adventures at @sweetmelissaxo). And what a dream she was in the chair!
It was easy to highlight her natural beauty—just look at those gorgeous baby blues—with a soft and subtle look for her big photo op. Natalie brought her beauty BFF, Jane (@redfox_hair), to create tousled, effortless waves that gave endless movement on camera.
Melissa kept us on our toes at her glam session with all of her hilarious travel stories (and predicaments) and her witty sense of humor. We loved the energy that she brought to set and the aura of positivity and fun that surrounds her wherever she goes. Let’s just say this girl knows how to let the good times roll!
Elizabeth Mathers
Laken Cortese
Jillisa Burke
Rebecca Rubin
Anne Schrum
Katelyn Talley
Nichole LaFortune
Amanda Cole
Lindsey Grinnell
Rochelle Sommer
Ann Huang
JANE STEELE
We could not be more excited to name Jane Steele (@redfox_hair) as our Ave42 Artist of the Month.
Jane has been creating the most intricate, elegant updos at Ave42 for the last 5 years. However, she is also known for the richest color and most dimensional highlights, lowlights, and everything in between. We had the most fun working with Jane at Melissa’s photoshoot this month—she’s so sweet and the best parter-in-crime for all of our glam adventures. If you are shopping for the best bridal styles, or if even if you are just in the market for some new hair for the new year, Jane is will exceed all of your wildest dreams.
Jane is an artist in the truest sense of the word—we are absolutely blown away by some of the color transformations and updos she’s created for our lucky clients. Her favorite part of the craft? The fact that every day is different: “It’s such a versatile and exciting form of art,” she says. We absolutely agree! Every wedding, every bridal party, and every client that walks into our salon or books us for event glam is different, and that’s what makes working at so Ave42 fun.
R + CO BLEU
One of our favorite products this month is R + Co’s Lifestyler Volume and Texture Spray. It adds all of the texture, movement, and body to hair without any of the weight or residue. Perfect for a lived-in look, we love using this spray as a finishing touch for all of the tousled, laid back styles we create.
The R + Co line was formulated by industry leaders and the artists responsible for some of the most recognized looks of the last few decades. Blending the company’s editorial edge with products designed for everyday use, R + Co’s Bleu line brings the products that made some of pop culture’s most iconic beauty looks to a select few salons in the country. And we could not be more excited to be one of those salons. We are obsessed with everything about these these products, from their refreshing smell and the amazing, luxe texture to their unparalleled results. Our stylists swear by these products, and soon you will too. R + Co will leave you feeling anything but bleu.
Our Favorite Makeup Look of the Month
We loved creating this subtle fall glam look on this raven-haired beauty in Fredericksburg this past month. The natural gold and brown tones are so gorgeous and perfect for the season, while the darker lip gives this look just the pop it needs. The Scott Barnes Cosmetics palette was just the touch of champagne gold that we were looking for—it strikes the perfect balance between metallic without coming off too yellow.
Hairstyles To Watch This November
Don’t get us wrong—we love a bridal updo just as much as the next glam squad, but we are absolutely fawning over these loose, defined curls and this tuck-and-pin style. Sometimes the simplest things in life are the most beautiful, and that certainly rings true for this look. We still don’t know how Erika Colleen (@hairlair_42) got this style to stay. But what we do know is she is the artist for all of the formal styles you can imagine.
Thanks #ave42babes!
We’ll see you next month!
Any questions? Send us an email!