About the Makeover:

This paragraph is at the beginning of all my segments of Pattie’s Makeover Diaries. So, if you’ve visited before, move on to paragraph 2. At 50+ I felt like I’d gotten careless with my appearance and when I woke up to the fact, I wanted to explore what I could do to enhance my appearance without surgery (or in-office surgical procedures, like botox and the like.) Although this is “Pattie centric,” my aim is to share my own experience for its educational value. I know that if I feel this way or have a particular experience, many of you have had the same or might be looking for answers to the same questions. None of us needs a makeover, we are already Fabulous…but it might be fun. And at 50+, I am all about having as much fun as possible. If you are new to the Makeover Diaries, the latest entries appear first. So, if you want to follow the progression in order, start reading from the earliest date forward.

May 5, 2008

Off to San Francisco

Today is a day I’ve eagerly awaited. Michele has arranged for me to go to diPietro Todd Salon in San Francisco to have my hair colored, cut and styled by professional hair artists, Renee Dixon and Troy Payne. Although no more expensive than I have paid in my own small “burg,” this is truly and big city experience. I haven’t gone in to San Francisco much since we moved up to wine country (but always a secure feeling to know that it is only 50 minutes away) and before we moved I always took the Metro. As is true with any downtown area, parking is always a challenge. And, because I am what I like to refer to as “directionally challenged” I always take steps to ensure that I end up in the right place and the right time. I had scoped my garage, had my Mapquest in hand, left a little early because you just never know, and voila. After a gorgeous drive down through vineyards and cow dotted pastures, I was rolling across the Golden Gate Bridge before Bob Seger had finished his set! And, due to working with Michele I actually had something to wear!

I have no idea what the building that houses diPietro Todd is, but because Max Mara is on the first floor I call it the Max Mara building. I love that when after you take the elevator up to the 2nd floor, the doors open and you are in the lobby of the chic black and stainless salon. You are welcomed by the receptionist, taken to the changing room to change into a smock, offered coffee, tea, water, whatever and then the assistant met me and took me back to Troy’s station.

Troy talked to me about my hair, its idiosyncrasies (color resistant), my lifestyle (don’t want to do roots every 3 weeks,) what I was hoping for and then he got to work. First, the base color and then the highlights.

During our session we talked about the site and my Makeover Diaries. He was so much fun, so talented, and totally focused on me (you all know how it is when your stylist is busy talking to her friends or even on the cell phone.) The great thing is that because I live outside the city, Troy gave me the haircolor formulas he used so that I could take them to my regular hairdresser. Not many will do that!

I asked him what hair products he would recommend. In salon brands, he recommended the following. Shampoo: Bain de Force. Conditioner: Lait Vital. Mask: Masquinteuse for Fine Hair. Drug store brand? The L’Oreal Vive product line.

His assistant shampooed my hair, complete with head and neck massage and then Renee greeted me for my hair cut and styling.

Since Michele had taken me to see Renee for a consultation earlier in the makeover process, she already knew what look she was going for. I also told her I needed something easy, quick and mood proof (as in…my hair is moody. If I have something important to attend it pouts and lays flat no matter how much product I use in it.)

Scissors flew and we had a lot of fun.

As I’ve said before, I was always a “low maintenance” woman, so many of the things women have known for years are new to me.

For example, did you know that if you have “fine” hair (read...thin, limp, hopeless) and despair at using conditioner because although your hair needs it, it would lay flat on your head, you should just apply the conditioner to the ends and not to your scalp? Who knew? Are any of you out there rolling your eyes and saying “Duh!”

Because I do have fine hair and Renee is a true artist, she had my hair cut in a thrice. She is delightful, fun, smart and you’d better not give her a hard time because she has a 6’4”, 250 pound husband who is a police officer!

She is encouraging me to let my hair grow out a bit because I have a long face and having fullness by my ears ad chin will fill my face out.

Renee had some additional hair products that she recommended. Salon brand “Dexter” hair conditioner and “Carthene” moisturizing shampoo by Rene Furterer and Fioravanti Antifrizz Gel for those unruly grays. In drugstore brands, she like the “Stufio” line by L’Oreal.

Thank you to Troy and Renee for a great day, and to Michele for recommending them. Off to lunch at Camden Court (also one of Michele’s recommendations) to write and have one of their delicious salads. What did I do without her?!

Back Home

My local hair stylist, Nini Snyder, owner of the Mane Event Salon in Sebastopol, is being a very good sport and very supportive of my makeover quest. Many hair designers would be offended that their client has run off to another city, obtained hair formulas and a style. But, Nini is the best. I guarantee it’s the first client she’s ever had that is doing a 50+ makeover and writing about it on-line! Thanks Nini!