Help! My Hair Is Stuck in a Time Warp
By Jenny Bailly
With a little help from master stylist Ken Paves, these women trade in their dated looks for thoroughly modern updates.
Stuck in the 1980s: Heavy Metal Mullet
"Hairstylists always told me I couldn't do my hair this way or that way because it's too thick and textured," says Monica Greenawalt, 43, a resident service coordinator at an assisted-living facility. So she long ago took the scissors into her own hands, maintaining the style she began cultivating after she graduated from high school in 1985. She used mousse and gel to control her curls, and a banana clip (remember those?) to rein in the thick mass of hair that fell far past her shoulders. Though she knew her look wasn't exactly modern (she couldn't find new banana clips anymore-even on eBay), it felt comfortable.
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How She Broke Free
Monica had two different haircuts-short on top, long in back-and the only way to unite them was to lose the length. Monica bravely made the first snip, and then Ken created a stunning cropped cut. Monica had also been doing at-home lightening with a mixture of bleach powder and peroxide that was dulling her hair-and her complexion. By bringing Monica back to her childhood strawberry blonde, Ken made her hair shine and her skin glow. To style, he mixed a silicone shine serum and moisturizing cream through Monica's damp hair. After her hair dried, he used a curling iron to smooth the pieces in front.
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Monica's Makeup Update
To create a subtle, smoky eye, makeup artist Denise Markey traced a dark brown eyeshadow over Monica's upper lashline and blended it up and out to the outer corners. A tinted moisturizer evens her complexion, and a tawny peach blush highlights her stunning cheekbones.
Dress, Issa, net-a-porter.com. Necklace, Dean Harris, deanharris.net. Ring, Sonyaranée Jewelry, sonyarenee.com
Stuck in the 1950s: Wash and Set
Because she's a lawyer, Alicia Crowe, 46, likes to keep her style conservative (pearls) and practical (cardigans). For ten years, her hair reflected that traditional aesthetic: Every weekend she had it washed, blow-dried, then curled at the ends. During the week she used hot rollers to maintain the style. "I've always had really thick hair that's hard to tame," she says. In her early 30s, she'd used relaxers; when they began damaging her hair, the wash-and-set routine was born. It didn't require much thought and got the job done. "I have to look polished and presentable, especially when I go to court," she says.
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How She Broke Free
"Alicia needs to put life back into her hair," says Ken, who set about giving her a style with some movement. Instead of curling Alicia's hair, he used a flatiron to pull it straight. A slight trim made the ends blunt and swingy. Alicia had been dyeing her hair black to cover a few grays; Ken lightened the color to a sable brown and added chestnut highlights. "The softer color makes Alicia's hair look more lush, and enhances the golden tones in her skin," he says.
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Alicia's Makeup Update
Alicia's new makeup look, like her hair, is fresh and simple: a golden taupe shadow on her eyelids, two coats of black mascara, and a shimmering coral lip gloss.
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Dress, Theia, saks.com. Earrings, Dana Rebecca Designs, danarebeccadesigns.com. Rings, Carelle, carelle.com.
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