CHARLIZE THERON

One of the most beautiful and talented persons in Hollywood.

"RED LACQUERED LID"

PHOTOGRAPH BY IRVING PENN, 1994

HAPPY 44TH BIRTHDAY TABATHA COFFEY

“Anyone who has worked with me knows that I don’t suffer fools easily and that I won’t hesitate to speak my mind. I just say what most people want to say but don’t have the balls to say. I tell the truth”.-Tabatha Coffey

ZOE SALDANA ALLURE COVER JUNE 2013

Zoe Saldana photographed by Tom Munro. Hair by Teddy Charles. Makeup by Tyron Machhausen.

NADJA AUERMANN PHOTOGRAPHED BY AVEDON

ANGELINA JOLIE ON THE COVER OF TIME MAGAZINE

"MY MOTHER fought cancer for almost a decade and died at 56. She held out long enough to meet the first of her grandchildren and to hold them in her arms. But my other children will never have the chance to know her and experience how loving and gracious she was. We often speak of “Mommy’s mommy,” and I find myself trying to explain the illness that took her away from us. They have asked if the same could happen to me. I have always told them not to worry, but the truth is I carry a “faulty” gene, BRCA1, which sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer. My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman. Only a fraction of breast cancers result from an inherited gene mutation. Those with a defect in BRCA1 have a 65 percent risk of getting it, on average.

Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy. I started with the breasts, as my risk of breast cancer is higher than my risk of ovarian cancer, and the surgery is more complex. On April 27, I finished the three months of medical procedures that the mastectomies involved. During that time I have been able to keep this private and to carry on with my work. But I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience. Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness. But today it is possible to find out through a blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and then take action. My own process began on Feb. 2 with a procedure known as a “nipple delay,” which rules out disease in the breast ducts behind the nipple and draws extra blood flow to the area. This causes some pain and a lot of bruising, but it increases the chance of saving the nipple. Two weeks later I had the major surgery, where the breast tissue is removed and temporary fillers are put in place. The operation can take eight hours. You wake up with drain tubes and expanders in your breasts. It does feel like a scene out of a science-fiction film. But days after surgery you can be back to a normal life. Nine weeks later, the final surgery is completed with the reconstruction of the breasts with an implant. There have been many advances in this procedure in the last few years, and the results can be beautiful.

I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy. But it is one I am very happy that I made. My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under 5 percent. I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer. It is reassuring that they see nothing that makes them uncomfortable. They can see my small scars and that’s it. Everything else is just Mommy, the same as she always was. And they know that I love them and will do anything to be with them as long as I can. On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity. I am fortunate to have a partner, Brad Pitt, who is so loving and supportive. So to anyone who has a wife or girlfriend going through this, know that you are a very important part of the transition. Brad was at the Pink Lotus Breast Center, where I was treated, for every minute of the surgeries. We managed to find moments to laugh together. We knew this was the right thing to do for our family and that it would bring us closer. And it has.

For any woman reading this, I hope it helps you to know you have options. I want to encourage every woman, especially if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, to seek out the information and medical experts who can help you through this aspect of your life, and to make your own informed choices. I acknowledge that there are many wonderful holistic doctors working on alternatives to surgery. My own regimen will be posted in due course on the Web site of the Pink Lotus Breast Center. I hope that this will be helpful to other women. Breast cancer alone kills some 458,000 people each year, according to the World Health Organization, mainly in low- and middle-income countries. It has got to be a priority to ensure that more women can access gene testing and lifesaving preventive treatment, whatever their means and background, wherever they live. The cost of testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2, at more than $3,000 in the United States, remains an obstacle for many women.

I choose not to keep my story private because there are many women who do not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer. It is my hope that they, too, will be able to get gene tested, and that if they have a high risk they, too, will know that they have strong options. Life comes with many challenges. The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of."

HAPPY 47TH BIRTHDAY JANET JACKSON

KENNETH BATTELLE DEAD AT 86 - MAY HE REST IN PEACE

Kenneth Battelle better known as "Kenneth" or "Mr.Kenneth" (which he did not prefer) was a hairstylist of the grand design along with Alexandre of Paris and Vidal Sassoon of London. In 1961, Vogue magazine said that “almost every famous female head in the world has gone or will go” to Kenneth, the hairdresser who created Jacqueline Kennedy’s legendary bouffant and softened the golden locks of Marilyn Monroe.

Kenneth was the hairstyling darling of the society set of New York at his beautiful townhouse salon on West 54 Street, just off Fifth Avenue. He was often called the first American celebrity hairdresser, and had a list of clients to prove it — Brooke Astor, Lee Radziwill, Katharine Graham, Rosalynn Carter, Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn, and Lucille Ball among them. In 1961, Mr. Battelle became the first and only hairdresser to receive the Coty American Fashion Critics’ Award, given from 1943 to 1984.
 
Mr. Battelle died at 86 on Sunday, May 12  2013, at his home in Wappingers Falls, N.Y., two years after he cut his last head of hair. Victoria Meekins, vice president of Mr. Battelle’s company, K.E.B. Associates, announced the death.

Some years ago, I did makeup for Joan Rivers several times, in her hotel suite, before she moved into her apartment here in NYC. Waiting in the room to style Joan's hair was Kenneth. A simple but elegant man who would also chaperone Joan Rivers to parties and events. He was always very polite to me, and I was excited to meet THE Kenneth of hairstyling history.

JERRY HALL AND GEORGIA MAY JAGGER

The ever fabulous Jerry Hall, super model and ex-wife of Mick Jagger. Photographed here with one of her daughters, Georgia May Jagger, who is following in her Mother's footsteps and doing some modeling on her own. Like Mother like Daughter except this time they have been hired by SUNGLASS HUT to model together in the same ad campaign. Thankfully they will both be wearing sunglasses. I don't think the public could stand the glare of the star power otherwise.

A BIG GET WELL SOON TO ANGIE EVERHART

Model/actress Angie Everhart is having surgery today for thyroid cancer, and we wish her a speedy recovery.

THE EDIT MAGAZINE

THE EDIT MAGAZINE FEATURES ACTRESS LUCY LIU PHOTOGRAPHED BY MARIANO VIVANCO WITH FASHION STYLING BY TRACY TAYLOR.

LIVING PROOF HAIR CARE BY JENNIFER ANISTON

Hairstylist Chris McMillan and Jennifer Aniston

We all remember the "Rachel" hair cut everyone wanted in the 90's named after Jennifer Aniston's character from the hit show "Friends", and created by her longtime hairstylist Chris McMillan. I was not a fan of that show and always thought Aniston had a funny little face. But she does have great hair. So it was a natural for them to work together on LIVING PROOF, a Boston based hair care brand Jennifer invested in. The first national ad campaign (above) was photographed by Mario Sorrenti.

MODEL FACE : XIAO WEN HU

Top model from China Xiao Wen Hu wearing Jade green eye shadow.

KEITH HARING PAINTS GRACE JONES

Two of my favorite artists working together. The late great Keith Haring painting his signature graffiti on singer Grace Jones. I worked with Grace while she was still a model in Paris. And had the pleasure of meeting Keith one night in NYC. They both are amazing artists and I love their work now and forever.

POLYCROMATIC LIPS

Created by makeup artist Megan Martinez for Sugarpill Cosmetics.

SUMMER SHOCK BY NARS COSMETICS

A cool non-conforming palette of new wave sophistication.

Love the bright mix of colors to have fun with in the Summer sun!

IVANKA TRUMP'S FIRST PERFUME COLLECTION

Ivanka Trump launched her first fragrance last year in collaboration with Parlux Frgrances Inc. and created by perfumers Jennifer Mullarkey – who develope's fragrances for Parlux and Marypierre Julien – who composes fragrances for the house of Givaudan. This floral-oriental composition has a touch of luminous fruity notes and flirtatious spices making the whole fragrant story even more exciting. Top notes incorporate luminous Italian bergamot, juicy apple and pink pepper, which highlight sensuality. The heart encompasses jasmine, rose and peach, while the base closes with golden amber, creamy vanilla, patchouli and cedar. And the name of this perfume is.......wait for it, IVANKA TRUMP.

TIMBUKTU A FRAGRANCE FOR MEN AND WOMEN

Timbuktu was created by perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour in 2004 as part of L’Artisan Parfumeur's voyage collection, and was inspired by his travels in Mali, Africa. TIMBUKTU is a dry combination of woods, vetiver, sandalwood, patchouli and incense. From the top notes of pepper and grapefruit to the earthy drydown of patchouli and musk. It is as if the dark, dense notes are interspersed with fresh, effervescent layers. It is not the conventional note of citrus or generic lavender, but rather the brightness of wood sap and sweet pine resin. As Timbuktu changes on the skin from spicy incense to smoky woods, its freshness takes on a beguiling and sensual character. In the late drydown, Timbuktu is remarkably similar to the sweet and salty intimacy of warm skin. A very sexy fragrance indeed.

VANESSA WILLIAMS HITS THE BIG FIVE O TODAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

MAKEUP BY PAT McGRATH FOR VOGUE ITALIA 2004

It's like Pat took everything she could find in a Dollar Store and glued it to the model's face. It's genius Pat McGrath! Photographed for Vogue Italia 2004 by Stephen Meisel.

FROM THE BEAUTY ARTISTS HALL OF FAME : MAX FACTOR

MAX FACTOR - Makeup Artist

Born Aug. 5, 1877 in Lodz, Poland Died @ age 61 Aug. 30, 1938 in Beverly Hills, CA

Max Factor was Hollywood's foremost makeup artist. Born in Lodz, Poland (then part of Russia), Factor went to work at the age of 7. At 11, he became an apprentice to a wig maker and a cosmetician. Dissatisfied with the opportunities in Europe, he brought his family to America in 1904. When Factor arrived in Los Angeles, old-fashioned stage makeup was being used for film — with limited success. Factor's revolutionary new cosmetics and wigs were an immediate success.

The heavy demand for his services forced him to move from his cramped quarters at 12th Street and Central Avenue to the old Pantages Theatre building, and later to Third and Hill streets. This latter place became the rendezvous of stars of the silent screen — Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Mabel Normand, Francis X and others. Max had his own salon in Hollywood, just off Hollywood Blvd.

As film improved in definition, Factor kept pace by improving his cosmetics to meet the demand of the camera's critical eye. He later developed a special makeup called Pancake for technicolor film and television. He coined the words "makeup" and "lip gloss". His great grandson's created the Smash Box cosmetic line.

The Max Factor cosmetic line is now owned by Procter and Gamble.

( http://davidfrankray.wix.com/beautyartists )

"WICKEDNESS FOR YOUR CHEEKS"

VINTAGE COSMETIC AD

Can you believe that at one time rouge was considered very naughty?

KARDASHIAN'S LOSE COURT CASE OVER NAME OF THEIR COSMETIC LINE

KK at the Met gala "PUNK CHAOS TO COUTURE"

As I blogged about earlier, the Kardashian sisters were being sued by a makeup artist that already had the name KROMA for her cosmetic line. So Kourtney, Kim and Khloe can no longer call their line Khroma, and will use Kardashian Cosmetics instead.