I really do not know where to begin when writing about my client and my friend Amy Adams. She is the client I have worked with the longest, almost 8 years now, and I feel like we have “grown up” in this business together. I met Amy on a photo shoot for GQ magazine back in 2002, and I loved her immediately. We were shooting in the middle of the night at a bus stop on Fairfax Avenue and to pass the time, keep warm, and keep spirits up Amy and I were sneaking shots of tequila between set ups and telling funny stories from our pasts. Throughout the years, Amy has kept me busy woking on the most enviable mane of hair I have ever seen and she’s kept me laughing with her insane sense of humor and some of my favorite moments have been impromptu sing alongs to the soundtrack of The Little Mermaid.
Photographer: Don Flood. Hair: Mark Townsend. Make Up: Molly R. Stern. Manicure: Tom Bachick. Fashion Director: Estee Stanley. Art Director: Frank Rust. Jacket: Louis Vuitton.
Amy was one of the first people who agreed to do a photo shoot for this project and when we talked about her look for the shoot she said she always wanted to have “wispy, layered hair” and wanted to play with bangs so I got a few wigs for us to play with. Amy is naturally blonde, but I love her as a red head, she has experimented with many different shades from deep red to strawberry and she has also been pretty bold with her hair cuts, she will grow it until she can’t take it anymore and then go for a big chop, cutting it to her shoulders.
Striped top: Charlotte Ronson. Earrings: Tiffany and Co.
Amy was actually pregnant when we did this shoot and watching her become a mother has been so beautiful. I feel so lucky that I have been able to see Amy receive so many amazing accolades for her incredible acting skills, but seeing her with her daughter is what makes me most proud to be her friend.
6 Picks with Amy Adams
“I have long lashes and this mascara makes them full and thick and doesn’t clump.”
“The cucumber is my favorite!”
Cynthia Vincent Knee High Boots. “Most knee high boots make me think ‘naughty’ but these are so versatile and elegant, and maybe just a little bit naughty”
. “I use this at night and I’ve noticed it helps even out my skin texture, I have extremely dry skin.”
Teutonia Stroller. “I’m a new mom and this is a whole traveling system with car seat and stroller. It is all purpose and so amazing, and it is table height!”
Photographer: Don Flood. Hair: Mark Townsend. Make Up: Molly R. Stern. Manicure: Tom Bachick. Fashion Director: Estee Stanley. Dress: Miss Davenporte. Leggings: Iliann Loeb.
10 Questions with Amy Adams
What beauty trick did you learn from your mom?
To use lipstick as blush.
What drugstore product do you swear by?
Dr. Pepper Lipsmackers!
What products would we find in your teensiest red carpet clutch?
Blotting papers, bobby pins, lip gloss, and a teeny mirror.
What products do you never travel without?
Le Mer Moisturizing Lotion and Rosebud Salve.
What’s your biggest beauty splurge?
LA MER!
Who is your beauty icon from the past?
Grace Kelly and Ann Margaret.
Who is your current beauty icon?
Meryl Streep.
Which of your red carpet beauty looks was your favorite?
The 2007 Academy Awards. I wore this amazing green Proenza Schouler dress and I felt and looked so much like myself. So often I play characters so it is so nice to see pictures where I look like me.
If you could trade hair with anyone, who would it be?
I’ve always wanted to try a short hair style so I’ll say Carey Mulligan.
The one beauty trend you’ll never embrace
Pencil thin eyebrows or faux tans
The one beauty trend you’d like to bring back?
HOT ROLLERS!
Photographer: Don Flood. Hair: Mark Townsend. Make Up: Molly R. Stern. Manicure: Tom Bachick. Fashion Director: Estee Stanley. Art Director: Frank Rust. Dress: Giambatista Valli. Shoes: Christian Louboutin.
Troian Bellisario: Behind the Scenes Video
Be sure to subscribe to our and stay tuned for more videos!
Photographer: Stephanie Vovas. Hair: Mark Townsend. Make Up: Kayleen McAdams. Manicurist: Debbie Leavitt. Fashion Director: Estee Stanley. Art Director: Frank Rust. Behind the Scenes: Tom Rollason.
10 Questions with Gillian Zinser
What beauty trick did you learn from your mom?
Less is more.
What drugstore product do you swear by?
Cocoa Butter Swivel Stick.
What products would we find in your teensiest red carpet clutch?
(this color is no longer available, but check out the other colors) and Tom Ford Black Orchid Perfume Pen.
What products do you never travel without?
, , , and .
What’s your biggest beauty splurge?
.
Who is your beauty icon from the past?
Pocahontas.
Who is your current beauty icon?
Patti Smith.
Which of your red carpet beauty looks was your favorite?
This year’s Teen Vogue Young Hollywood soiree. Fewer things make me happier than a sequined muumuu.
If you could trade hair with anyone, who would it be?
Jem from the ’90s cartoon Jem and the Holograms.
The one beauty trend you’ll never embrace?
Hair extensions.
…and the one beauty trend you’d like to bring back?
The hair scarf.
Photographer: Don Flood. Hair: Mark Townsend. Make Up: Rachel Goodwin. Fashion Director: Estee Stanley. Art Director: Frank Rust. Dress by Miss Davenport.
Gillian Zinser
I recently had the opportunity to meet and work with the incredible Gillian Zinser from 90210. I had such a blast collaborating with her, she is so smart, funny, clever and stunningly beautiful. She came to the photo shoot with so many great ideas and brought her spirit to these images and gave them a modern, whimsical feel. I think Gillian is amazingly talented, I cannot wait to see where her career is headed!
Photographer: Don Flood. Hair: Mark Townsend. Make Up: Rachel Goodwin. Fashion Director: Estee Stanley. Art Director: Frank Rust. Dress and fur coat by The Row.
WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT BEAUTY TRICK YOU’VE EVER LEARNED AND WHY?
GZ: Don’t over pluck your eyebrows. You’ll miss them one day.
WHAT IS BEAUTY TO YOU?
GZ: Grace. Confidence. Ryan Gosling.
WHAT’S YOUR DAY TO DAY BEAUTY ROUTINE?
GZ: Chapstick. Horribly addicted. Currently on a 12-step program I found on the internet to ween myself off. Other than that, I’m pretty laissez-faire. Dermalogica and YON-KA on my skin, and Kerastase when I need to tame my wild mane.
Photographer: Don Flood. Hair: Mark Townsend. Make Up: Rachel Goodwin. Fashion Director: Estee Stanley. Art Director: Frank Rust. Leotard by American Apparel.
Rachel Goodwin: Gillian is a free spirit with a real penchant for the avant garde. I loved that she wanted to experiment with neon colors and abstract shapes for our shoot. Gillian see’s make up as an opportunity to experiment with ideas versus just beautification and that’s always really challenging and fun for me as an artist. I played with geometric shapes and vivid shades on her, taking a more bare bones approach to the rest of the make up, focusing mostly on the bold shapes and color. I used professional make up palette by Kryolan to create the look which are essentially face-paints. They can be found online or at places like Namie’s or Nigel’s Beauty here in Los Angeles or Alcone in NY.
Photographer: Don Flood. Hair: Mark Townsend. Make Up: Rachel Goodwin. Fashion Director: Estee Stanley. Art Director: Frank Rust. Fur coat by The Row
Gillian’s hair is AMAZING! I am sure her hair will do anything you want it to, but I loved the texture in her hair when she arrived in the studio so I just took a 1 1/2 inch curling iron and wrapped random sections of hair around it and then I used a small amount of on her hair to give it some extra shine.
Photographer: Don Flood. Hair: Mark Townsend. Make Up: Rachel Goodwin. Fashion Director: Estee Stanley. Art Director: Frank Rust. Leotard by American Apparel. Dress by Nina Ricci.
For the premiere of The Fighter in Hollywood I worked with the incredible Amy Adams, who has been my client for many years. That long relationship and trust is so important because last week I injured my right hand and broke my little “pinky” finger in several places, which could basically be a death sentence for a hair stylist!
I have to wear this incredibly uncomfortable cast/splint contraption on my finger that keeps it completely straight for 6 weeks which makes it physically impossible to hold and use a round brush or even hold my scissors. I had absolutely no idea how important that little finger is!
So with my nine working fingers and the support of an amazing lady like Amy, I went to work getting her ready for her premiere of The Fighter (one of the best films I have seen in my entire life!) I wanted Amy’s hair to be soft, touchable, and sexy so I started by setting Amy’s dry hair in large hot rollers and let them cool for about 20 minutes. Next I took the rollers out and brushed through the curls.
Just before Amy left, she flipped her head upside down and sprayed her hair with to give the hair lots of body and hold without making it stiff.
10 Questions with Troian Bellisario
MTB: What beauty trick did you learn from your mom?
TB: Eye Cream, every night. Starting that habit as young as possible and drinking as much water as possible throughout the day.
MTB: What drugstore product do you swear by?
TB: I get everything from the drugstore. Shampoo, Conditioner, lotion. I just follow my nose as to what smells I like best and then I grab it and go.
MTB: What products would we find in your teensiest red carpet clutch?
TB: My phone…if I can fit it. What else could possible be stuffed in those things? They’re for fairies, not people.
MTB: What products do you never travel without?
TB: A book and my journal.
MTB: What’s your biggest beauty splurge?
TB: Umm…organic beauty products from Whole Foods? Please don’t ask me for names, I couldn’t tell you if I wanted to.
MTB: Who is your beauty icon from the past?
TB: Patti Smith and Audrey Hepburn.
MTB: Who is your current beauty icon?
TB: Cate Blanchett and Natalie Portman.
MTB: Which of your red carpet beauty looks was your favorite?
TB:Oh, wow! I seriously just spent 30 minutes online looking at the Red Carpet looks of other actresses I admire trying to find a favorite. I was getting very, very frustrated because I thought, “I’m never going to find just one!” And then I re-read this question and saw the word, “your.” Well, that just got a lot easier because I’ve only had about three red carpet looks. So, I guess the Teen Choice Awards dress? It was sparkly.
MTB: If you could trade hair with anyone, who would it be?
TB: Right now? Mia Wasikowska or Carrie Mulligan. I’m dying to get a role where they ask me to cut off all my hair. I’ve always had long hair, I think I will for the majority of my life, but just once I’d like to chop it all off or even shave it!
MTB: The one beauty trend you’ll never embrace and the one beauty trend you’d like to bring back?
TB: The neon colors of the late ’80s early ’90s. Please, please, let them rest in peace. I get frightened whenever a magazine does a spread with nuclear turquoise eye shadow and they capitalize the words “IT’S BACK!” The thick liner of the ’60s. I love Anna Karenna’s eyes in Une Femme est une Femme, any Godard film really. I adore that style of make up.
Photographer: Stephanie Vovas. Hair: Mark Townsend. Make Up: Kayleen McAdams. Manicurist: Debbie Leavitt. Fashion Director: Estee Stanley. Art Director: Frank Rust. Men’s shirt: Steven Allen. Hat: Vintage.
. It’s pretty much the only piece of make up I wear. I don’t know how to do any other look than a smoky eye, but really I don’t want much else, maybe some blush. I’m just trying to look like Patti Smith three hours after a show. So I’ll generally put it on on Friday night and by Sunday morning it’s bled into the perfect look. Rebecca, who does my make up on the show, is always rubbing it off. I don’t think she ever believes me when I say I’ve washed my face, but I swear I do. I mean…not often…but I do.
. Not the honey, not the tinted, the peppermint. It burns, that’s how I know it’s working.
. Hi my name is Troian Bellisario, and I am a Kombucha-holic.
. I usually hate my hair. When I was younger it was enormous and frizzy and often decided to settle into a pyramid shape around my face, and now that I am older it just kind of frizzes out in odd unattractive angles. The only time I love my hair is when it’s dried after the beach. The salt makes it curl into a perfect mess. I feel so beautiful. But since I cannot be in the ocean everyday…this stuff is the next best thing.
Griffith Park. Nothing makes me happier than hiking in Griffith Park. When it rains it looks like you are walking through clouds and when the sun is setting and you can see the whole of Los Angeles, like an ocean of lights. It’s Heaven…there’s nowhere I would rather be (maybe New York or Paris, but lets be realistic.) I also have a massive obsession with nature. The more species of trees and flowers I can identify along the trails the happier I feel.
My Record Collection. There is nothing better than the warmth of analog. With all of the condensing and formatting of our music, we don’t realize what we are missing. Get your favorite song and play it on a record. It’s sounds like firewood, it’s breathy and human. We also are so inundated with music now that we forget to appreciate it. It is always in our ears, in the background of our car conversations, floating through the malls. When you listen to a record, it is a singular activity. You have to select the whole album, and put it on. You don’t listen to one hit single, you hear the progression of songs the way the artist intended. It’s a journey. I could not sound more pretentious right now, but this is important to me!
Photographer: Stephanie Vovas. Hair: Mark Townsend. Make Up: Kayleen McAdams. Manicurist: Debbie Leavitt. Fashion Director: Estee Stanley. Art Director: Frank Rust. Dress: Vintage. Knee highs: Prada. Shoes: Dior.
Troian Bellisario
I am completely obsessed with the ABC Family show Pretty Little Liars and even more obsessed with the gorgeous star of the show, Troian Bellisario. She is über cool, breath taking and has amazing style. I was thrilled when I got the chance to work with Troian and loved every minute of it!
Photographer: Stephanie Vovas. Hair: Mark Townsend. Make Up: Kayleen McAdams. Manicurist: Debbie Leavitt. Fashion Director: Estee Stanley. Art Director: Frank Rust. Sweater: The Row. Shorts: Kiki de Montparnase. Knee highs: Prada.
Top: Vintage
