Newly single yet stuck in the same beauty rut for 15 years, reader Kim has one major request: "I want to be a man magnet." The challenge: Pulling off a hot new look without further damaging her half-relaxed, half-natural hair with harsh chemicals.
Sound familiar? Read on to see which products can help refresh your style with the least amount of damage.
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Step One: Give Your Color a Gentle Boost
Kim hasn't relaxed her kinky hair in 18 months and wants no harsh chemicals added while she lets her hair grow out. The solution: Lukaro stylist LouAnne conditions her hair and scalp with an oil-based leave-in treatment (try Hamadi Beauty Shea Spray, $18) to boost moisture and shine, then adds fine highlights to soften gray hairs. (Try this at home with one of these top-rated at-home hair colors and this highlighting video.)
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Step Two: Add Length
If you're growing your hair and it's not yet to the length you desire, add clip in human hair extensions (Try PutOnPieces POP 18" Ten Piece Clip-in 100% Human Hair, $279). The key to making them look real is to take them to a salon to have them cut and colored to match your hair perfectly. Since most extensions are already processed, be sure to ask for demi-permanent color (Kim's are darkened with Goldwell Color Plus), which is gentle on hair and boosts glossiness.
A more layered effect makes Kim's style less heavy looking and makes the added extensions blend in perfectly. A dab of moroccan oil (try this little wonder) on her roots helps control frizzies before her style is blow-dried with a round brush, then set in large pincurls (for sexy waves!) while warm.
Taylor preps Kim's dry skin with face and eye serum to moisturize and plump skin before adding foundation. "With darker skin, you often need to use two different foundation colors for the best match," says Taylor. Taylor applies Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick, $40, that's a shade lighter than Kim's skin to the center of her face (on the browbone, under the eyes and around the nose), then places darker foundation where the sun naturally hits (on her forehead and cheekbones). Lots of blending gives the foundation a very natural look.
New to the Internet dating scene at age 50 (yes, 50!), Kim turned to our makeover dream team -- celebrity hairstyle makers and owners of Lukaro Beverly Hills salon Luke and Rona O'Connor, and celebrity makeup artist Taylor Babaian -- for beauty tips to help in showing off her sexy, independent self. Follow their steps to see whether their advice worked, and how you can recreate her look on your next date.
