BLUNT EDGES
Looks like the heyday may be over for the long, layered look. Straight, blunt edges and one-length haircuts showed up on the runways at Luella Bartley, Prada and Miu Miu during the spring 2007 collections. Key stylist GUIDO PALAU says it's important to take extra care of blunt ends to protect them from breakage. He recommends Redken's Extreme Anti-Snap leave-in treatment, followed by Electric Wax 11 Shine Fused Texturizer for definition. —C.W.
 Luella Bartley |
Take a seat
Add a shot of glamour to your salon with the best-selling Ovo chair from ETOPA. The metal skeleton and high-density, stress-resistant foam provide durability and reliability, as well as long-lasting comfort for the client. etopa.com —C.W.
 Jetsons Redux: The Ovo chair from Etopa is out of this world. |
SPRAY AWAY
As the mercury rises this summer, stay cool and fresh with Watersall and Splash Cool Swimming Pool in a Can. These purified-water atomizers quench dry, thirsty skin without the use of fragrances, alcohol or preservatives, and without disturbing your makeup. Perfect at the beach, after exercise or on a plane, they can even be used in a pinch to fix bed head or ease hot flashes. watersall.com —C.W.
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Starting Over
ESSIE COSMETICS introduces a special Starting Over collection of six new nail polish colors that salute the independent spirit of women who are moving forward and starting a brand-new life. Two of the shades were created in partnership with the upcoming USA Network six-hour television event, The Starter Wife, starring Debra Messing and based on the novel by Gigi Levangie Grazer. Wife Goes On is a bold, true red, while Starter Wife is a sheer, milky pink. —M.D.
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The Razor Reinvented
Sometimes it takes someone on the cutting room floor to realize how to change the state of an art. And that is exactly what Butterfly Studio stylist JOSHB* did when he decided to redesign the straight-edge razor. Having spent five years perfecting his razor-cutting technique at Bumble and bumble, the innovative stylist began working on a tool that would let him create modern hair art. The result: the Signature Straight Razor (SSR) by joshb*, an ergonomic, aesthetically crafted razor designed to re-equip all levels of professional hairstylists. 212/253-2100 —M.D.
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The Bold Ones
CARLO BAY HAIR DIFFUSION, Florence, Italy, has created a new collection of versatile haircuts that invite and stimulate experimentation. Makeup, too, is based on versatility, contrast and freedom. Play with light makeup or an extraordinarily rich palette, which makes the most of a decisive red mouth. —M.D.
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SWEET SILHOUETTES
When an e-mail just won't do, say it in style with one of these elegantly refined "Silo Girls" letterpress note cards with matching envelopes. Available in sets of 10 from Brooklyn-based PAPER + CUP design. papercupdesign.com —C.W.
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Summer Sizzle
You hear a lot about how important it is to protect your skin from the sun's rays, but they can also wreak havoc on hair. Protect strands when poolside or on the beach with Joico's new K-PAK Sun Therapy Protective Sun Milk, which shields hair from the damaging effects of the sun. Afterward, try the K-PAK Sun Therapy Treatment Masque. It bathes sun-parched strands in a Hydroxy Sun Complex that contains healing aloe vera, nourishing botanicals and sun blockers. joico.com —C.W.
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WHAT'S IN A NAME?
REDKEN began in 1960 when Paula Kent, an actress who constantly experienced allergic reactions to hairspray and other cosmetics, realized there must be a way to make hypoallergenic products. With that goal in mind, she teamed up with a chemist and her hairdresser, Jheri Redding, to form a brand called Redken (from Redding and Kent). —C.W.
 Play up a ponytail with a hair twist made of seashells from Evita Peroni. 305/259-0291 |
Through the Looking Glass
John Paul Mitchell Systems booked celebrated photographer Annie Leibovitz, who's photographed some of the most beautiful and recognizable faces in the world, to shoot the company's new 2007 ad campaign. Shot near Santa Barbara, CA, the images seamlessly fuse the natural surroundings with the personality and passion of company founder and CEO John Paul DeJoria and his family. The stunning black and white advertisement debuts this month. "It encapsulates Paul Mitchell's 26-year heritage and is devoid of product images and descriptions in order to communicate the story behind the bottle," explains Nanette Bercu, senior vice president of creative. —K.D.
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Go Fish
Better skin in a month? That's the promise of the new Omega 3 Lipid–Rich Matrix System from ACQUACURES. The advanced skincare treatment line blankets the skin in pure Omega-3 fatty acids—an essential polyunsaturated fat found in certain plant and fish oils. The products are enriched with certified-organic rosehip, vitamin A, avocado, pumpkin seed, black currant, hemp and evening primrose oils to correct chronic skin-imbalances. —K.D.
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Arch Rival
Los Angelenos who want to lift sagging eyebrows sans surgery are beating a path straight to Billion Dollar Brows for the Beverly Hills studio's noninvasive, anti-aging Brow Lift. The 30-minute, $75 signature service utilizes a potent combo of hydrating products and tiny microcurrent impulses that firm and smooth, boost production of natural collagen, increase natural elastin production and improve blood circulation for skin that's toned and revitalized. —K.D.
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SKIN SAVERS
Skin and hair are exposed every day to stresses like pollution and sunlight that produce free radicals—nasty little chemicals that damage cells and lead to lines, wrinkles and all of those other signs we associate with aging. Products that contain antioxidants help fight free radicals and ward off visible signs of aging. Here are a few good ones to try: 1 True Balancing Antioxidant Mask, truecosmetics.com 2 Bioelements Urban Detox, bioelements.com 3 Korres Grape Seeds Body Scrub, korres.com 4 Caudalíe Nourishing Body Lotion, caudalie.com 5 Naturopathica Hydrating Antioxidant Mask, naturopathica.com . —C.W.
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California Dream
A mystical rock 'n' roll theme prevailed when Sheri Bodell debuted her spring 2007 collection during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Los Angeles. Whimsical dresses adorned with embellishments were offset by highly textured hairstyles for an exotic fairy-princess look. "We wanted the hair to look unique and mysterious," says Tami Jensen, who hails from the hip Los Angeles salon PRIVé. Jensen used Privé texture and hair sprays and crimping irons, as well as leaves, tree branches and fairy dust to create the artistically exaggerated designs. —K.D.
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HOLLYWOOD LAND
This month, Tom Julian, senior vice president and director of trends for ad agency McCann Erickson, scoped out the hottest award-season beauty destinations on the West Coast.
 Tom Julian |
Red-carpet season officially kicked off in Hollywood in January as designers, beauty companies, accessory brands and luxury labels all went west to create headlines. In the days before the Golden Globes, beauty brands and hairstylists started attracting a select roster of celebrities in luxury suites and at VIP destinations. Then it was on to the Screen Actors Guild Awards and finally the Academy Awards. What these companies have learned is to use these venues to launch new products, offer limited-edition gimmicks (they work wonders) and that organic is top-of-mind among those in-the-know. THE 64TH ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS offered a mix of destinations:
Backstage Creations Talent Retreat One gift offered at this suite was a Starbucks-created custom T-shirt tied to charity. Diamond Living Matrix Spa demonstrated the Signature Diamond Peel organic and oxygen infusion. T'Zerah unveiled "couture" skincare based on plant-sourced ingredients.
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Chanel and Sienna Miller The hard-to-get "insider" ticket was dinner at the Chateau Marmont hosted by Miller, along with friends like Kate Bosworth, Lindsay Lohan and Cameron Diaz. The point was to launch a limited-edition fragrance collection. I managed to speak with Miller, who gushed about her hairstylist, Adir, that evening. Apparently he was so Zen he put her in a good mood.
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THE 79TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS got on the beauty bandwagon, too, with a first-time makeup workshop hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Saturday, February 24th . Here, the beauty must-see destinations from Oscar week:
Sonya Dakar Skin Clinic Three floors of signature Dakar treatments alongside clothing companies and jewelry collections.
The Luxury Lounge Vavoom haircare headlined alongside Luxottica eyewear, Taryn Rose and OnGossamer lingerie.
Silver Spoon Penthouse An exclusive destination with House of Taylor (Elizabeth, that is) red-carpet jewelry collection alongside Unite Hair Care, Ahava skincare and Noah's Natural face skincare.
Jo Malone This London-based brand partnered with Miramax Films and toasted many of the Oscar nominees at the Sunset Tower.
Makeover Madness
If the popularity of shows like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, What Not to Wear and Extreme Makeover are any indication, America is mad for makeovers. Seems like producers have discovered what we've known all along: Makeovers can be life-altering. That's why we decided to share the dramatic makeovers on this page with you. FRANCES LONDON DUBOSE, owner of London Hair in Mt. Pleasant, SC, has been a salon owner for 37 years and an Intercoiffure member for 18 of them. Her work has appeared in countless magazines worldwide, while beauty editors have sought her advice on any number of topics. She not only invented the "Sharktooth" razor but also "Fishbone" shears, now available only to professionals. Additionally, she developed her own line of products and found time to co-author a book with Louise Cotter, editor emeritus of American Salon. Meanwhile, she continues to inspire and train thousands of hairdressers nationwide. Recently she worked her makeover magic in Milan and London. The results are, well, magical. —M.D.
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