My Mario Makeover

This is my "before picture," and since before pictures are supposed to be bad, I thought I'd try to go for the Celebrity Mugshot Look.  After a couple visits to Shades, an all-natural salon on Doheny, the colorists had managed to lift some of the henna out of my hair, but it left the hair looking and feeling very dry.  The strawberry shade looked very dull and blonde in person, but crazy bright red on camera, so it wasn't really working for me.  People kept commenting on my skin's redness, which I was fairly certain was a result of the color.  I was so despondent about my hair color, I even wore wigs around the house while I was cleaning (wisely, I avoided taking photos of this).  There is nothing as tragic as a Leo whose mane of hair just isn't right!  The only thing I like about this picture is my leopard-print caftan, which I call my "cat outfit."  It's a genuine vintage piece of 70's nostalgia for me and I spend way too much time lounging around in it.  It's heaven!

Enter Mario Llamas to the rescue!  He should be flying into my house with a cape waving behind him.  I've come to think of Mario as the Hair and Makeup God.  He's so talented in both (usually an artist is only really good at one), and I've had such a great time working with him on fashion and headshot shoots.  When I found out he makes house calls to do haircuts and color, I was so excited.  I was thrilled I could relax at home, listen to jazz, and get gorgeous! I also love Mario's prices.  He charges $35 for haircuts, $55 for haircuts that include a blowout, $55 for color touch-ups, and $95 for first-time all-over color.

Some of you already know that I've been wanting to try going darker, which I've never really done before, and luckily Mario was willing to take the plunge with me, and I could rest knowing I was in great hands.  Here is Mario painting the color into my hair.   It's a dark brown dye, but it went on looking very intense true blue-black, so I was a little scared!  I breathed and thought of puppies and kitties....

Here's Mario doing the haircut and blowout.  Mario is a true master of the blowout, which I've learned is an art form in itself.  When Mario isn't doing makeup for weddings all over Southern California, or making house calls to do cut and color, you can find him at Myblow LA on Bedford Drive in Beverly Hills doing glamorous blowouts.  Since I wasn't facing any mirrors, I couldn't wait to see what my hair looked like!

Close-ups of me with my new color and cut.  I added a little bit of light makeup: a rosy blush by Tarte called "blissful," a deep hydrating lip gloss by Aveda called "star dahlia," and a touch of black mascara by Lush (all eco-friendly brands that I love -- not only are the colors beautiful, but they avoid toxic chemicals and animal testing).  As you can see, Mario gave me a great new cut with lots of layers and some light side bangs.  It made my hair look longer and fuller, even though he actually cut off a lot of length.  I want to thank Colleen Kelly for her ideas about the layers and the side bangs.  Not only are you a great producer Colleen, you also know your haircuts! 

My before and after photos.  Mario really is THE Makeover Man!  If my photos have inspired you to try out a fun new look of your own, you can schedule your own Mario Makeover.  You can reach Mario to make an appointment at the email address makeoverbymario@gmail.com or ask me for his contact info.   I was really scared of doing dark, hating the color, and not being able to change it, but now I am in love with my new color and so glad I took the plunge!  I want to thank all my amazing friends for all your thoughts and advice about my hair.  So, what do you all of guys think?  I  can't wait to hear your thoughts.  Please feel free to comment below on my new look!

Hair Color: The Agony and the Ecstasy

One of my icons, Rita Hayworth, who wore her hair very dark, red, and blonde.

 So as some of you who are my Facebook friends have the misfortune to know, I have been obsessed with my hair in the last couple of months.  When my hair doesn't feel right, I'm in a state of permanent crisis, resembling a wet cat -- profoundly miserable until my hair is fixed, and hilarious to everyone except myself.  

This is me.

I've been using henna to intensity for red hair for about the past year, and the shade got progressively darker and more intense -- something which I absolutely loved, actually, but which occasionally earned comments from industry that it was too "punky" and would prevent me from getting roles. So I started re-thinking my red, and re-thinking my hair color in general.  Henna is notoriously hard to get out of hair, like a bad boyfriend it just clings and clings.  And I also have wanted to avoid conventional dyes, which recent research links to all sorts of rare and scary cancers.  So I visited Shades, a salon on Doheny in Beverly Hills which specializes in natural color.  It took a couple of visits to keep a lot of the henna out and lighten my shade to a more natural strawberry red, although it's still a bit untidy-looking.  And truthfully, I have always been attracted to "alternative" color.  Why color your hair if it's not really fun?  So a more dull shade is taking some getting used to.  

Here I am with my new strawberry hair color.  Red goes crazy on camera, it's like Spring Break for color.  In person my hair is duller and much less red.

And I've thought of going blonde again or going dark.  There's been such a massive trend towards brunettes in Hollywood, both in casting and in terms of what colors actresses dye their hair.  The only frightening thing about going dark is that it requires more of a commitment, since you cannot instantly bounce back with a lighter shade.  

My daydream of going dark: could I be like Kristen Stewart, who's career didn't ignite until she went for dark hair?

My nightmare of going dark: or could I be like Scarlett Johansson, who only truly shines in buttery blonde?  And then how could I get back to light hair without frying it?

All of this makes me fondly recall my teenage era when I had short hair and I could change hair color basically on a whim.  Of course, I was also young and foolish and didn't care that I wasn't turning my hair into straw.  Ah, those were the days!

Emma Stone in every shade: blonde, red, and brunette.  I'd love to have a magic wand to try all these colors for a few days with no damage to my hair.  I'd magically get headshots in every color.  Emma, can I borrow your wand please?

I had photos taken of myself in some truly atrocious wigs, to see what I looked like now with different colors.

Me in scary wigs: yes, it's come to this.  The cute brunette wig appears courtesy of Kim Airs, who uses it in her stage act where she becomes a man.  Thank you Kimmy!

And I've been browsing through all the Google search photos of actresses who've paved the way by trying absolutely every hair color, which is fascinating in itself.  Sometimes it isn't until an actress stumbles upon the right hair color that she becomes successful, and I think as women we apply that to ourselves as well -- the perfect hair color will magically make our skin color glow, make everyone love us, make the world shine.  All the gates that were closed to us because we had despicably uncool hair will now be opened, and the good things will come. This is the promise and the mystery of changing your hair, escaping your role in life and creating another one.  It's a little silly and hyperbolic and somehow very, very irresistible.
So I've compiled some photos of my favorite hair colors changes....I'm living vicariously through these women until I find my own magic shade.  Keep your fingers crossed for me everybody!

In Love with Marilyn at Macy's

I'm been devouring this incredibly gorgeous book, "Marilyn in Fashion," and feeling so inspired by the sexy, summer-y looks that Marilyn perfected.  I noticed a number of key elements of Marilyn's style: everything fit her body perfectly; her looks are sensual but don't actually show that much skin; and there's a wonderful mix of fresh innocence and sultry sexuality in her personal style.

Finding the kind of outfits that Marilyn wore is not easy, and pinup reproduction clothes are so lovely but often very expensive.  So I'm in love with a new Marilyn Monroe reproduction line that Macy's is carrying in their junior's section.

I tried on almost everything and ended up buying this gorgeous red dress:

Currently on sale at macys.com for $44.99 in sizes from XS-XXL

Here is the original dress that Marilyn for Niagara

Here's some more of this delightful line, perfect for looking delicious in this hot summer weather....

Getting a Glamicure...

The best manicure in LA is...

Jessica's Nail Clinic in West Hollywood on Sunset.  I stumbled in there from Drybar (another Sunset Plaza favorite, the nummiest blowouts available), needing my hands to be whipped into shape immediately for an upcoming audition.  I wanted just clean hands with short nails and lots of buffing, no polish.  It's a simple request but one that often gets met with a lot of blank looks at nail places around LA.  Well, Jessica's is different.  In 30 minutes they gave me beautiful, natural, elegant hands.  

Joanna was my miracle worker, and she was worth every penny of the $30 I paid. If you want gorgoeus hands, she is your angel.

Jessica's is a jumble of marble, wallpaper, and tiny rooms, with an Old Hollywood feeling.  They only take cash or cheques, no credit cards. Free parking abounds for Sunset Plaza behind the buildings.

At the end of my appointment, Joanna gave me a gift of my own special nail brush to keep my hands looking beautiful.  Thanks again Jessica's for saving me!

Jessica's Nail Clinic
8627 W Sunset Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 659-9292, ask for Joanna
 http://www.jessicacosmetics.com/

Beauty Bargain: Bejeweled Eyes

So I've decided that for this magical month of December, in the spirit of joy and giving and vegan eggnog, I will be spilling the secrets of  many more of my favorite beauty bargains and favorite products!  These make great treats for your most glamorous holiday party self, as well as excellent gifts that your friends and family will actually use and cherish.  And today we will be starting with this alchemical blue jewel-toned eye shadow, the perfect color of a shimmering peacock's tail, that kept popping up in Fall and Spring Runway shows this year:

Jeremy Scott Runway Spring 2013

Anna Sui Fall Runway 2012

Joy Cioci Runway Spring 2013

Joy Cioci Runway Spring 2013

Moschino Cheap and Chic Runway Spring 2013

I LOVE adore and worship blue jewel-toned eyeshadows, I think they are incredibly flattering on everyone and every skin tone, and they make the perfect festive holiday eye.  I often find that blue eyeshadows reduce the appearance of redness in and around the eye, so if you have been over-indulging or under-sleeping this season, this is the eyeshadow for you!  And yes, drumroll, this is another beauty bargain.  This L'Oreal HIP Studio Secrets Eye Shadow Duo in Showy combines the perfect jewel tone blues, and you can use them together or separately.  I have had this little duo forever, and it is still gorgeously bright and shiny.  And it's $7.99.  Contrast that with the equivalent Nars shades below...

HiP Studio Secrets Professional Bright Shadow Duos in Showy $7.99 your local drugstore or drugstore.com

 OR

NARS Single Eye Shadow in Tropic $24.00 Sephora.com

NARS Single Eye Shadow in Outremer $24.00 Sephora.com

Total Savings With L'Oreal HiP Studio Secrets Professional Bright Shadow Duos: $40.00!

And the Winner is...

Today we had a lucky winner of the Korres Lip Butter Glaze contest...

Catrina!

She'll be receiving a FREE Korres Lip Butter in the color of her choice.

Stay tuned for our next unbelievably fabulous giveaway....

Z is for...Zac

Surprisingly enough my first favorite collection on the Spring 2012 Runway is a little spinoff brand, Z Zpoke by Zac Posen.  In what can only be described as a collaboration of genius, Zac's frothy, witty, vintage-worshipping frocks are modeled by the incomparable Coco Rocha, who grins, laughs, poses, preens and pouts like a fairy-tale princess version of Betty Boop.  Adorable!  I want every one of these dresses....