Look Prettier, Feel Better!
Before I write the blogs I always watch the "Ambush Makeover" segment on iVillage.com. While watching this segment, I became completely undone. Who knew what stories were about to unravel?
It was another Friday, another makeover. I naively picked the women, as I always do, because I thought they had great beauty potential. Once I started to talk to the women, I realized I was working with heroic women who had courage and strength most of us only aspire to. If the writer's strike wasn't on, I would have thought the stories were fabricated. The more I learned about the women, the more I had to hold my emotions together as they recalled the turn of events in their lives.
The first thing I noticed on the Plaza was a young boy standing next to his mom carrying a sign that read, "My mom really deserves a makeover. Ask me why." The boy's name was Park, and his mom's name was Lisa. I immediately went over to him and he began to tell me the agony and torment of their last year. His dad had a hip replacement that was not successful. It popped out of place after surgery. When it was put back, a staph infection occurred. He passed away a short time later. This was a gut wrenching story, but the boy's concern for his mom’s well being left me speechless. Even though he was obviously heartbroken, his only concern was for his mom.
I am not going to pretend that making yourself look better is a cure all for devastating life changing events. I do know, however, that when you look better it does help foster you through depression until you do feel better. Looking good and acting as if everything is okay until things are better can help everyone through their most emotionally trying times.
Okay, it's time to put the tissues away and talk about beauty. Lisa, fifty three years old, had fine hair with very little body. This is a very common problem for women in their fifties. Women's hair becomes thinner as time goes by. This is usually noticed as a lack of body. Blow dries don't last as long as they once did. Hair goes flat on top of the head.
BEAUTY TIP - Cut and color your hair. Color adds the illusion of body to hair. Your hair will look fuller and more vibrant. It will look better than before you colored it.
I added warmth to Lisa’s base color.
BEAUTY WARNING - Your hair color starts to fade to an ash tone at around 30 years old. This drains the color from your face. Warm hair colors are essential to great looking complexions. The hair stylist, Arsen, made Lisa’s layers shorter. This also added to the illusion of more hair. Lisa's side swept bangs enhanced her softer, younger look.
The next group of women I noticed were in the party hardy mode and it was 6:30 in the morning. They were in town to celebrate the 60th birthday of their oldest sister, and I promise you it looked like she was going to have the best birthday of her life. They were having such a good time, I wanted to join the fun!
I introduced myself to the women and that's how I met Jeri. It was Jeri’s first time in New York from High Springs, Florida. She was thrilled to be in New York at the TODAY show on her sister's 60th birthday. Being part of this party was the best present she could have given her sister. Jeri had open heart surgery six months ago. Today was a miracle!
Okay, ladies, let's put the tissues away again and talk about how we helped Jeri look better. She had admitted that she had not taken care of her appearance for a long time and then when she became ill, she totally ignored herself. Her once blond hair was now grey and desperately needed a hair cut. Arsen cut at least six inches to give her a long layered bob. I gave her back her blond hair.
BEAUTY TIP - Unless you have a perfect face and skin you must cover your grey hair. This will make you look younger than a face lift and will cost you a fraction of the price. What are you waiting for? It takes less than an hour to color your hair, and you can do it at home!
The point of today's blog post is to emphasize how important it is to make an effort to look your best. It will always cheer you up and it is great for your self esteem. Remember, with very little effort, you can always look prettier tomorrow than you do today.
Watch these magical makeovers on some most deserving women:
Watch the segment from TODAY:
More from Louis Licari
It was another Friday, another makeover. I naively picked the women, as I always do, because I thought they had great beauty potential. Once I started to talk to the women, I realized I was working with heroic women who had courage and strength most of us only aspire to. If the writer's strike wasn't on, I would have thought the stories were fabricated. The more I learned about the women, the more I had to hold my emotions together as they recalled the turn of events in their lives.
The first thing I noticed on the Plaza was a young boy standing next to his mom carrying a sign that read, "My mom really deserves a makeover. Ask me why." The boy's name was Park, and his mom's name was Lisa. I immediately went over to him and he began to tell me the agony and torment of their last year. His dad had a hip replacement that was not successful. It popped out of place after surgery. When it was put back, a staph infection occurred. He passed away a short time later. This was a gut wrenching story, but the boy's concern for his mom’s well being left me speechless. Even though he was obviously heartbroken, his only concern was for his mom.I am not going to pretend that making yourself look better is a cure all for devastating life changing events. I do know, however, that when you look better it does help foster you through depression until you do feel better. Looking good and acting as if everything is okay until things are better can help everyone through their most emotionally trying times.
Okay, it's time to put the tissues away and talk about beauty. Lisa, fifty three years old, had fine hair with very little body. This is a very common problem for women in their fifties. Women's hair becomes thinner as time goes by. This is usually noticed as a lack of body. Blow dries don't last as long as they once did. Hair goes flat on top of the head.
BEAUTY TIP - Cut and color your hair. Color adds the illusion of body to hair. Your hair will look fuller and more vibrant. It will look better than before you colored it.
I added warmth to Lisa’s base color.
BEAUTY WARNING - Your hair color starts to fade to an ash tone at around 30 years old. This drains the color from your face. Warm hair colors are essential to great looking complexions. The hair stylist, Arsen, made Lisa’s layers shorter. This also added to the illusion of more hair. Lisa's side swept bangs enhanced her softer, younger look.
The next group of women I noticed were in the party hardy mode and it was 6:30 in the morning. They were in town to celebrate the 60th birthday of their oldest sister, and I promise you it looked like she was going to have the best birthday of her life. They were having such a good time, I wanted to join the fun!
I introduced myself to the women and that's how I met Jeri. It was Jeri’s first time in New York from High Springs, Florida. She was thrilled to be in New York at the TODAY show on her sister's 60th birthday. Being part of this party was the best present she could have given her sister. Jeri had open heart surgery six months ago. Today was a miracle!Okay, ladies, let's put the tissues away again and talk about how we helped Jeri look better. She had admitted that she had not taken care of her appearance for a long time and then when she became ill, she totally ignored herself. Her once blond hair was now grey and desperately needed a hair cut. Arsen cut at least six inches to give her a long layered bob. I gave her back her blond hair.
BEAUTY TIP - Unless you have a perfect face and skin you must cover your grey hair. This will make you look younger than a face lift and will cost you a fraction of the price. What are you waiting for? It takes less than an hour to color your hair, and you can do it at home!
The point of today's blog post is to emphasize how important it is to make an effort to look your best. It will always cheer you up and it is great for your self esteem. Remember, with very little effort, you can always look prettier tomorrow than you do today.
Watch these magical makeovers on some most deserving women:
More from Louis Licari
- Try on hairstyles by Louis Licari on Makeover-O-Matic!
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What hair color was used on Jeri?
Hi! Happy New Year! I was wondering if you had any tips for curly hair. A lot of times people want to blow dry out my curls (fine hair, not super thick) which just isn't a good look for me...plus I love my curls! I have a somewhat round face...what length would be good for me? Ta!
Can i get the phone and address of your hair stylist
Justin,
My New York Salon is located at:
693 5th Avenue 15th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Between 54th and 55th street
Arsen is the stylist for this segment and you may call my salon for an appointment anytime! 212-758-2090
Louis