Confident Intelligent Beautiful Women

I must admit, I have the most respect for women. Sorry guys, I am a little biased here. Women are emotional and intuitive creatures. As young girls, we play with dolls and their hair which gives us a start on thinking about how we want to look and what we want to say to anyone who will listen. As we go through teen years, most women are being introduced to hormones and years of tweezing, waxing, hairstyling, coloring, manicuring , shopping and makeup. As we grow up we develop good friendships along the way, if we are lucky. These friends become a crucial part in our decision making from clothing to relationships to hair. Women learn to juggle careers, apartments, pets, friends, relationships, children and family as well as constant maintenance on appearance. I am always fascinated how some women do this with great ease. Or at least make it look easy.

Sandra Bullock comes to mind. In her recent tabloid drama, she is faced with the horrors of her private life gone public. Her career is at a high point with an Oscar win, at the same time the news comes out about her husband's repeated infidelity. It sucks that she gave an Oscar speech thanking her husband for having her back, only to find out days later that he really didn't.

She is liked by both men and women audiences. Hard to do. I believe this is because she seems believable and so does her appearance. She has had just a few bad hair choices in the past years but she has always looked natural and pretty without being overdone. She never gone crazy with plastic surgery or makeup. Her style suits her strength and femininity.

Okay, so you ask what is the connection ? Women that manage to look their best through all of life's stages deserve the recognition. Some women get better as they get older. Sandra Bullock has never looked better in her life. She has worked at her career and is a talented actress. She married a man that she fell in love with at 40 years old. Okay so she trusted the wrong guy. Sometimes, even women make mistakes! Seriously, she has juggled all of it with grace and style. I admire her "heart on her sleeve" attitude. I can relate to her perseverance. I think most women can. I feel sorry that she has to live in the public eye through a very difficult time but I know she will get through this probably emerging stronger and better. I think that's what women do. I would also bet that after all of the dust settles and everyone forgets this recent personal drama that she will still be looking great!

Fantasy Makeover

Everyone loves a good makeover. I recently had the pleasure of doing makeovers for LXTV. We selected a stranger walking on 5th ave and kidnapped her for a few hours to change her look. I went on the show on this Friday to talk about the transformation of color and style. The change was dramatic enough to get the desired reaction from everyone watching at home. It is always fun to see how great someone can look by changing haircolor, cut and clothes all at once. My clients often ask if they would be good candidates for a makeover show. Of course everyone has room to change even a little bit. Some people have more room than others. I think the key factor that separates clients from makeover candidates is CONTROL. I can discuss, consult, suggest, coerce, and even threaten(yes, I have been known to do this!) and it won't matter. We all have preconceived notions of how we want to look. It's not always easy to hear constructive criticism. We may think about giving free reign to our hair people but when we sit in that chair it usually turns into pure fantasy. It's important to be ready dramatic change. Ready in every way. Anyone that volunteers for a makeover gives up all control of the outcome. Funny enough, we can often see some really great haircolor and styling when there is no one else imposing their own opinions. I try to remember this when I want to get any service done for myself. Whether it's to get a pedicure or my dog's hair groomed or even to paint the walls in my home, I know I take a risk to micro manage any professional that is skilled in their own craft. There is also the risk that I will not be happy with the results unless I am part of the process. I acknowledge my love for control(A.K.A. "control freak") and I relate to anyone else that cannot let go of these details too. I think we all have the fantasy to let someone else make the decision, tell us what we should do and make it happen before we change our minds. No matter how grown up we are, Cinderella still seems like fun.

And The Winner Is...

I hate award shows. They are always long and boring. The fun part is always who is with who, what they are wearing and most important of all...the hair!

My favorites of the evening were Sandra

Bullock, Susan Levin(Robert

DowneyJr), Charlize Theron and Eizabetta Canalis(George Clooney). Bullock, Levin and Canalis were my favorite "brunettes" styled without overstyling. This is a personal favorite look of mine. Theron, the prettiest lady, had the prettiest blond hair at Oscars. She and Kendrick had updos that were modern and not too severe. I liked Kate Winslet's style but I thought her blond was too yellow with that fake "doll" look to it. Cameron Diaz had pretty blond highlights some too pale and the hair look overstyled. Kathryn Bigelow's hair was not favorite(along with the The Hurt Locker for that matter). Of course, I want to support the first women director to win an Oscar(YAY!) but I think maybe her hair needs to be browner for more contrast with her skin tone. Mo'Nique and Zoe Saldana had the prettiest most elegant updos. Sigourney Weaver's haircolor is too red and her bob looks like she is running for political office. Helen Mirren is the epitome of a older women with great style. Her haircolor is a good combination of blond and gray. Love it! Tina Fey went for a hairstyle I did not understand at all. What was that? I must admit she is my favorite funny girl. She made us laugh during the very "scary" Sarah Palin campaign so she gets a free pass. It takes alot to dismiss bad hair. I guess I am biased here.

Women In The News

I have the pleasure of working with many women in the media. Women in the news do not have it easy when it comes to hair, makeup and creating an overall look. I must admit I have a soft spot for these women. They have lots to say about current events, local and national news and we reduce these intelligent women to their appearance. Unfortunately, we have been programmed to think this way about women. I know that many of these news channels, especially the local ones, do not supply hair and makeup pros for these reporters so the are left with their own blowdryers and makeup bags to get their "look" together usually minutes before airtime. Sometimes the more "powerful" the channel and the news program the"better" the hair. This is not always true! Sometimes the hair is too blond, overstyled or visible roots. Women on the evening entertainment news showsusually try to get more creative with stripey highlights and visible extensions. Women reporting more serious news need more natural, believable hair. Katie Couric has had many hair changes. I have been responsible for many of those haircolor changes. My favorite is her honey blond with highlights. Christiane Amanpour has changed her look from a scruffy "au naturel" to a more polished one with a natural feeling. Arianna Huffington's haircolor and style is very pretty lately, not as brassy as before. Campbell Brown has a pretty color hair but her style sometimes resembles a Breck ad( I must say I loved those old ads but it's a little too bouncy for news). I have watched Greta Van Susteren change her haircolor over the years from brown to a light and brassy blond that is not flattering. Diane Sawyer has a classic style that could use an update. I think her blond is one color and flat in tonality. Paula Zahn has a different blond everytime I see her and I am not sure why. Sometimes it works but mostly she is too yellow and overhighlighted. Rachel Maddow has a great look. Short and modern haircut that suits her style. The morning shows have more flexibility with hair probably because the subject matter is not always so serious. Robin Roberts looks best with her scalp short cut that shows off her great features. Natalie Morales, with her "natural" brown highlights, has acheived the balance of credibility, style and feminity. Hmmmm , I wonder who her colorist is?

Does He or Doesn't He?

Most men color their hair for very specific reasons. We women are so used to pampering, plucking and primping ourselves from a very young age that we don't even need a reason anymore to do any beauty treatment ever. It can be anything from a "new love'" to change of season to just boredom. Men are much more black and white about this decision. I think the number one reason that drives men is the age factor. Sometimes it begins with a wife or girlfriend that thinks the gray makes them look old. Men in film and tv color for the obvious reasons. Sometimes to create a character. Sometimes to enhance good features or diminish flaws that film and tv can often bring attention to. Men competing in business or working in a young industry also find themselves in the drugstore sheepishly shopping for haircolor. I have often helped the "confused" man in Duane Reade that does not know what to buy. Most men are not comfortable with the "secret" getting out that they do color their hair. Of course to me it is always obvious. The "at home" hair color for men is not bad, it is usually the color choice and the frequent applications that leads to disaster. The "shoe polish" look or the "brassy" reddish brown tones that are not found in nature are most common mistakes. The good thing is that one or two haircuts and the mistake is gone. I cringe when I see that 50+ newscaster with hair too dark to hide any hints of age sitting next to a 25 year old flawless female cohost. Men also find themselves doing what it takes to "keep up" with society's idea of what's age acceptable. Of course the option is still out there for men. The "salt and pepper" man is still considered "distinguished". Better to leave it alone if you can't do it right. Look at Richard Gere and George Clooney. Enough said.