Only Celebrities Can Get Away with Bad Hair Days

Kylie Minogue

Taylor Swift

For many celebrities, award shows are when they have the license to show their own taste, since many actors and artists are playing roles and having their hair, makeup, and clothing dictated by directors, producers, photographers, stylists, and so on. That’s the reason the Red Carpet makes for such GREAT television – because stars don’t always have the greatest taste when left to their own devices.

Selena Gomez

At this year’s Billboard Music Awards, we saw what could only be described as a lot of “ho-hum” when it came to hair. Kylie Minogue, Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez wore the same styles they’ve worn to every public appearance in the last year. They all look quite beautiful and well-groomed. They just don’t look exciting or adventurous – but in real life, most of our clients feel the same way. When they get ready for a big event, they don’t want something different and daring. They want to look their very best, and for them that is the look they’ve cultivated and honed with our help.

Fergie

Not so ho-hum? On the “THAT could have been better” side, we had Fergie, who managed to make hours spent in the stylist’s chair look like minutes. Her roots desperately needed a touch up, she seems to have removed some of the extensions and moved back to a blonder shade, but it seemed more a lesson in how to make an expensive trip to the salon look inexpensive. While Fergie claims to be a natural blonde, her idea of blonde is still  too dark to go without regular (every 2 weeks) touch ups when the rest of her hair is this light. Maybe it’s time she tried red hair?

Mary J. Blige

One of our perennial favorites, Mary J. Blige, fell into this category as well. We’ve always loved her colorist’s genius at keeping her a multi-tonal blonde, but the deep, heavy fringe and high “Genie” ponytail didn’t do Ms. Blige any justice. However, it must be said she got behind the look anyway, pairing it with a leopard-print gown and strutting her stuff. So, points for that – confidence and attitude can even overcome a bad hair day.

Kesha

Confidence and attitude aplenty could not save Kesha, in our opinion. Topping off a truly hideous dress, the boundary-pushing singer sported hair that could generously be termed “bedhead” but that might be insulting beds. Her roots are brassy, her ends are fried and dead, there’s no way she could even have run her fingers through it, there was some random crimping, and the rest just defies description. Other women would have cried when a stylist unveiled this look.

Bret Michaels

Then, we come to the whole idea of how wonderful a hat is to make the best of a bad hair day. And if that is the case, Bret Michaels suffers from 365 bad hair days per year, every year. We actually love this hat, but between the bandanas and the hats, does anyone believe Brett has a full head of hair? We think perhaps, at age 48, it’s time to face the inevitable. He’s faced so much else in his life – we’re still going to respect him, and maybe even more so when he dumps the affectation and comes clean. Bret is still young enough to get great results in stopping hair loss and re-growing healthy hair by starting a multi-therapeutic program of DHT-blocking, nutrient-rich supplements; topical DHT-blocking products; Minoxidil and low-level laser therapy.  As a certified hair loss consultant whose salon is an approved clinic of Hair Loss Control Clinics, I have seen the dramatic results achieved with this technology.  It's a shame that not even celebrities seem to know about this technology, which is FDA-proven to re-grow hair. 

The ever-fierce Beyonce

Now, for the “she’s having a FAB hair day”: Beyonce, Nicole Kidman, and Rhianna. After so many events at which she either wore her hair up or smoothed straight, it was great to see Beyonce’s fierce highlighted curls spring wild. She looked every inch “Sasha Fierce.”

Nicole Kidman captures "casually sexy"

We adored seeing Nicole Kidman and her side-braid, after so many years of very mannered and overdone looks, appearing so relaxed, red-headed, and beautifully casual. She is the perfect example of how a simple hairdo and a beautiful dress can combine to look just plain sexy. 

The smoking hot Rhianna

And finally, we have the smoking, red-hot Rhianna. Her tousled, cherry-red bob and bright-white menswear suit literally dropped jaws. Even covered head to toe, she is one of the most compelling, mesmerizing women we’ve ever seen. Few people can pull off a color this bold and intense, and yet it never overshadows her delicate features and beautiful skin. And when she changed into that white leotard-and-leather-harness to perform… 

Well, until next week – ciao!   

Hot Summer Days, When Colors Can Fade...

Whenever you buy a new garment, from the simplest t-shirt to the most expensive dress, no matter whether it’s a discount store house brand or Armani, Versace, Chanel or Gucci, they all have one thing in common: A “how to care for” label hidden inside the garment. 

And if you don’t follow directions, especially when it comes to the finest pieces of clothing, like washing a blouse that clearly says “dry clean only, using hot water when the label calls for cold, using a too-hot iron when the label instructs “cool iron inside out,” or using bleach or other destructive cleaning agents when the label calls for delicate treatment and detergents, we all know what happens next. Shrinkage, discoloration, loss of texture, even total disintegration and other disasters that can and will destroy our clothes. Not a very pleasant picture, whether we’ve paid hundreds or thousands for those clothes.

Rich, easy -to-maintain, single-process colors on
Halle Berry, Katie Holmes & Marisa Tomei

For that reason, most of us take very good care of our clothes, and follow the directions to protect our investment, even if we only wear these garments occasionally and they spend much of their time hiding in the far reaches of our closet. 

Raven-haired, single-process colors on
Demi Moore, Vanessa Hudgens, & Salma Hayek

Yet when it comes to the most important and visible “fabric,” the one you wear every day and cannot hide behind your winter coat, the one fabric that can make or break your look every single day, we’re not nearly as vigilant – we’re talking about your hair. 

Women (and men) often don’t take the time to find out exactly what type of “fabric” their hair really is and how best to care for it, or worse yet, their hairdresser – the person that is supposed to know EVERYTHING about hair – does not prescribe the perfect haircare products that will keep your hair shiny and healthy, especially hair that has been colored, highlighted, or double-processed.

Kate Beckinsale, Sandra Bullock, & Lily Aldridge
wear natural-looking, warm  medium brunettes

As a Board-Certified Master Haircolorist, I advise most of all to look for an experienced hair colorist, not just a stylist who occasionally does color, who can and will do it right in the first place without any further damage, and just as importantly, prescribe the perfect combination of take-home products for the upkeep of the beautiful new and exciting color, so it is just as stunning in a month as it was when you left the salon. 

Remember, when you have you hair colored, highlighted, double-processed, or any other chemical process, you and your hair colorist become partners in your new look – what that means is that the colorist is 100% responsible for achieving that new look, that new color, and for prescribing the very best and most appropriate take-home products. You are 100% responsible for keeping your new hairstyle and haircolor shiny and healthy by purchasing these products to use at home for longevity, health, and shine. You need to take care of your new haircolor and your new style just as you would take care of a new Chanel suit.

So, here are my “prescriptions” for colored, highlighted, double-processed, single-processed, straightened, or otherwise chemically processed hair – the one “fabric” you cannot hide.

Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, & Emma Stone
wear the hardest shade to maintain: ravishing reds

By now, everyone understands that the intense heat and ultraviolet rays of the sun, especially during the summer (and when combined with swimming in chlorinated pools or the ocean), can and will fade the color from your hair. Also, exposure to the sun can cause hair to become dry, brittle, and can also cause discoloration of your haircolor – especially red hair.

As we all also know, any chemical services affect the condition of the fabric of your hair, so you must always ask your colorist for his/her recommendations for home maintenance.  My recommendation is to take precautions using the proper products to protect and support your hair.

Super high-toned, double-process blondes
Michelle Williams, Gwyneth Paltrow, & Gwen Stefani

For high-toned blondes, double-processed, or heavily highlighted hair, I like the Aquage Sea Extend Ultimate Color Care Shampoo and Conditioner line, which is sulfate-free and offers UVA/UVB thermal sunscreen protection. These products will both restore and protect your hair, and can be used on any hair type.

In my salon, other than the Aquage products, I also recommend my private D. Laudati line:

Highlighted Blondes: Cameron Diaz,
Reese Witherspoon, & Ali Larter

Delizioso Shampoo: An active 5.5 pH, fast-clarifying cleansing shampoo for all hair types, Delizioso Shampoo is a breakthrough in fast maximum cleansing. Quick-reacting proteins and amino acids work with great speed to cleanse and clarify all hair types, leaving hair manageable and shiny.

Delizioso Conditioner: An adjustable conditioner for all hair types with silk proteins and natural botanical extracts, it deep conditions dry, damaged, and chemically treated hair in just 60 seconds. Structurizing proteins of different molecular weights penetrate within the hair shaft, producing benefits like no single protein can. 

Medium Highlighted Blondes:
Drew Barrymore, Sheryl Crow, & Jennifer Anniston

Intenso Enzymatic Rebalancing Treatment: Designed to heal damaged or distressed hair that has been parched by chemicals or the elements, after treatment with Intenso the hair will be infused with antioxidants and soothing botanicals, leaving hair healthy and shiny. Leave it your hair and wear it to the beach or the pool, and the heat will help it penetrate further into the cuticle of the hair. 

Liscio Leave-In Conditioner & Straightening Balm: Liscio is a rich botanical leave-in conditioner and softening balm. Used as directed, it straightens and controls curly or frizzy hair for maximum manageability and shine. It is a fusion of a deep treatment and a finishing product. 

One final, simple suggestion – when possible, wear a chic hat. The physical barrier is a strong one, and in addition, you’ll also be protecting your face.

Until next week...ciao!