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)
So, how'd it feel to have gone from blonde to murky brown to fabulously rich dark hair? "Too great," Max raved. "Jamie did an awesome job on my hair, the color looks genuine and the cut is perfect, not too short, but just short enough to give it more oomph." So, all in all, a good day? "Oh, yeah," Max said, "I'd forgotten how nice it could be to sit back and have someone else do all the work! I loved every minute of it. Thank you!"
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Gretchen "Before"
As the director of operations of Los Angeles' Sanctuary Birth & Family Wellness Center, Gretchen is a very busy lady. "I'm in a very masculine position at the Center," she says "and this opportunity was a serendipitous one for me to do something for myself." Her day began at the hands of Gerald Niederwieser, an Austrian colorist and stylist whose talents brought him stateside in 1994. "Gretchen has a razor cut that's choppy and frizzy," said Niederwieser of his client's long, thick hair. "We are going to take two-to-three inches off the ends and change the proportions of the layers so that the curls can fall a little looser, especially around the hairline," he added. Gretchen, who has a two-year old daughter to contend with, is a very low-maintenance kind of woman who wanted "wash and wear" hair.
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Her Color
For Gretchen's color, which is naturally light brown, Niederwieser looked to the sun and surf for inspiration. "We want to do a 'kids on the beach' look -- with subtle wisps of gold, beige-y blonde running through her natural shade. But not too symmetrical," he emphasized as he began the process of balayage.
Doing highlights at home can be tricky, but if you're naturally talented at it or want to give it a whirl, try Clairol Nice 'n Easy Hair Paint, $9.99. For a modern look, as Niederwieser said, don't paint the color on in a sure symmetrical manner. Also, highlights are meant to replicate what the sun would naturally do to your hair over time, so think about the areas on your head that would get the most exposure and use those as your guide. Adding some around the face and into your bangs looks natural and is a safe bet. Just be sure to part your hair the way you normally wear it, before applying any color.
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.
