Leigh Rossini is a born and bred New Yorker, a smart and savvy woman. She is also my publicist and good friend whom I often write about in this blog. Being the modern young woman that she is, I often pick her brain to help determine new trends and beauty directions. Sometimes I'll just watch her sail through her daily activities. I must admit I watch her every move. In an hour with her, I learn more about women than I would if I took a course in women's studies at Harvard.
We needed to have a meeting on Friday. I was working over the weekend and she was going to Colorado to visit friends. The only time we could find together was while she was packing for her weekend away. While we were talking about the upcoming week, I watched her put together her day and night outfits, her shoes and, most important, her bag of beauty supplies. She was prepared for any and all occasions. And it all disappeared in one tiny roller suitcase that almost seemed childlike. I was fascinated by her packing precision. I made her re-open her bag to show me her packing techniques.
As she showed me her "must haves" jeans, her never-wrinkle knitwear and recent shoe purchases, my eyes started to glaze over. Then we got to the good stuff -- her bag of beauty goodies. Not only was I interested in what she packed, but in how she packed it.
Here are some beauty travel tips I learned from Leigh.
Continue reading Weekend Getaway.
Two lucky ladies were picked from the Plaza to get Plaza Ambush Makeovers from TODAY's beauty response team of Louis Licari and Jill Martin.
Watch the segment from TODAY
What do you think of the ladies' new looks? Leave a comment or question below!
Related Content:
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
What do you think of the ladies' new looks? Leave a comment or question below!
Related Content:
- Missed an Ambush? Catch up here
- Try on new hairstyles from Louis Licari with Makeover-o-Matic
I am often asked how I know what's new in beauty. The answer is
simple. I never stop looking at people, magazines, movies or anything
else that catches my eye. I have the tremendous advantage of living
in New York and L.A. and often traveling abroad. I am always walking
the streets, checking out everyone who passes me by. I've learned what works and what doesn't simply by keeping my eyes wide open and my mouth shut. Believe me, there is nothing more embarrassing than being caught mouthing the words, "What was she thinking?"
I have recently started to use my phone camera to document some stellar beauty moments and some all-time beauty faux pas. Below are pictures of women I passed on the streets while filming "Ambush Hits the Road" who made attempts to look their best but didn't quite get it right. I think we can all gleam a few beauty do's and don'ts from these snapshots.
Pretty Color, But Not for Hair
Everyone who watches "Ambush Makeover" on the Today Show knows that I have a special place in my heart for redheads. I think that reds are often one of the most special and flattering color choices. Truly beautiful red hair should look like you could have been born with it if you'd been incredibly lucky. This means you must be aware of the tone of the red shade you choose. Natural red hair has either a golden or copper base color. Reds that have cherry or burgundy hues should be the color of cars, not hair.
Shampoo Is Oily Hairs Best Friend
Fine, straight hair is often envied by women with curls or frizz. It often falls into place with little or no effort and has a shine that most women only dream about. There is a downside to this hair with perpetual shine. It needs to be shampooed daily; otherwise, it can look excessively thin. When hair is not clean, the part can look extra wide, almost giving a balding look. This hair must be shampooed frequently to keep it looking full bodied. Conditioner should only be used on the tips of the hair shaft.
When Frizz Takes Over
Curly hair needs to be controlled. Curly hair is naturally drier than straight hair and can often have a frizzy texture. I often see woman with this texture who don't have a clue how to handle it. They either try to blow it straight or leave it curly. It often ends up looking like fried, dried out-hair that is in horrible condition. It's not! Curly hair should not be shampooed frequently, but it does need constant conditioning to maintain a healthy look. Styling products with low alcohol content will hold the curl in place and prevent hair from looking damaged.
Who Are You Fooling?
Hair extensions can be the perfect solution for women who want to make their fine hair appear thicker or to add a few extra inches to their hair. Hair extensions that are applied correctly look totally natural. When they are applied incorrectly, on the other hand, they can look like you are wearing your pet on your head. The texture, color and length must always blend with your natural hair. Extensions that are too long, thick or thin just look wrong.
If you identify with any of these pictures, don't panic. Visit your hair stylist and ask for advice. If your hair isn't right, a little cut or color can fix almost any problem. Most likely a small change will make a big difference in the way you look. Here's to the new you!
I have recently started to use my phone camera to document some stellar beauty moments and some all-time beauty faux pas. Below are pictures of women I passed on the streets while filming "Ambush Hits the Road" who made attempts to look their best but didn't quite get it right. I think we can all gleam a few beauty do's and don'ts from these snapshots.
Pretty Color, But Not for HairEveryone who watches "Ambush Makeover" on the Today Show knows that I have a special place in my heart for redheads. I think that reds are often one of the most special and flattering color choices. Truly beautiful red hair should look like you could have been born with it if you'd been incredibly lucky. This means you must be aware of the tone of the red shade you choose. Natural red hair has either a golden or copper base color. Reds that have cherry or burgundy hues should be the color of cars, not hair.
Shampoo Is Oily Hairs Best FriendFine, straight hair is often envied by women with curls or frizz. It often falls into place with little or no effort and has a shine that most women only dream about. There is a downside to this hair with perpetual shine. It needs to be shampooed daily; otherwise, it can look excessively thin. When hair is not clean, the part can look extra wide, almost giving a balding look. This hair must be shampooed frequently to keep it looking full bodied. Conditioner should only be used on the tips of the hair shaft.
When Frizz Takes Over Curly hair needs to be controlled. Curly hair is naturally drier than straight hair and can often have a frizzy texture. I often see woman with this texture who don't have a clue how to handle it. They either try to blow it straight or leave it curly. It often ends up looking like fried, dried out-hair that is in horrible condition. It's not! Curly hair should not be shampooed frequently, but it does need constant conditioning to maintain a healthy look. Styling products with low alcohol content will hold the curl in place and prevent hair from looking damaged.
Who Are You Fooling?Hair extensions can be the perfect solution for women who want to make their fine hair appear thicker or to add a few extra inches to their hair. Hair extensions that are applied correctly look totally natural. When they are applied incorrectly, on the other hand, they can look like you are wearing your pet on your head. The texture, color and length must always blend with your natural hair. Extensions that are too long, thick or thin just look wrong.
If you identify with any of these pictures, don't panic. Visit your hair stylist and ask for advice. If your hair isn't right, a little cut or color can fix almost any problem. Most likely a small change will make a big difference in the way you look. Here's to the new you!
Two lucky ladies were picked from the Plaza to get Plaza Ambush Makeovers from TODAY's beauty response team of Louis Licari and Jill Martin.
Watch the segment from TODAY
What do you think of the ladies' new looks? Leave a comment or question below!
Related Content:
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
What do you think of the ladies' new looks? Leave a comment or question below!
Related Content:
- Missed an Ambush? Catch up here
- Try on new hairstyles from Louis Licari with Makeover-o-Matic
In case you missed it check out Louis Licari's segment from this morning's TODAY show on how you can look thinner simply by getting a new haircut.
Watch the segment from TODAY
More from Louis Licari:
More from Louis Licari:
Recently my assistant Lottie told me that she noticed a few questions and comments had been sent to the salon's email address in addition to the usual blog postings. I asked her to bring them in so I could read them. She asked me where to put the emails. Naively, I said "Lottie, leave them on my desk." I should have sensed something was up when Lottie said, "Are you sure?" I impatiently said "yes" as I went to greet my next client.
When I had I finished my clients for the day, long forgetting about the emails, I went downstairs to my office. As I stood in the doorway, I looked at my desk in shock. It was barely visible. Stacks of emails where piled high. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I decided to just start reading your questions one at a time.
I love when you make over women of color. It is so exciting to see all the options that are available to ethnic women like me. I always wanted to highlight my hair. I ran to the drugstore and bought a highlighting kit after I saw you lighten the hair of a woman whose hair texture was similar to mine. What a disaster! The highlights came out too light and most of the highlighted hairs broke off within two weeks. What did I do wrong? -Janelle
African American hair is much more delicate than Caucasian or Asian hair. It reacts to color in five to fifteen minutes and even faster if the hair has been permed or relaxed. Timing is key. To prevent breakage, it is important to use only the gentlest and most buffered products. Bleach should never be used to lighten hair. All coloring should be done with tints and low-volume developers.
II just graduated from college and my hair is long, straight and bleached blond. I have long roots and my hair is fried. It looked great at school but now that I'm looking for a job, it just doesn't look right. My natural color is dirty blond. I would like a more natural look. How do I make my white blond hair believable? -Mary
First things first, Mary. Now is the time to try a new hair cut. Cut off as much as you can bear. This will eliminate some of the bleached blond color and your fried hair. The next step is to start to add highlights on your roots. After the first touch-up, your hair might still look a little darker at the roots. Not to worry! A few touch-ups later you will look like a natural blond who has spent time at the beach.
II love your redhead makeovers. My natural color is medium brown. I have olive skin and brown eyes. I always wanted to be a redhead. Would red hair be a good choice for me? -Jen
Yes Jen, you can be a redhead. You must pick a red shade that is right for your complexion. Women with olive skin should pick darker reds or auburn shades. A lighter red will make your complexion appear sallow.
Need some Hairapy? Send in your photos and questions to contact@louislicari.com. I will post them periodically with my beauty suggestions. This should be a great learning experience for all of us. You can have your questions answered and I will gain insights into your beauty needs. All pictures sent in become the property of iVillage and Louis Licari.
When I had I finished my clients for the day, long forgetting about the emails, I went downstairs to my office. As I stood in the doorway, I looked at my desk in shock. It was barely visible. Stacks of emails where piled high. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I decided to just start reading your questions one at a time.
I love when you make over women of color. It is so exciting to see all the options that are available to ethnic women like me. I always wanted to highlight my hair. I ran to the drugstore and bought a highlighting kit after I saw you lighten the hair of a woman whose hair texture was similar to mine. What a disaster! The highlights came out too light and most of the highlighted hairs broke off within two weeks. What did I do wrong? -JanelleAfrican American hair is much more delicate than Caucasian or Asian hair. It reacts to color in five to fifteen minutes and even faster if the hair has been permed or relaxed. Timing is key. To prevent breakage, it is important to use only the gentlest and most buffered products. Bleach should never be used to lighten hair. All coloring should be done with tints and low-volume developers. II just graduated from college and my hair is long, straight and bleached blond. I have long roots and my hair is fried. It looked great at school but now that I'm looking for a job, it just doesn't look right. My natural color is dirty blond. I would like a more natural look. How do I make my white blond hair believable? -MaryFirst things first, Mary. Now is the time to try a new hair cut. Cut off as much as you can bear. This will eliminate some of the bleached blond color and your fried hair. The next step is to start to add highlights on your roots. After the first touch-up, your hair might still look a little darker at the roots. Not to worry! A few touch-ups later you will look like a natural blond who has spent time at the beach. II love your redhead makeovers. My natural color is medium brown. I have olive skin and brown eyes. I always wanted to be a redhead. Would red hair be a good choice for me? -JenYes Jen, you can be a redhead. You must pick a red shade that is right for your complexion. Women with olive skin should pick darker reds or auburn shades. A lighter red will make your complexion appear sallow.Need some Hairapy? Send in your photos and questions to contact@louislicari.com. I will post them periodically with my beauty suggestions. This should be a great learning experience for all of us. You can have your questions answered and I will gain insights into your beauty needs. All pictures sent in become the property of iVillage and Louis Licari.
"Ambush Hits the Road" was a week that I will never forget. It was a an adrenaline-filled week that was an emotional roller coaster, technically challenging, and one of the most fun-filled weeks of my life.
We went to San Diego, CA, Ashburn, VA, Indianapolis, IN and Beavercreek, OH. Looking back, I realize it was full of blood, sweat, tears and a lot of love.
Here are some of my favorite snapshots that tell the story of the week that was:
Love is in the air
Smiling at 2:30am
Assistant Shakira with Blackberry and Starbucks in hand
We went to San Diego, CA, Ashburn, VA, Indianapolis, IN and Beavercreek, OH. Looking back, I realize it was full of blood, sweat, tears and a lot of love.
Here are some of my favorite snapshots that tell the story of the week that was:
Love is in the air
Smiling at 2:30am
Assistant Shakira with Blackberry and Starbucks in hand
Continue reading On The Road with Ambush Makeover.
Louis Licari and Jill Martin are headed across the country to give Ambush Makeovers to some very deserving women.
Today's stop was is Beavercreek, OH. 22-year-old student and bride-to-be Amaris got a fabulous makeover!.
Watch the segment from TODAY
What do you think of the makeover? Leave a comment or question below!
Related Content:
Today's stop was is Beavercreek, OH. 22-year-old student and bride-to-be Amaris got a fabulous makeover!.
What do you think of the makeover? Leave a comment or question below!
Related Content:
- Missed an Ambush? Catch up here
- Try on new hairstyles from Louis Licari with Makeover-o-Matic
Louis Licari and Jill Martin are headed across the country to give Ambush Makeovers to some very deserving women.
Today's stop was is Indianapolis, IN to surprise Susie, whose makeover fills her dying sister's bucket list.
Watch the segment from TODAY
What do you think of the makeover? Leave a comment or question below!
Related Content:
Today's stop was is Indianapolis, IN to surprise Susie, whose makeover fills her dying sister's bucket list.
What do you think of the makeover? Leave a comment or question below!
Related Content:
- Missed an Ambush? Catch up here
- Try on new hairstyles from Louis Licari with Makeover-o-Matic
Louis Licari and Jill Martin are headed across the country to give Ambush Makeovers to some very deserving women.
Today's stop was is Ashburn, VA to surprise firefighter Vicki with a brand new look.
Watch the segment from TODAY
What do you think of the makeover? Leave a comment or question below!
Related Content:
Today's stop was is Ashburn, VA to surprise firefighter Vicki with a brand new look.
What do you think of the makeover? Leave a comment or question below!
Related Content:
- Missed an Ambush? Catch up here
- Try on new hairstyles from Louis Licari with Makeover-o-Matic
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