A good coach and a good team can pull you through when your own skills and experience fall short. Former high school senior varsity basketball player, April McCarron knows the value of practice, teamwork and coaching. A dedicated athlete, she realized she didn't have the skill set to prepare her for college life. April had a svelte, toned 6'2" figure, but the mirror reflected a girl barely in her teens. April was determined to change her look and consulted hair artist and beauty consultant, Susan MacCoy.
Based at Chicago's Elizabeth Adam Salon and Day Spa, Water Tower Place, Susan MacCoy was a good choice for a coach. She has been awarded the Clairol Hair Fashion Award, appointed to the prestigious Clairol Presidential Haircolorists' Council, and selected as Chicago's Stylist of the Year and Today's Chicago Woman's Colorist of the Year. Susan did an initial evaluation of April's appearance and goals and quickly assembled a team to plan and execute the makeover strategy. The starting lineup included:
- Elizabeth Adam, salon director and skin care expert;
- Basia (Barbara) Walasiak, skin treatment specialist;
- Rya Reznick, nail care specialist;
- Irina Zinchikeva, eyebrow artist; and
- Paula Sino, make-up artist.
"We are conditioned through the media that makeovers are instant fixes, and an amazing amount of transformation can be accomplished in an hour or two, " Susan observes. "However, making improvements requires planning and a change in everyday behavior to last. You need to take the time to learn the skills, review your progress, make adjustments as necessary, and practice, practice, practice. Over time, the new image can be integrated and sustained. Then, you can play your best and do it with grace and ease."
Susan and April set the short-term goal to give April confidence and control over her everyday image and the long-term goal to give April a look that would work for her at school, work, play, in sports, and dating -- all looks that she could maintain easily.
April's makeover consisted of two parts: the makeover program and a skills/maintenance program. The makeover strategy included:
- haircut, light perm on the ends, two-tone mini-highlights, and several deep conditioning treatments;
- two-phase, six-stage facial cleansing and peeling program to clear up April's severe acne and calm the skin, augmented with a home care program;
- professional eyebrow arching and a styling lesson;
- professional make-up evaluation, make-up palettes for daytime and dressy evening wear, along with a make-up lesson and supervised practice session;
- nail restyling and manicure, along with a paint-at-home-like-a-pro lesson; and
- overall image and style analysis to develop a fashion/image style suited to April's face and body type and her taste, activities, and busy schedule.
April's new skill set included daily skin care, including facial lessons; daily hair care -- including how to maintain her new cut, how to blow-dry, and change styles for different occasions -- a daily make-up practice; and nail painting at home. After each session, April was invited to bring questions or problems to the team.
April began to see initial results after three weeks, and after six weeks, her skin was much clearer. "Through it all," Susan says, "April never balked, never missed practice or appointments, and she never complained. She organized herself and her schedule. That's when I realized her training as an athlete was what kept her going. She went the extra quarter-mile."
Hair Makeover Before and After
Hair Makeover Specialists
Hair artist Susan MacCoy is based at Elizabeth Adam Salon and Day Spa, located in Chicago’s Water Tower Place. She has taught in venues as diverse as the Goodman Theater of the Art Institute of Chicago; the Clairol Summer Sessions at Northwestern University; classes offered by Helene Curtis in the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, and Africa; Clairol, Inc.’s Famous Haircolorists’ Educator Program; and sessions for Glemby International, as well as in training videos for beauty professionals and students. Formerly manager of the Glemby International Salon at the Drake Hotel and long established on Michigan Avenue, MacCoy has served many famous clients, including Barbara Walters, Princess Diane Von Furstenburg, Lucille Ball, and Lady Bird Johnson.
Susan MacCoy is a talented hair artist, image consultant, beauty educator, consultant to the hair care industry, and expert for the legal profession. Winner of the Today's Chicago Woman Reader's Choice Award, Gold Coast Magazine's Chicago Stylist of the Year, the Clairol Hair Fashion Award, and Glemby International's Outstanding Achievement Award, Ms. MacCoy is the creator of the ProWorks Professional Haircare System and a master haircoloring expert. She divides her time and consulting services between Chicago and Cincinnati. Her Chicago practice is based at Elizabeth Adam Salon and Day Spa in Water Tower Place.