And the winner is Michael Kors

Another view of the winning look...

Our last look at Fashion Week hairstyles, in the Spring, was titled “Fashion Roadkill.” And I feel perhaps a bit less ambivalent for Fall, but that may be because what I liked, I liked a bit more; and what I disliked, I disliked with a passion.

Fashion editors unanimously and excessively praised the hair at Michael Kors as being the “best of the shows.” It probably took Orlando Pita and his team hours to achieve the messy, leather-woven braids that look as if the models did their own hair. It was the most attractive “DIY” look of the season, and one I believe will appeal to a lot of women.

Jason Wu, side view

Jason Wu, rear view

At Jason Wu, we had another do-it-yourself-looking runway style; one that required lots of randomly placed black feathers and bobby pins. Again, I’m sure it took Odile Gilbert and team a lot of effort to obtain such a no-effort look. Frankly, I do not see the fashion in it or what it proves – the model looks as if she was attacked by a crow – but it IS an attention-getter, and a form of artistic expression and artistic freedom. I just wonder if anyone noticed the clothes.

"The Trump" at Jill Stuart

Less "Trumpish" at Jill Stuart

I certainly noticed “The Trump Look” at Jill Stuart. It’s as if today, what’s “in” is not necessarily attractive or compelling, but rather what is famous or attached to fame, and it can be anything – including runway hairstyles. This isn’t a good look, its proportions are all wrong, but as long as it reflects a famous personality, it doesn’t actually have to be appealing. No one would ever walk into my salon and ask for this look.

But again, this is the era of freedom of expression in fashion, freedom of choice in how we look, and anything goes. As an artist, I just want to ask you to remember to always have you makeup and brows looking their best – when your face is done and attention is paid, you can pull off even the wildest hair and make it look intentional and fashion-forward.

The disaster at Thakooon

Even the model seems upset at Thakoon

What is the meaning with the awful hair paste and powder at Thakoon? They could have added color with ornaments, feathers, or extensions, and created a look women would want to copy. Who would actually want to try and reproduce this? They’re selling very expensive fashion but cheapening the look with such distractingly awful hair. They didn’t even bother to clean the over-spilled powder from one model’s forehead. Ugly AND sloppy.

United Bamboo's faux corn rows

It’s obvious some designers feel the hair isn’t important on the runway, yet we all know that in the real world, hair is one of the most important fashion and beauty accessories a woman has, and she spends time and money on it.

Ridiculous hair detracts from the clothing – look at the fake “corn-shaped” corn rows at United Bamboo. The hair is fighting with the clothes instead of complementing them. If she were walking down the street, she’d get attention with that hair – negative attention.

Donna Karan

As an artist, again I want to see hair that is appealing and commercial, hair that makes a woman want to come into my salon and say, “I want that.”

Carolina Herrera

The hair that I expect I will be reproducing, if perhaps in a slightly less dramatic form:

Amanda Wakeley

Philip Lim

Donna Karan, Carolina Herrera, Amada Wakely, Philip Lim, and Marchesa – all up-dos of some kind, whether they’re soft or controlled.

Marchesa

And I’m sure I will also be asked to work with the trio of French twists shown by Narciso Rodriguez, Diane Von Furstenberg, and the tallest of all, Bagley Mischka.

Narciso Rodriguez

Diane von Furstenberg

These are all high-fashion looks – but ones that women will ask for.

Bagley Mischka

And I will probably be asked do a few Michael Kors’ braids – they only LOOK like you can do them yourself.

Until next week, ciao!

Sarah Hyland

Sofia Vergara

Overall, there wasn’t anything happening at the EMMYS that made us sit up and say, “wow!” except for a few of the dresses – but none of the hair. The same trends continue that we’ve seen since the beginning of the awards season in January – long and sideswept, shoulder-length texturized bobs, bangs, and some very short-and-sleek styles.

Nina Dobrev

Long and sideswept almost became “long and sideswept AND wearing red.” Sofia Vergara, Sarah Hyland, and Nina Dobrev wore all three elements the best, but they weren’t alone. All had beautifully healthy, shiny hair, with lots of tones and highlights that gave their various brunette shades plenty of dimension, and each wore a shade, from deep espresso to light chestnut, that suited her coloring. All three were definite winners.

Cat Deeley

Dancer and presenter Cat Deeley may be English, but she looked like the quintessential California Girl with her beachy blonde waves and high- and low-lights. There are lots of variations in the blonde on top and around her face, with darker tones peeking out from the back, but at one time a color like this would never have been acceptable – it would have been considered too brassy. It’s a nice, sexy, playful look, and it suits her.

Julie Bowen

Julie Bowen chose a very severe, center-parted ponytail – nothing terribly original – but with her plunging neckline and smoldering eye makeup, she looked just smashing. A perfect example of how simplicity can be very sexy.

Let’s stop right here and make note that every woman mentioned in this blog has much heavier (yet exceedingly well-groomed) eyebrows than was popular even a year ago. Brows are as important to your look today as your hairstyle and makeup.

Christina Hendricks

Now, the bobs. Bombshell Christina Hendricks has gone a bit shorter and her red is simply gorgeous, but I must admit that red has always been one of my very favorite hair colors. She is a master at matching her makeup to her hair and clothing, and that “come hither” smile, painted in just the right shade of red, just works. While most redheads shy away from red lipstick, she totally embraces it.

Aubrey Plaza

Cobie Smulders

Aubrey Plaza’s and Cobie Smulders’ bobs are more texturized and casual, but they are more suited to their younger, more playful looks. Both chose a deep side part that accentuates the slight asymmetry of their bobs, which brings out their eyes and accentuates their bone structure.

Lea Michele

Glee’s Lea Michele debuted bangs at the EMMYS, and she looks fantastic. Another “lady in red,” her shiny dark brunette color has plenty of dimensional shades, and it just looks healthy and silky. The bangs are the right amount of wisp and weight, and are just the right length to bring attention to her eyes. Great choice!

Evan Rachel Wood & Kate Winslet

Finally, short and sleek. Evan Rachel Wood and Kate Winslet starred together in the remake of Mildred Pierce, and their cuts are very similar as you can see from the photo of them together.

Evan Rachel, short & slick

But Evan Rachel decided to show off her beautiful face with a slicked back look and a Twenties-style finger wave in the bangs.

Kate, short & soft

Kate softened her look from the more severe pompadour we commented on at the Venice Film Festival, and instead let her bags wave softly across her forehead. With a strong brow and a deeper lipstick shade, she looks much prettier and more feminine.

Despite the age difference, both have the kind of beauty it takes to get away with these short cuts, but remember that when you look at any celebrity, that look is a collage of things: the right hair cut and color, the hair styling, the makeup, the eyebrows – the whole package.

Jon Hamm

The Jimmys: Kimmel and Fallon

That’s why those shots of them in the tabloids without makeup are often so shocking, and why people are fascinated by them. We’re used to our celebrities looking effortlessly beautiful. But it’s work – and their job!

Lest we forget the men, the Sixties look was on full display, thanks to the Mad Men influence – take a look at Jon Hamm, and Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon together on stage. Totally swinging.

Until next week, ciao!

Kate Winslet

Sometimes we wonder what it must be like for these stars to go from festival to festival, from film premier to premiere, with trunks of dresses and gowns for the daytime photo ops and the evening screenings and all the other appearances they must do to promote a film. Sometimes we feel a bit jealous, but how many of us could handle the constant criticisms of the fashion and entertainment media that goes with the fame?  That said, I always try to offer constructive criticism in my blogs to help every woman who reads them learn from the triumphs and stumbles of the stars we love to watch and apply what they learn to improving their own fashion image.

At the Venice Film Festival, many of the fashion columns thought Kate Winslet looked absolutely gorgeous with this high-fashion bouffant ponytail and minimalist makeup, but we think she looks a bit washed out. The hairstyle is great, but it elongates her face, and while she did break it up with very strong brows, she needed to do that again with a deeper-colored lip. She would have looked more polished and softer, her face less elongated. She forgot the rule: Strong eyes, soft lip; strong lip, soft eyes. Her eye makeup is almost non-existent, so she needed that strong lip. She should have talked to Madonna.

Madonna

And speaking of Madge (as she is known in her adopted home of England), she did it all right. First, she just looks amazing for her age, showing no fear of standing in between her two twenty-something co-stars, and frankly looking fitter than both. She wore a bright, glossy red lip, and therefore minimal eye makeup – just loads of mascara. Her hair was perfect – beautiful golden blonde with plenty of tones and highlights, and a very “Old Hollywood” upswept front with loose curls cascading around her shoulders. A total hit.

Gwyneth Paltrow, over her shoulder

Gwyneth Paltrow, full frontal

Gwyneth Paltrow had her look down completely. What could have been a misfire (she’s done it before) with her blonde hair, pale complexion, and a pale blush-colored gown instead was spot-on. She’s gone much blonder and acquired a tan, so the dress doesn’t wash her out, and her makeup brought that out further with bronzer and a bright lip. Her only mistake, in our opinion, is that her brows are so pale that they’re practically invisible.

Evan Rachel Wood, Look 1

Evan Rachel Wood, Look 2

Evan Rachel Wood has been a very busy girl, and she’s been in our posts every week for at least the last month – ever since she cropped off her long hair. The three pictures here – two from Venice and one from the Toronto Film Festival – are a perfect example of how versatile a short haircut can be.

Evan Rachel Wood, Look 3

Going short hasn’t limited her in the least. She’s swept it to the side and worn it with a headband and smoky eyes, in a pompadour with lots of false eyelashes and a fuchsia mouth, and spike up under a bowler while wearing a manly suit. She knows how to play to her strengths, and she’s proven she has a real wardrobe for her hair!

Keira Knightly

Keira Knightly, who also attended both festivals, won the “most amazing gown” award in the fashion press for her gold lace Valentino Couture in Venice, but we preferred her daytime hair: her precise angled bob worn down and straight. She has a great combination of hues in her hair that compliment her “English rose” complexion, and she’s sporting the heaviest brows of all the stars – a look she totally pulls off with her bone structure and penetrating dark eyes.

Angelina Jolie

In Toronto, Angelina Jolie does what she does best: Looks fantastic. Sometimes her hair is a few shades lighter, a few shades darker; sometimes she emphasizes her uptilted eyes, sometimes she wears a strong color on her world-famous lips. You cannot argue with beauty – she always looks perfect.

Elizabeth Olsen

Also in Toronto, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s “little sister” Elizabeth has finally grown up. She started the promotional tour wearing sweet dresses, ballet flats, and light brown hair. But she showed up in Toronto a much more daring multi-tonal blonde, wearing a colorful dress, with a peek-a-boo cutout, and she’s stepped up her makeup to go with the dress and the new haircolor. I think we can safely say that Elizabeth Olsen has matured, and is ready to play it a bit sexy.

Michelle Monaghan

Michelle Monaghan showed up in Toronto with a new red shade, a vast improvement over her one-dimensional chocolate brown. She also has a better cut, with the bangs a bit shorter and shaggier – and the combination of the two makes her eyes the focal point and brightens up her whole face. She’s been a good girl and changed her makeup to match her new haircolor, so brava, Michelle!

Marisa Tomei

Finally, Marisa Tomei showed up in Toronto in a perfectly awful dress. She is one of those actors who is sometimes very striking, and not so much at others. This evening, it’s too much brown: her hair, her skin, and her lipstick. Her haircut is flattering and a good length for her, with the right tones and highlights, but everything is overwhelmed by the dress. The shoes are completely hot, though. She should have worn something that didn’t take over, and added a bright lip, and it would have turned the whole thing around.

Until next week, ciao!

As we approach September 11, the 10^th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and our Pentagon, we remember the loss of thousands of our fellow Americans, and others from around the world.

United We Stand, Remembering September 11, 2001

We remember the innocent men, women, and children who were someone’s father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, husband, wife. As we remember this unprovoked, deliberate terrorist attack, let us remember not only the devastation and the loss of life, but also the courage of our heroes who gave their lives trying to save others.

The Poem, Eternal Flame of America

Let us honor all those who lost their lives with our prayers and thoughts. Let us find strength in our unbreakable American Spirit by holding hands, just as we did then. Let us again be united as Americans, not divided as Democrats and Republicans. Let us be brothers and sisters, united under one God, one Nation, indivisible. Let us preserve our Freedom and Love, and let the world acknowledge that the United States is unique and exceptional because we are Free and United, willing to give our lives but never our Freedom.

A copy of the Congressional Record

This week, instead of my usual beauty blog, I want to share with you a poem I wrote on September 11, 2001, as the tragic events were occurring. This poem was read to The U.S. House and Senate on September 24, 2001, and is now in the Congressional Record. An American flag was flown in Iraq in my honor by soldiers serving there who also read my poem.

That flag and a framed copy of the Congressional Record are two of my most cherished possessions. I also had a painting commissioned to illustrate the poem, titled, “Eternal Flame of America,” which summarizes who we are, who we were, and who we will always be as Americans. God bless America.

Eternal Flame of America

As I watched in horror and grief as the towers of the World Trade Center burn…
I cried in pain and disbelief. As I wiped the tears from my eyes and removed my hands from my face I had a vision…

The painting commissioned to illustrate the poem

In front of me the burning towers turned into burning torches…
Torches of hope…Torches of courage and strength…
Torches of unity and love…
Torches that will guide us into the darkness to seek and defeat our enemy.
The same enemy that ignited that fire, believing he could bring us to our knees.

Torches that will engulf our hearts with love and tenacity.
Torches that will always burn; for the freedom that America stands for
and that every American will fight for and
would rather die for than succumb to defeat or submission.

Torches that will always remind us that we are all equal
no matter what religion, race, or background and
we stand together in peace, brotherhood, and love.
We believe that God is the only one who is above us.
He enables us to carry within us the fire of the burning towers
as torches of eternal light.

To remind us that America is Freedom, and Freedom is America.
Our Forefathers established it,
our Fathers believed in it,
we will fight for it,
and our children will keep it forever.

What a boring night for hair. Britney Spears, Katie Holmes, and Kim Kardashian all wore their signature center-parted, extension-enhanced, slightly waved hair, the same as always.

Miley Cyrus

The simple updo made an appearance on Selena Gomez, Maria Menounos, Zoe Saldana, and Ashley Rickards. The one updo we loved was Miley Cyrus, who finally looked appropriate and elegant with her tasteful chignon, her floral-and-leopard print dress that was conservatively cut from the front, and an eyeful from behind. Her makeup was lovely, and she looked fabulous.

Adele

Adele is perfect: her hair, her makeup, she knows what works for her.

Beyonce

Beyonce, with her simple side ponytail — her hair looks healthy, the color compliments her skin tone, she’s just glowing (no doubt due to her news that she’s expecting), and her makeup is simple.

Kelly Rowland

Kelly Rowland, one of Beyonce’s partners in Destiny’s Child, looks fabulous with her just-right bangs and long hair. It’s shiny and healthy, and the bangs hit at just the right place to enhance her eyes.

Jessie J

Singer Jessie J, who made crutches look cool, wears what used to be called a China Bob with total aplomb. It suits her, her hair is shiny and healthy looking, and her almost-black shade works with her pale skin, blue eyes, and avante garde make up.

Crystal Reed

Then there were the train wrecks. “Teen Wolf” actress Crystal Reed, with a braid in the front and probably extensions, looks like she just rolled out of bed, but nothing like the Sixties sex kittens we talked about last week. It’s not sexy; it just looks like she needs a date with a deep conditioner.

Deena Cortese

We think it’s safe to say there is not a single thing on “Jersey Shore’s” Deena Cortese that is real – not the emerald-green contacts, not the gravity-defying cleavage, not the fake-bake tan, not the fake fingernails, and certainly not the bumped-up multicolored extensions.

Demi Lovato

We were sad to see former Disney star Demi Lovato looking like one of the cast of “Jersey Shore” with her own extensions, bad highlights, damaged hair, fake tan, and exposed cleavage. We expect better of her. This is not a great entrée into adulthood.

Kreayshawn

There are so many cautionary tales with “rapper” Kreayshawn that we don’t know where to start – but certainly the hair is a total disaster. The black curly part is likely a wig, leaving the smooth curled-under blonde bangs likely to be her real hair, though not likely her natural color. This bi-colored, bi-textured ‘do is an attention-getter, but it is so unattractive that who wants THAT sort of attention? Aren’t the tattoos and loud clothing enough?

Nicki Minaj

We understand Nicki Minaj is known for her outrageous wigs, but with a voice like hers, isn’t it time to dump the synthetic and step out in her real hair? We doubt sales of her music will drop off just because she doesn’t look like a child’s confection.

Katy Perry

Oh, Katy Perry. Lavender?

Until next week, ciao!

Ashley Green's modern take on Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot's sexiness transcends all eras

Every era has its icons, its look, its own zeitgeist, and the Sixties’ is instantly recognizable. And even better, every era comes back around again, allowing us to relive a defining moment in our lives, as well as improve upon it with today’s advanced technologies, whether it’s the cut and feel of the fabric, the gentleness of the chemical processes used on their hair, the finer pigments and textures of the makeup, and the array of styling tools we have to use on our hair.

Beyonce updates Raquel Welch's ultra-vixen

The ultra-vixen herself, Raquel Welch

We loved the Sixties, and its icons, from the voluptuous, sensual, and exotic Sophia Loren, Raquel Welch, Brigitte Bardot, and Veruschka; to Barbarella-era Jane Fonda; and Youthquake icons and Warhol muses Edie Sedgwick and Baby Jane Holzer; to rock star girlfriends Marianne Faithfull, Pattie Boyd, Jane Asher; models Jean Shrimpton, Penelope Tree and Twiggy, and gamine ladies Jacqueline Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn.

Kristen Stewart's W Cover

Veruschka's Life Magazine Cover

They all have their equivalents today — Ashley Green, Beyonce, Drew Barrymore, and Kristen Stewart are all channeling the backcombed, high-volume, sexy kitten, just-rolled-out-of bed look of Brigitte Bardot, Raquel Welch, Jane Fonda, and Veruschka from her cover of Life magazine.

Angelia Jolie, this generation's Veruschka

Veruschka, who fascinated a generation

Angelina Jolie channels Veruschka’s long, center-parted, wild child hair, while Rachel Bilson, Mischa Barton, and Zooey Deschanel could stand in for models Jean Shrimpton, Penelope Tree, and It Girlfriends Marianne Faithfull (Mick Jagger) and Pattie Boyd (George Harrison and Eric Clapton) with their heavy fringes.

Rachel Bilson

Jean Shrimpton

How could one not draw comparisons between Emma Watson and Twiggy? Or Ginnifer Goodwin and Edie Sedgwick?

Mischa Barton

Marianne Faithfull

Christie Brinkley’s tousled beehive is truly classic Bardot. And Krysten Ritter’s baby fringe recalls nothing so much as Audrey Hepburn.

Zooey Deschanel's mod fringe

Penelope Tree, mod model

In a single awards season, Drew Barrymore wore an homage to the bouffant made famous by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and Bardot-esque back-combed and tousled waves tumbling down her back.

Emma Watson

Twiggy

Today, the difference is their hair is healthier, their color brighter and more dimensional — and changed more often because we are able to do so without the damage wrought by the processes of 50 years ago.

Ginnifer Goodwin

Edie Sedgwick

What is the same then and now is that whether a woman is a classic beauty or one with more offbeat looks, they all know they are beautiful and charismatic, they take care of themselves, and the have complete confidence. It is this combination that draws the eye and the attention of the public.

Styles never really die; they come back reflected by a new generation. And when we run out of ideas, we revisit the past for inspiration and bring it forward with a modern twist. The thing that has undergone the most radical change is haircolor and the chemistry behind it.

Christie Brinkley does Bardot

The Bardot Original

There is a science to coloring hair, and one can be a terrific artist with color yet not the chemist needed to reproduce that color again and again. A true colorist can do both, and can also correct as well as create.

Really, I love the look from every decade, and I look back at each of them for inspiration in the style and the color trends, and I try to bring the past forward and make it even better because we have the tools and technology to do so.

Krysten Ritter's Hepburn Bangs

The one and only Audrey Hepburn

Women are beautiful no matter what era, and it’s how we bring out their inner beauty and match it with their outer beauty that is ultimately timeless. Look at Audrey Hepburn – that face, if you take away her gamine Sixties hairstyle and clothes, is beautiful in any era. It’s how we express her inner beauty that transcends any era.

Until next week, ciao!

As a hair colorist and stylist for over 30 years, I have seen hundreds of clients — male and female — despair over losing their hair, believing there was nothing that could be done about it. While it is normal to lose 50 to 100 hairs per day, anything over that can indicate a problem.

Amazing results for women and men!

The most common cause of hair loss is male or female pattern baldness, a hereditary condition; but hair loss can also be caused by a number of other conditions including physical or emotional stress, medication, anesthesia, hormonal imbalance, pregnancy, autoimmune disease, poor nutrition, chemo or radiation, diabetes, lupus, or traction (pulling the hair too tight).

 What most people don’t know is that, in most cases, hair loss can be stopped and healthy hair can be re-grown by taking a multi-therapeutic approach which includes nutritional supplementation, topical products that block DHT (the byproduct of testosterone which is the cause of pattern baldness), and low-level laser therapy.

Imagine how this young man must feel!

After researching advances in the treatment of hair loss, I became a Certified Hair Loss Consultant with the Hair Loss Control Clinics International, which has been successfully using low-level laser therapy for over 17 years. As an Affiliate, I carry their “Scripts” line of physician-formulated products which stop hair loss by blocking DHT and delivering nutrients that contribute to faster growth of healthier, thicker, stronger hair. Prescription-strength minoxidil is also included in this line. I also offer and recommend Viviscal Professional, a 100% natural supplement made of a marine complex blended with organic silica and vitamin C, which nourishes and strengthens thinning hair and promotes faster growth. (This is a more potent formulation than the Viviscal sold in stores or through catalogs.)

 The supplements and topical products stop hair loss, but it is laser therapy that re-grows hair, as long as the follicle is still active. Someone who has been bald for 15 years or more will not benefit from treatment, as the follicles are no longer capable of producing hair.

Male pattern baldness does not have to ruin your life!

Laser hair therapy is FDA-approved and effective in re-growing healthy hair and improving the quality of existing hair. In a clinical trial, subjects received a total of 36 separate 20-minute treatments over a period of 18 weeks. After 36 treatments, 97% demonstrated an increased hair count of over 20; 89% demonstrated an increased hair count of over 30; and 57% demonstrated an increased hair count of over 50%. Laser hair therapy is safe, and has no side effects.

 The laser promotes healthy hair re-growth in three ways: 1. It increases blood flow by 54%; blood brings more oxygen and nutrients to the follicles.  2. It increases ATP production (ATP is the energy source in every cell of the human body). 3. It promotes protein synthesis (hair is made of protein). The laser gives off no heat. It’s the light that promotes hair growth (called photo biostimulation). Low-level lasers are used by physicians and by hair-loss control clinics. The protocol typically calls for two 30-minute treatments per week.

 For those who find it inconvenient to make two visits a week, there are also laser combs, laser brushes, hooded lasers on stands, and laser caps or helmets for home use.  My favorite is the igrow Hair Rejuvenation System, a lightweight helmet made by the same company which makes professional lasers and which has the same high-quality medical laser diodes. Unlike laser combs or brushes, the igrow is completely hands-free. You can watch TV, read, or listen to music (it’s ipod and MP3 compatible) during your treatment.

 To receive brochures on the Scripts products and the igrow laser, contact me at laudati@salonbuilder.com or call (561)833-7611. If you are in the Palm Beach area, please mention this blog to receive a complimentary hair loss consultation.

 Until next week, ciao!

Last month, we posted

Ashley Tisdale

about celebrities making some drastic cut and color changes. The trend continues, but not always with a “Cinderella success.” As we noted before, everyone loves a good transformation, the big “reveal” when a women is shown with her new look, and the audience all gasps in surprise at how a haircut, new haircolor, professional makeup, and a new outfit turns the a woman who may have been sitting next to them into Cinderella, ready for the ball.

But Ashley Tisdale’s transformation from a rich brunette to a bright blonde doesn’t offer that moment of awe. We think the blonde washes her out, and she’s already showing roots. Upkeep on this color is going to be very heavy, since she’s very obviously a natural brunette, which is why in her “before” picture she has that glow that is missing in the “after.”

Calista Flockhart

Calista Flockhart makes the same error, although she’s gone in the opposite direction. The deep chestnut color makes her skin look sallow and ages her, where the honeyed tones of her “before” picture flatter her skin and bring light to her face. She looks more youthful and alive with lighter hair.

Chloe Sevigny

Chloe Sevigny made a very drastic change for a movie role, but she really got it right. Known for being very offbeat in her fashion choices, she makes a very striking brunette, and wisely changed her makeup to match her new haircolor. Note that she wears her trademark bright red lipstick in both shots, but it is a very different shade in each picture. That is one of the most important rules when you change your haircolor – you MUST change your makeup to go along with the new tone. You will not be able to just wear the same makeup colors as a cool brunette as you did as a golden blonde, and vice versa.

Dianna Agron

Dianna Agron’s new cut is a misfire – we think it was supposed to be a shag, but the bangs are too long to accentuate her beautiful eyes, and it’s too choppy, with no flow to the layers, and no wispiness around the face to bring out her cheekbones. If you look at her “before” picture and see her classical bone structure, you realize the “after” picture just doesn’t do her any justice. We’d commented last time when she’d gone from that “before” cut to a bob, and thought it a mistake; she’s compounded the error here.

Leighton Meester

Now, look at what the right bangs can do! Leighton Meester’s bangs are perfect, they’re very youthful, they accentuate her eyes and draw attention to them while camouflaging a high forehead with just the right amount of wispiness and beveling.

Emma Watson

Emma Watson is doing a marvelous job of keeping her pixie well-shaped and flexible, constantly changing the way she wears it to keep it exciting and new. The darker hue is richer and quite flattering, especially so because she changed her makeup and darkened her brows to go with the new color. She looks more sophisticated, and has totally left behind any notion that she is still that teenager from the “Harry Potter” films.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry, who we believe has hit on the perfect combination of cut and color with her signature pixie in the “before” picture, has gone even shorter and a few shades lighter. Unfortunately, the new color is so close to her skin tone that they blend together, and we’re not crazy about it. We loved her look before, and she needs that richer, darker color for the contrast.

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba, who will be a new mother any moment now, added some extensions for length. Since many pregnant women avoid haircolor, extensions are a great way to add highlights, lowlights, or more color. For women who want a temporary change or are growing out their hair, they can give you length and thickness as well.

Katy Perry

Over the last two months, Katy Perry has gone from her trademark black hair to red (which even she termed an “epic misfire”), then from red to a strawberry blonde (we understand she is a natural blonde). The blonde was quite beautiful on her, and her colorist did a great job bringing her brows up to the right shade, and her makeup matched the new tones perfectly. But she apparently couldn’t leave well enough alone, and she colored her hair pink. Talk about an epic misfire. What a shame.

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian made news when she cut her trademark waist-length locks to just below shoulder length, as seen on the left. She made bigger news when she traded her black color for a deep mocha shade with some lighter brown highlights – but she also went back to extensions and the original length. We think the lighter shade is much more youthful and flattering. The dark hair was so severe and made her look more mature, aging her beyond her years. We hope she’ll keep this brighter, lighter color — she’ll need less makeup to accentuate her eyes and face, and to create that glow this color brings out naturally.

Selita Ebanks

Victoria’s Secret model Selita Ebanks appeared in the last “transformation” post when she cut her long flowing hair into this two-tone pixie, and we’re guessing that her employers may have had a hand in her going back to long extensions and this rich, almost-black brunette shade. We’re sure it was fun while it lasted, and she’s beautiful enough to carry off almost any style she wants, but she looks just lovely in her “after” picture. And notice that she adjusted her makeup accordingly, which she did the first time around as well.

Vanessa Hudgens

Vanessa Hudgens made national headlines by allowing her hair to be cut for a movie role. It’s hard to tell the shape of the cut from how she’s styled it here, which is not very flattering. She’s a pretty girl and can definitely pull off short hair, but she should move it around a bit and see what she can do with it, pull some wisps down around her face. Right now, it seems to lack any style at all.

All of these major celebrity changes and transformations teach that when you’re considering a new cut, color, or both, a thorough consultation is an absolute MUST. You may even want to try on wigs if the change you’re considering is drastic. Change is a good thing, but being too impulsive can result in disaster. Rely on an expert – your trained stylist and/or colorist – to advise you on whether what you see on a celebrity is going to work on you, with your hair’s texture, condition, and color, with your skin tone, and with your lifestyle. Be honest about how much time and money you’re willing to spend maintaining your hair. Some changes cost a lot more to keep up than others, and some require a lot more time in the salon, or a lot more time at home to reproduce the style. And always remember that a major change in cut and color means changes in your makeup and wardrobe as well, and calculate those investments, too.

Until next week, ciao!

Elizabeth Taylor

Ava Gardner

If you’ve ever wondered why Hollywood A-Listers always look fabulous, even when their hair is a mess and they’re not professionally made up, the answer is “perfect eyebrows.”

Marilyn Monroe

Since the Golden Era of Hollywood, top stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner, and Marilyn Monroe set the standard for glamour with perfectly groomed brows.

Today, Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox, Rihanna, and Kim Kardashian carry on the tradition.

Angelina Jolie

In fact, it’s practically impossible to find a celebrity today who doesn’t have perfect brows.

Megan Fox

If the eyes are the window of the soul, then brows are the frames for those windows. In fact, brows frame the face, accentuate the eyes, balance one’s features, and add expression.

Kim Kardashian

Rihanna

While popular brow shapes have changed through the decades, beautiful brows today are naturally arched, full, and perfectly shaped. 

Pamela's Anderson's too-thin brows

As brows tend to thin as a woman ages, too-thin brows make a woman look older than her years, like Pamela Anderson’s. 

Full brows, as seen in young women and children, are youthful. These before-and-after shots of Drew Barrymore and Courtney Love prove the point.

Drew Barrymore, too thin

Stars are so aware of the importance of perfect brows, they are willing to pay over $100 for a shaping, and there are salons in Beverly Hills that do nothing but brows.

If your brows are less than perfect, a professional brow arch (done with wax and/or tweezers) is the way to go. Do not try this at home! 

Courtney Love, too thin

Courtney Love, just right

If your brows are in need of repair, don’t despair. Too- thin brows can usually be grown out and camouflaged with brow mousse, brush-on brow powder, or even eyeshadow during the awkward stage. Ask a make-up artist for their recommendations. Your colorist can tint your brows if they are too thin, too blonde, or grey. By the way, the color of your brows should always be slightly darker than your hair color.

Once you have the shape you desire, brows can be kept in shape with hairspray or brow mousse.

Until next week, ciao!

AnnaLynne McCord

Melina Kankaredes

When it’s this hot, many women look at their usual heat styling tools…and then put them away. It’s hard to work up much enthusiasm when the heat of the dryer itself makes you start to sweat around the hair you just dried. Rather than fighting it, summer is the time of year when you should make the most of your hair’s natural texture.

Meg Ryan

Shakira

I can tell you that the men in your office will all comment when they find out that a mass of sexy waves were hiding under your carefully blown and flat-ironed style. And your significant other will love that “bed head,” too. The trick to skipping the heat tools and going right for the texture is the use of the right conditioner and conditioning products, especially if you have curly hair.

Keri Russell

Taylor Swift

Wearing your curly hair in its natural state, like AnnaLynne McCord, Melina Kankarides, Meg Ryan, Shakira, Keri Russell, and Taylor Swift, requires the use of a great moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.

I recommend my D Laudati Delizioso Shampoo and Conditioner, or Aquage Silkening Shampoo and Conditioner. To keep the curl looking natural and moist, I recommend a leave-in product like D Laudati Liscio to redefine curl and get rid of frizziness. It really stops the moisture from getting in, and makes the curl look longer instead of dry and tight. Another great product is Aquage Curl Defining Cream, which enhances curl definition without increasing hold or volume. Both of these leave-in products leave hair soft, supple, and natural-feeling.

Blake Lively

Kate Beckinsale

For those whose natural texture is more of a subtle wave or bend to the hair, loose up-dos, ponytails, braids, chignons, ballerina buns, and headbands are all great ways to control the hair yet provide some style.

Mila Kunis

Jennifer Lopez

Blake Lively, Kate Beckinsale, Mila Kunis, Jennifer Lopez, and Scarlett Johanssen all show off that combination of texture and low-maintenance style.

Scarlett Johansson

The other option is a cut that makes the most of your texture and is air-dried and hand-styled, like Victoria Beckham’s pixie or Vanessa Hudgen’s layered shag.

Victoria Beckham

What you’ll notice about all of these beautiful women is that they are wearing makeup.

Vanessa Hudgens

It is especially important to pay attention to your brows and your makeup when you “go natural,” especially if you have a head full of curls. If you overlook makeup with all that curl, you are overwhelmed by the hair. You need to balance it out — just a little lipstick, blush, and mascara, but most definitely the eyebrows.

With all of these natural looks, the idea is to have it appear you did it casually without much thought. That’s what gives a sexy appeal to it, and shows your confidence in your approach.

Until next week, ciao!