How did Vicki, who'd only hours earlier entered the salon as someone frustrated with a bad haircut, feel about the outcome? "I love it," she said, hair tousled and glimmering in the sun. "I'm so glad I did this. What a fun experience!"
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Max "Before"
Forty-something Max had been bleaching her hair blonde since her early teens. But, when she lost her job earlier this year, decided that dropping $250 a month on highlights probably wasn't economically responsible. So, she had it dyed brown. The result? Lackluster hair that left the mom of eight-year-old twins feeling less than glam.
"We'll take care of it," assured stylist Jamie Boone. As someone with the natural gift at being able to envision someone as the shade they ought to be -- and then being able to create it -- Boone knew that she needed to darken and enrich Max's hair.
Before having kids, Max had thick, curly, long hair, but the pregnancy -- and hormones -- wreaked havoc and she was left with thinner, curly underneath, straight-ish on top hair, which clearly wasn't working for her. Boone to the rescue. "I'm going to cut off about three inches, and add in long layers for maximum movement and volume," she said, mapping out the game plan. "But don't worry," she said, "I know you're a mom and I'm a realist. You'll still be able to pull it back into a ponytail!"
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Her Style
With her new color and shape ready to be styled, Boone reminded Max that she didn't have to blow it dry on a daily basis. "The cut will allow the natural curl to rebound, so you'll be able to wash, add some product and go." For the "fancy" look, Boone used a three-inch round brush to pull out the curl, straightening as she went, and then, used a two-inch round brush to create curls where she wanted them. "Using a volumizing spray is a great way to bring back that feeling of having a full head of hair," Boone counseled. (Try Garnier Fructis Style XXL Volume Root Booster, $3.99)
On a recent Saturday morning three moms walked into the Argyle Salon and Spa on Los Angeles' famed Sunset Strip. And, while the celeb-centric spot welcomes hundreds of clients through its mahogany doors six days a week, these three were different -- none had taken the time to "maintain" their naturally good looks or spent money on being primped, in a long, long time.
And, while they may have been different from the typical Argyle client, all three working mothers -- hovering around the 40-year mark -- have loads in common with moms across the nation. Mothers tend to put everyone else's needs ahead of their own, so getting their hair done isn't necessarily a priority -- and, in these tough economic times, dropping dough on unnecessary luxuries is difficult to justify.
But for these three lucky ladies, today would be different. They were being treated to a makeover and, with the help of a team of colorists, stylists and makeup artists, would emerge looking renewed and feeling revitalized.
And, while "Bully for them" might come to mind as you read this, the good news for you at home, is that as we watched each transformation take place, we talked to the pros to get expert tips and how-tos to share -- oh, and we've also substituted the higher end cosmetics and products they used with budget-friendly ones that'll get the job done just as well. Because, after all, you don't have to be a harried mom to crave or need a little sprucing-up, me-time every now and then.
