Over the years, I’ve interviewed dozens of celebrities and their glam squads — the makeup artists, hairstylists, groomers and manicurists charged with preening Hollywood’s A-list. So much of what I’ve heard doesn’t end up in print, but it doesn’t mean their words aren’t gems. Here are the top 11 insights that are completely out-of-the-ordinary, yet practical.
Just Beet It
To complement her Marchesa gown, actress Shailene Woodley wore vegetables to the 2012 Golden Globes. For real. “Shay was making beets in her kitchen and we were trying to figure out what color of lipstick to use and she was like, ‘We’re going to use this beet,’ and she put it on and it looks amazing in pictures, like a beautiful stain,” makeup artist Gloria Noto recalled. Will Woodley, who’s a devoted fan to clean beauty lines, repeat the look for her upcoming nuptials to Aaron Rodgers? How well does the groom like beets?
Sew Good
Hair pro Adir Abergel, who counts Charlize Theron and Kristen Stewart as regular clients, isn’t averse to sewing looks into the hair. For instance, he sewed a diamond Tiffany bracelet into Theron’s hair and thick threads into Saoirse Ronan’s. Of his accessible method, he said: “It’s me going to the fabric store and incorporating the style. It takes 50 cents.”
Inspiration is Everywhere
Glam squads often travel the globe together with their clients, whether it’s to promote a movie or with a musician on tour. Though work is the primary reason for these trips, there’s also some downtime and fun — I’ve had stars and squads recount tales of too much red wine in Italy and way too much vodka in Russia. But these sojourns also serve as inspiration, as was the case for Lady Gaga’s 2018 Grammy Awards look. Recalled her hairstylist, Frederic Aspiras: “The inspiration for this look came from a statue of Virgin Mary with a beautiful braid in her hair that we saw in a church while on a trip together overseas. I was completely captivated by the statue, as well as the design of Lady Gaga’s dress for the event, so I decided to add a corset to the two fishtail braids that I then braided into a larger fishtail braid.” But you don’t have to be a world traveler to find inspo. Just like you and me, the pros have Pinterest boards. Nicole Kidman’s hairstylist, Kylee Heath and Emily Blunt’s makeup artist, Jenn Streicher, both admit to being “boarders.”
Wave Hello
Wondering how Kerry Washington gets those perfect-looking beachy waves? Her hairstylist, Takisha Sturdivant-Drew, credits a Marcel iron plus flat iron. Unlike normal curling irons, the Marcel doesn’t have a spring on the part that clamps down on the hair and the handle can twist, making it easier to wrap waves around. “It gives a different wave than a wand or regular iron will give me,” explained Sturdivant-Drew of her method.
“I wrap it around clockwise and then leave it on for four to five seconds; I don’t like it really tight, more of a beachy, messy wave. I then take my flat iron and pull it down quickly to soften it a little more and then it looks like she slept on it.”
Makeup, Makeup Everywhere
Whose domain is the body? Usually, it falls to the makeup artist to prep that area. Pro Mai Quynh, who counts Chloe Grace Moretz and Paris Jackson as clients, said, “I always mix a little foundation with hydrating body lotion and apply it to whatever skin is exposed. I think it’s important to look fluid and match your face as well as having healthy, glowing skin everywhere on your body.”
Avocad-oh!
Cervando Maldonado, hairstylist to Miley Cyrus, Kirsten Dunst and Felicity Jones, loves avocado oil for his hair. “If you apply it lightly, it forms the perfect texture and curls.” (Between him and Shailene Woodley, it looks like the pantry can be a treasure trove of beauty products!)
Pin Doctor
A hairstylist can’t send a client onto the red carpet with bobby pins threatening to pop out. Pro Bridget Brager, who works with Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Millie Bobby Brown, uses YS Park Pins for clients’ updos. To give them staying power, she sprays the pins with strong-hold hairspray right before securing them in the hair. “A little extra insurance on a look never hurt anyone and keeps eyes off a pin hanging from your updo.”
Warning: Bumps Ahead
“Powder blush or powder highlighter that has too much shimmer or frost in it can make skin look bumpy,” says Lupita Nyong’o and Gugu Mbatha Raw’s makeup artist, Nick Barose. “Instead, opt for fresh liquid ones.” (He likes Armani Fluid Sheer Glow Enhancer Highlighter.)
Not Looking Slick
Christina Aguilera’s hairstylist, Rob Talty, stays away from “an overly slicked look on a natural blonde.” Why? “Because it can photograph strangely and appear bald.”
Curl Power
Makeup pro Katey Denno calls a lash curler her “number one go-to” in her makeup kit.
“It wakes up the face. If you have nothing else in your bag, an eyelash curler will make eyes look open and awake, especially if you’re stressed out.” (Her number two go-to? “A good face oil to make the skin glow.”)
These Colors Are Not for You
Or maybe they are. But don’t think that because something works on a celebrity, it will automatically work on you, Mary Phillips once told me when we were discussing Jennifer Lopez’s makeup. (Other clients include Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber.) “It looks good on the star because they have a team of experts working together and communicating on a cohesive look that is the overall best for said star.” This team takes into account skin tone, undertone, eye color, hair color, body shape, clothing and event. So when an article says, “Jennifer Lopez wears XYZ,” don’t rush out and buy XYZ, expecting to look just like J.Lo. “There are things I might do on Jennifer that I would never do on anyone else, and vice versa,” said Phillips. Inspiration: Yes. Direct carbon copy: Not going to happen. Be you.
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