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.
Photo 7/8
Step Five: Highlight Your Best Feature
Want all eyes on you? Then pick your best feature and run with it! Taylor chooses to pull focus toward Kim's big brown eyes with a smoky look.
"You need clean, smooth skin and soft brows to make the smoky eye pop," says Taylor, further emphasizing the importance of step four. Taylor applies a light brow gel to define and hold Kim's brows in place. She then adds copper eyeshadow as a highlight, blending it with a dark brown eyeshadow and plum-colored shadow liner along the upper lash line. Finishing off the look are false lashes and a sheer berry gloss.
"I love it! I feel and look younger, and I got what I wanted without cutting my hair short," says Kim, who immediately rushes out to a date with someone she met online. (We checked in days later, and while her date didn't work out, her new look worked like a charm; thanks to her new photo, she's getting twice as many responses to her profile.)
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.
