Hair Like Theirs

You walk into your local budget salon with a photo of Meg Ryan but you walk out looking like Ethel Mertz. What went wrong?

It may be true that you actually look more like a ‘50s sitcom character than a ‘90s movie waif. But more importantly, let’s remember that every time an actress steps in front of the camera, there probably has been at least 30 minutes of hair preparation to get her style to fall just so--even if it’s supposed to be a post-coital disheveled mess.

When it comes to a haircut, you do get what you pay for. To a point. We’ll get to that point in a minute.

“People find actress hair more believable than model hair. Clients know they don’t look like models ,but they identify with actresses because actresses aren’t perfect. Or maybe I should say, they’re not as perfect.” said Ginger Boyle, owner of Planet Salon in Beverly Hills.

Allen Edwards’ “feathered” Farrah Fawcett from the late ‘70s wins the All-Time Most Imitated Actress Hair Award in remembered history, even for all the dismay it garners in professional beauty circles today.

“This was a haircut that everybody could wear, no matter how young or how old,” he said. “It was a real career maker for me then, it opened up TV exposure and made my name. But if someone asks for it today, and believe me they still do, I say, ‘Try stepping into the ‘90s.’ ”

Reny Salamon, co-owner of Estilo, home of the well-known Jennifer Aniston ‘Rachel’ ‘do and epicenter for a lot of young Hollywood heads, said, “In our salon, maybe 30% of new clients come in with a picture of a celebrity they want to look like. Of these, probably 90% are unrealistic. Why? Hair texture, amount of hair, hair color, bone structure of the face . . . only everything. But still, I like to see a photo as long as it isn’t of Jennifer Aniston circa 1994. We’re way over that cut, and we won’t do it here anymore. But a celebrity photo from a client opens the dialogue so we can discuss what we both can reasonably expect.”

Sally Hershberger, who works out of Jonathan A Beauty Salon in West Hollywood when she’s not on location, did Meg Ryan’s sweetly tossed chop for “Addicted to Love” as well as on previous pictures.

“Even if you had the right face, personna and age for this cut, the upkeep is intense and the styling can take at least 45 minutes. First you blow-dry it, then there are applications of pomade, mousse and gel to make it piece-y, and after that, quite a bit of pinning. This isn’t something for someone who wants to just roll out of bed and go,” she said.

The celeb-prolific Laurent D., who counts Gwyneth Paltrow, Teri Hatcher and Uma Thurman among his regulars and owns Prive in West Hollywood, argued that any well-trained, well-educated hairdresser should be able to deliver a quality celebrity-type cut. The key is to have the stylist inform you from the start how high the upkeep quotient will be.

The good news here is that mere mortals can book with a star hairdresser who still works behind the chair from time to time.

“It is hard to juggle industry jobs with working in a salon, but I do both to maintain a balance,” says Waldo Sanchez, part owner of Fred Segal Hair Santa Monica who cut George Clooney’s hair for “Batman and Robin.”

Prices aren’t cheap. For example, Laurent D. charges $100 per haircut, Allen Edwards (who has nine salons), $100; Waldo Sanchez, $75 to $100; and Chris McMillan at Estilo, $85.

“To be honest, I don’t see you necessarily getting double the haircut for $200 that you get for $100,” said Estilo’s Salamon, “And there are even some people cutting at $80 who deliver amazing work. However, once you get below $40 a cut, the talent pool gets dicey because the education just isn’t there.”

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The catch is, of course, that it may take months to get an appointment because more often than not these guys are on location and give first priority to their regulars once they’re back behind the chair. So the question is, do the other stylists in their salons deliver the same caliber of work (and in many cases for a lower price)?

“Easily,” said Salomon.

“Sure, absolutely,” agreed Sanchez.

“No question,” said Laurent D. “I feel totally confident that my staff can do what I can do.”

As far as the intimidation factor of the reputed star salons, it’s easy enough to book a consultation first (which should be free) to meet the stylist for a few minutes, see if there is rapport there and find out for yourself how you’d be treated.

So by all means, keep bringing in those photos of your thespian faves. But do try to temper a little realism.

“It’s all a matter of expectations,” said Laurent, “You can start with a vision of movie star, but remember the best we’ll ever be able to do is make you a better version of yourself.”

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The Big Hairs

The most popular celeb haircuts to spawn mass imitation tell us one thing: Styles come and go, but the Farrah is forever.

Dorothy Hamill

Description: Basic wedge

Hairdresser: Suga

Salon: Suga at Bergdorf’s

Year: 1976

Cost then: $90

Client upkeep: Easy. 15 min. blow dry with hair falling into place.

Popularity: 4 1/2 scissors

Longevity: Petered out in the late ‘80s

Stylist quote: R.I.P.

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Farrah Fawcwtt

Description: Long “feathered” layers

Hairdresser: Allen Edwards

Salon: Allen Edwards Woodland Hills

Year: 1979

Cost then: $40

Client upkeep: Tricky. 20 min. blow dry juggling three round brushes.

Popularity: 5 scissors

Longevity: Still going strong at a mall near you, but not from Allen Edwards.

Stylist quote: “Anyone and everyone wore it.”

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Jennifer Aniston

Description: Long graduated layers

Hairdresser: Chris McMillan

Salon: Estilo

Year: 1994

Cost then: $65

Client upkeep: Difficult. 45 min. blow dry with round brushes.

Popularity: 4 scissors

Longevity: Still popular, but salon won’t do it anymore.

Stylist quote: “No comment”

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Meg Ryan

Description: Short choppy layers

Hairdresser: Sally Hershberger

Salon: Jonathan A Beauty Shop

Year: 1994

Cost then: $175

Client upkeep: Difficult. 45 min. blow dry with lots of products

Popularity: 3 scissors

Longevity: Still popular, but evolving

Stylist quote: “I won’t do it on just anybody. It has to be right.”

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George Clooney

Description: Short crop

Hairdresser: Waldo Sanchez

Salon: Fred Segal Hair Santa Monica

Year: 1995-96

Cost then: $75

Client upkeep: Minimal. Oils, no gels.

Popularity: 3 scissors

Longevity: Still popular, but evolving.

Stylist quote: “It wasn’t really a Julius Caesar.”