Hollywood Confidential

QUICK TIPS on HOLLYWOOD CONFIDENTIAL STYLE


Women’s Hair Styles


  1. No matter the length, to achieve any style from the era, you will need to preset your hair in pincurls.  For more specific instructions on how to achieve a pincurl, see the videos below.
  2. Setting your hair is best done the night before but you can use hot rollers or a curling iron to help set your curls a few hours prior to the event.  Spraying your curls with a hairspray that is malleable but has memory is best.
  3. If you want tight curls, then set your hair when it is damp.  If you want loose curls, then set your hair when it is dry.
  4. Heat application can help hasten the process, but don’t get impatient.
  5. Once your hair has set, release the curls be removing the pins.  Now you can style.  Be sure to use a fine comb or a rat tail comb to help smooth out sections.  Check out some of the videos for styling tips.  Remember to spray to set your style.


Women’s Make Up


  1. Dark eyeliner contouring the eye and accenting the outside points help frame the eyes so they stand out.
  2. Accentuate the top lashes over the bottom lashes.  False eyelashes add extra glamour.
  3. Women typically managed their own eyebrows by tweezing.  As a result, you will notice most women had to fill in their brows to ensure the perfect arch.  Eyebrows were very feminine though very strong.
  4. Red full lips.  Be sure to contour the lip with a color that matches the lipstick.  Women didn’t typically have multiple colors in their make up kits so your lip color should be flat.
  5. If you are feeling particularly exotic, add a beauty mark.  They were all the rage thanks to Marilyn Monroe.
  6. Remember, make up was expensive for most women and powder was often the way they accomplished their finished looks.  The powder was more often, lighter than a woman’s natural complexion.


Men’s Hair


  1. Watch an episode of Mad Men to see the many variations on the exact same shape.
  2. With your hair still damp, apply gel liberally to the front of your hair from root to shaft.  Then apply some gel to the back.
  3. With a fine toothed comb, slick the hair straight back.  Let the hair rest so you can start to see the natural part.
  4. From the natural part, begin to separate the hair, slicking the top to the side and then back.  The sides should be combed tightle back.
  5. Once your hair is in place, take your hands and run the along the side.  You can gently lift the cowlicks to give some dimpling.  (See the video for additional ideas.)
  6. If you have short hair, just be sure that it is tailored and tight.  It wasn’t until the mid-sixties that we let our hair down (literally).


Now these tips give you a great place to start, please read on for some history.  The pictures are intended to inspire you and the videos are to give you hair and make-up enthusiasts an opportunity to impress with additional finesse.  In fact, the internt is just full of ‘groovy’ videos that capture the ‘like crazy’ styles of the time.  Enjoy!



420323_com_miaasdaisygwen_stefani_002As far as hairstyling goes in the 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s, even well into the 1960’s and 70’s there was an entirely different approach than the way things are done in the salon today.  During these times women did not style their own hair.  The ladies of yesteryear would make weekly salon visits to have their hair washed, set, and styled (and if they could not afford a salon visit, they would style each other’s hair which is the beginning of the ‘slumber party’ phenomenon). 


Things sure have come a long way in hair styling with haircutting, hair color, styling products, usage of hot tools and blow dryers making at home styling much more convenient.  Although some women still visit the salon weekly for styling sessions especially in densely populated urban communities, for the most part, women can easily manage their daily hair regimen themselves.


imagesThe Hollywood Confidential look (late 1950s to early 1960s) was ruled by this routine.  Whenever I think of this era, I think of Mia Farrow’s Daisy Buchanan from The Great Gatsby as well as the glammed out coiffed style of Veronica Lake.  Greta Garbo also wore some very chic styles back in this time.  When looking at these images, I see that the styles have a lot of structure and shape.  Less, length, less volume, and less texture than the current looks that most starlets are wearing today.


image001-1One of the biggest things I noticed in my research was that women didn’t wear any sort of bang, or fringe on their face.  Every style is either gelled away from the face in pin curls or combed with a significant part.  But always the hair lifted away from the face.  The trend tends to be more form fitting to the head, only with a slight amount of volume, depending on how severe one wishes to go with the style.


short-bob-cutA few years ago, this era was an inspiration for much of young Hollywood and this style was all over Hollywood’s red carpets.  I believe the simplest way to achieve this vintage throwback look, is to curl your hair, give it a little texture and a little shape.  Brush hair away from the face with a part, and don’t be afraid to use styling products.  As far as the length goes, take the hair and pin it up underneath at the nape of the neck to give the illusion of a bob.  This faux bob can be quite the show stopper, and if you have length on your hair, a fun way to play around with a shorter more temporary look. 


images-1Glamour girls were also so prominent during this day.  Veronica Lake was the actual inspiration when casting Kim Bassinger’s characer in James Ellroy’s film adaptation of LA Confidential.  This look is glamour glamour glamour!  It’s about length, softness, and sleek style.  It’s about creating that perfect wave in your hair and styling it so not one hair is out of place.  I actually found an incredible DIY video on YouTube to help educate on how to do this sort of pin curl set at home.  This look is without a doubt for the girl with Jessica Rabbit style looking to turn a few heads.


As for the make up, it is all about the eyes and the lips.  The tools and palettes were much more basic during this time, thus making the eyes and lip the easiest parts of the face to glamorize.  The lip most certainly would be a striking shade of red.  Eyeliner and mascara are your eyes best friends.  Broaden the lash and contour the eye creating a simple but sexy visage.


mad-men-joan-holloway-240c-083109When looking at all of these styles, it is interesting to see that in hair styling how trends repeat themselves over and over again.  Various modifications made over these years, but this influence from the first part of the 21st century still has major impact on the looks we see today.  I love the idea of experimenting with different styling techniques.  With styling, nothing is permanent.  Have fun with your hair! Think of your hair as your best accessory, and be glad that in 2010, you don’t have to spend hours in the salon every week achieving these looks.


I encourage you to experiment, have fun, and get HOLLYWOOD CONFIDENTIAL!  When looking at the images and watching these videos, make sure you choose a style that makes you feel sexy and fabulous.  After all no matter the time confidence has always been key in Hollywood




“Hair style is the final tip-off whether or not a woman really knows herself” – Hubert de Givenchy



 


 


 


 


Creative Cutting

Hair Color, the Real Anti-Aging Serum

I Feel Bad About My Neck

I Feel Bad About My Neck

I know, I know “gray” is a four-letter word that can send most women into a tailspin.  Luckily, hair color has come a LONG way in the last 30 years–it is a lot more moisturizing and you don’t have to worry about getting that unnatural color that our grandmothers had. 



Nora Ephron addressed this in her most recent book, I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts On Being a Woman where she states, “There’s a reason why forty, fifty, and sixty don’t look the way they used to, and it’s not because of feminism, or better living through exercise. It’s because of hair dye. In the 1950’s only 7 percent of American women dyed their hair; today there are parts of Manhattan and Los Angeles where there are no gray-haired women at all.”  Dying your hair is the most significant way we’ve slowed the aging process.  It is certainly the most effective.



Here are my tips for keeping the grays away, while maintaining a soft, natural look:


  1. Find the right stylist.  I know the thought of coloring your hair at home and saving some money can seem intoxicating but avoid that temptation with every fiber of your being.  The technological advances that I spoke of earlier mostly apply to professional grade products, not Clairol on your local Rite-Aid’s shelves. Even if you are having a friend/husband apply the color for you, there are often (read “always”) spots missed and despite everyone’s best efforts the color generally gets applied to previously colored hair.  This causes color build-up, which leaves the ends of your hair darker than the roots.  To correct this, you will have to spend several hours in the salon and quite a bit of money–going to a salon saves you money in the long run.
  2. Find the right the right tone.  As we age, our natural color fades and dulls; matching a color to that dull shade creates a “colored” look.  If your hair tends to be ashe-y, add some warmth. 
  3. Make sure you have dimension.  If your hair is the same color, roots to ends, all over you start to get that “I color my hair” look.  To avoid this, get highlights every so often to break up the color.  Ephron describes highlights as, “that first sip of brandy Alexander that Lee Remick drank in Days of Wine and Roses.”  They bring back the sunkissed look that we all had in Summers past.
  4. Find the shine.  Putting a gloss on your hair restores the shine in your hair.  Since gray hair tends to be coarser and duller, glosses will counteract these tendencies and make your hair look 10 years younger.



We all know that our hands and neck show our true age, but moreso does your hair.  According to Nora Ephron, hair color “is the most powerful weapon older women have against the youth culture because it actually succeeds in stopping the clock.”  It doesn’t matter how old you are; it’s never too soon to start looking years younger.

Inception.


Leo and JosephBy now, we’ve all been hit by the buzz surrounding Christopher Nolan’s feature Inception. And for me, the craze and hype were well worth the wait. In fact, I’ve seen it twice! I found myself pulling more from it my second time around. And part of my fascination with the flick is its utter brilliance. From the inception (pun intended) of it, the aesthetics astounded. Period. The backdrop; the special effects; and obviously and most importantly, the hair took my breath away. Regardless of what your theories are about the “reality” of Nolan’s masterpiece, we can all agree that the looks made the film.


inceptionlllLeo, oh Leo. And how can I forget little ole’ Joseph Gordon Levitt (from 3rd Rock acclaim). Actually, let’s give him credit where credit is due - he’s now Mr. Levitt from 500 days of Summer and Brick.  The wardrobe styling on these two cocktailed with the sleek hair-sculpting completely changed the image I had of each of these actors. It was as if their hair were characters brought in to add that extra punch and, trust me, they all delivered.


DiCaprio and Levitt brought Sexy Back. Sophistication was exuded from the slicked-back hair, suits and pressed shirts. Now it seems everyone is doing it. From the men of Gossip Girl to the powerhouses that make up Ocean’s 11 and how could we forget inceptionleoformer Falsetto Mousekeeter Justin Timberlake , this look is in and I hope it’s here to stay. In my opinion, nothing is better than a man in a classic suit accessorized by his sculpted locks. That, my friend, is ageless.


Now you can transform your look as well. Talk to your stylist about a precision haircut that fits your personal style. Make certain that your artist tailors it to your face shape. That’s the key. The trick is to maintain length on top while keeping the perimeter of your neck and sides smooth and clean. Choose a gel-like consistency for your product which is going to enable you to add the shine you will need to pull this look off.







Below are tools you can start implementing into your daily routine:


1. Gel Forte by Sebastian: strong hold with uber shine

2. Bb. Gel by Bumble & bumble: light hold that enables you reshape your style at a moment’s notice

3. Gellac by Bumble & bumble: extra-Strong hold

4. Rock Hard Gel by Oribe: again strong hold but with extra shine


And all of these are available today at Studio DNA. My suggestion is for you is to play, play, play. Come on in and ask to speak with one of our artists and find out what product suits you best.


Better yet, come in and ask for me! I’m available at our Santa Monica location on Tuesdays and Sundays and in Hollywood on Beverly Wednesday through Friday.

What’s Old is New Again; The Madmen Effect

madmen inspired blogokmagazine-madmen-joanSeason 4 of Madmen has returned to television this past week and so has our adoration of such a delightful and stylish time period. This television show has been the inspiration for many trends these past couple of years.


It is interesting to see men returning to a classic part in the hair and an overall more groomed approach to hair styling. I love the classic style, but feel it has been important to modify this cut with my own clients. I am still leaving a lot of texture in the hair, while creating a more versatile look. I think my guy clients are happy with the option to put in a little Bumble and Bumble Sumotech and wear it messy or style their hair combed and parted with Bumble and Bumble Gel or Gellac.


meredith blog madmen1I don’t think it is any secret that redheads are now total bombshells. Christina Hendricks, with her sexy curves and red locks, has given redheads a total new edge. Due to their rarity, redheads have become quite sexy and mysterious. Redheads have a new edge and it is exciting to see people playing with their hair color. Red seems intimidating to many women, but I feel it is all about finding that complimentary shade and tone that is perfect for each individual client. Red is a strong hair color and one that I am hoping to steer more of my clients in the direction of choosing.


meredith madmen blog 2Coiffed upstyles and structured styling are also making a fierce comeback. These looks are classic, sexy, and still youthful. Glamour has made a return to Hollywood and I think people are somewhat happy to see the messy unkempt hair trends left behind. The innocent look captures that which is beautiful. The shapes are feminine, yet strong. One thing I think that we will be seeing more of in the salon over the next couple of years are hot rollers, I believe it will be less surf spray product and more hair spray. Right now I am loving the Oribe Superfine Spray and think it is has a perfect hold for this sort of style.


The 40’s 50’s and 60’s were a time of Marilyn Monroe, Jackie O, Grace Kelly, Elvis Presley, Doris Day, Rock Hudson and Twiggy, among many other iconic figures in both hair and fashion.  Hairstyles and trends are always going and coming back around. The most important aspect of keeping these looks fresh is giving them that modified 21st century feel.


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