Behind the Look: Rita Hazan

Meet the Celebrity Colorist who's responsible for Beyonce's highlights, Rita Hazan. Most recently she brightened the songstress's hair with honey and platinum shades.  In this interview, she proves you don't need to spend a lot of money to have good hair.

What’s your beauty philosophy? Healthy hair keeps color longer.

What are the top five must-haves in your kit and why?  a. Root Concealer b. Weekly Remedy c. Shu Umera Shampoo and Conditioner d. Ultimate Shine Color Gloss e. YS Park Y3 brush

Have you discovered any new products lately that you find impressive? Deesse’s Elujuda (Mo) Mellow Oil. You put it on hair while it’s wet, and it makes it easy to blowdry and keeps your hair shiny.

Spill your best beauty advice. Take care of your hair, use good products, and if you’re spending a significant amount of money, do so on your color because your hair is the focus of your look. If it’s not right you can’t take it off and put it to the side – it’s part of you.

What’s the one tip or trick that you think all women should know? If you have gray hair, you have to try the root concealer. Spray it around your hairline and you’ll never have roots again. This is amazing for women with brown hair especially.

Describe the most exciting project you’ve worked on lately. My newest launch, Weekly Remedy. It took a long time to create a conditioning treatment that is strong enough to make a difference without going to the salon.

Behind the Look: Ammon Carver

Welcome to “Behind the Look” – a new feature that showcases the talent behind the looks we love – the real celebrities in my eyes.  

In his downtime, NYC hairstylist, Ammon Carver, coifs stars like Kate Beckinsale, Molly Sims, Amanda Seyfried, Kirsten Dunst and Leighton Meester, but his most recent project has taken his career to the next level.  He just opened his own salon, with a twist – it's part photography studio.  Pretty cool, huh?  And his five must haves are essential enough for us all to take note of.

Describe the most exciting project you’ve worked on lately.

Aside from opening the Ammon Carver Studio, I am currently working on a project that involves providing a day of beauty to women in shelters for abuse. We will put together a team of hairstylists and done our time to make sure these women feel their most beautiful.

What’s your beauty philosophy?

Beauty begins within…if you want to look your best, it begins with being selective about what ingredients (food, and products) that you put in and on your body

What are the top five must-haves in your kit and why? 

Mason Pearson cushion bush….gives the best polish possible.

Fine tooth tail comb….perfect for backcoming and detailing.

Working hairspray, my go-to is Keratin Healing Oil Lustrous Finishing Spray…..buildable hold without any mattifying or flaking.

Hair bungee ties….ponytail and bun perfection.

Duckbill sectioning clips….keeping my work organized is the only way to create certain hairstyles….need to be able to cleanly separate the hair without leaving marks.

Have you discovered any new products lately that you find impressive?

Lately I love the aerosol Texture Sprays…Dry Texture Spray from L'ANZA is seriously amazing because it not only gives sexy, second-day texture, but it acts like a dry shampoo as well.

 Spill your best beauty advice.

Eat well, get good exercise…you would be surprised how good fitness and nutrition can affect your overall hair/skin/nails beauty.

What’s the one tip or trick that you think all women should know?

I think all women with long hair should learn how to do at least a simple braid.  Braids are  a trend that cycles in and out more than any other.  They are a great way to secure annoying bangs, they serve perfectly for when your hair is under a hood during the winter, or when you want a fresh look at the beach…..learn how to braid your hair. You will open a ton of style options by doing so. Short haired women should learn to play with hair accessories to mix up their look.

Backstage Broadway's "Breakfast at Tiffany's" with Sonia Kashuk & Umberto

In case you didn't hear yet, Breakfast at Tiffany's is premiering on Broadway this March  and Emilia Clarke of the Game of Thrones will be playing Holly Golightly, "the woman every man wants to be with and every woman wants to be."  As the exclusive beauty partner, Target brands, Sonia Kashuk and Umberto were in charge of recreating Holly's look on Emilia for the promo pieces and the show.  I got the scoop on the transformation. “I was so excited when Target approached me with this opportunity as I’ve been a fan of Broadway for years," comments Sonia Kashuk.  "I think the Target partnership with the Breakfast at Tiffany’s production is an exciting and unexpected way to reach women who may not know about Sonia Kashuk Beauty at Target or think of Target as an on-trend beauty destination.

Key products used: Perfecting Luminous Foundation and Eye on Neutral 12-pan shadow palette

“I worked closely with Sonia Kashuk and the show’s costume designer, Colleen Atwood to create the signature Holly Golightly look.  The goal for us was to create a look that is true to Truman Capote’s vision for Holly Golightly in his novella, but also one that Target guests can easily and affordably replicate at home," says Umberto.

Key products used: Umberto Beverly Hulls Roman Oil Serum and Umberto Beverly Hills Shimmer Shine Spray