The Glam and Not-So-Glam Moments of Getting Red Carpet Ready

Glam moment: My addiction to hair extensions is real. The week before the Oscars (and as a Valentine's treat to myself), I got my first set of extensions removed and new ones put in at Ken Paves Salon. A portion of the cost of the service with Olive & Livinia went to Saving Innocence, one of the charities it offers as part of the program. New hair + giving back = ideal day at the salon.

Glam moment: The Friday before the Oscars is a mess. Practically every event known to man happens that day: press previews, parties, etc. I was attending Women in Film that evening, and because MAC Cosmetics is a sponsor, I was invited to get my makeup done. It's rather unfortunate that I don't have a photo documenting the look — but how rad is MAC's shop on Beverly Drive?

Glam moment: Tom Ford is my spirit designer. He hails from central Texas — like me! — and Neroli Portofino is in my top three favorite fragrances of all time, so getting invited backstage to his first-ever LA runway show was a big win in my book. Tom made a runway show one of the biggest events of Oscars weekend, bringing out stars like Jay Z, Beyoncé, Sofia Vergara, and Nicole Richie to his show.

While feeling slightly bummed that I was a good five to six inches shorter than everyone around me, I felt reinvigorated when one of the makeup artists backstage complimented my skin and makeup application as "beautiful." (Thanks, MAC Cosmetics!)

Glam moment: You're probably thinking, "This all sounds pretty glam for the most part." Touché. Just remember that running around town requires sitting through endless Los Angeles traffic.

Two priorities I have when it comes to prepping for an event? Manicures and airbrush tans. Having booked my airbrush tan for later that evening, I needed to get my nails done earlier in the day. Enter Enamel Diction, my favorite nail salon in Los Angeles.

The salon doesn't have the typical spa chairs or the massive TVs on the walls, but it's still luxurious. The artists who work there are all perfectionists and do a great job, no matter what service you're getting.

Glam moment: You think this body tans itself? Sometimes, when I'm feeling creative, I'll apply self-tanner all over my body. But when it comes to a red carpet glow, I have a standing appointment with Katrina Brown of The Bronzing Boutique.

I usually see her two days before an event, so given I was seeing her a mere 24 hours before, we discussed our tanning game plan: nothing too dark, but make sure my arms and neck were accentuated, since those were the only parts you'd see in my dress.

Unglam moment: After you are sprayed, you're forced to dress in baggy clothing, eliminate all undergarments, and sit at home on the couch. So after I got some pho (alone), that's where I headed while J Lo partied all night long at the Weinstein party. The price of beauty.

Glam moment: The next morning, I arrived at The Mondrian at 8 a.m. for a Sisley Paris facial with Crystal Mattison, who not only has magic hands but used said hands on Rosamund Pike before the Oscars to get her skin prepped for the red carpet. Sisley is one of — if not the — best luxury skin care brands to come out of Paris, and I figured getting a glow the morning before the show wasn't a bad idea.

I'd usually avoid getting a facial the week before an event, since I tend to break out, but no extractions were performed, and the light exfoliation helped create a clean slate for my makeup application. Plus, nothing screams glam more than wearing a $162 rose cream mask while your entire body is massaged.

Unglam moment: Having to leave and drive myself home in such a cathartic state.

Just relaxing and enjoying the last minutes of peace before the chaos. Also, being completely normal (and not sucking in) while photographed in my tranquil state.

Glam moment: I'm an independent woman, and for most shoots, I do my own hair and makeup. But not today, friends. After reviving myself from the dead (aka my relaxing facial and massage), I headed to the Nars boutique on Melrose to get my makeup done.

I explained that I wanted to open up my eye, use warm shades on my lids, and have clean, dewy-looking skin. Using the new Spring 2015 collection, Nars delivered.

To open up my eye, the artist used Eye Paint in Porto Venere ($25) along my lower waterline. For the skin, I love the All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation ($48), but the artist went with Sheer Glow Foundation ($45) to keep my skin looking dewy.

Unglam moment: I rushed home to do my own hair for the show. (This was the only photo I had of it!)

I let my hair air-dry as long as possible and then blew it out to smooth out the ends. Using a flat iron, I created waves and pinned the side of my hair up and out of my face. Initially, I was going to leave my hair down, but I decided to pull it into a ponytail so it didn't overtake my gown.

Glam moment: I washed that morning with Dessange California Blonde Illuminating Shampoo ($10) and Conditioner ($10). Dessange is a luxury Parisian hair care brand now being sold at Target. (Praise be.)

Unglam moment: It's OK to be nervous, but one way to keep your jitters at bay is to eat something to keep your stomach settled. I didn't feel like waltzing inside anywhere to grab food, given I was in a floor-length gown and it was raining at this point, so drive-through 10-piece chicken nuggets, here I come!

I would like to think that Reese Witherspoon did the same.

After trekking through the parking garage and across the street, I made it to the white carpet! My hair was still intact, and my nails complemented the lovely press badge I was required to wear.

Getting photos for Mom before the white carpet chaos ensued.

Unglam moment: The first wave of guests had come to an end, and girlfriend was hungry. My leftovers hit the spot. So did the slice of pizza that was handed out. And the In-N-Out burger.

For the entire duration of the show, it was practically a monsoon in West Hollywood. The carpet was soggy, my dress was getting wet, Sharon Osbourne had just cursed at a reporter for calling her "Sheryl," and my eyes were sleepy. It was time to wrap things up and go home . . . to recap the footage and write this post.

Until next year, friends!