Photos by Nadine Kam
Class is in session at CHOP Salon. Coby Alcantar works on Danielle Doucette’s hair.

CHOP Salon was the site of an inspiration educational session presented by Bumble & Bumble’s Coby Alcantar for stylists islandwide on June 9.

It was rather technical for this beauty school drop-in with all that talk about inversions and arrowheads, etc., but I got the big picture of easing up on rigid technique for styling that’s more about naturalness and flow suiting the individual.

The guinea pigs, or models, were Danielle Doucette, Heilika Leinus and Cass Gravitt, daughter of our business reporter Erika Engle, who said of the floppy mohawk cut afterward, “I wish I could see more of her eyes, but I like it.”

Coby Alcantar talks about the Bumble & Bumble philosophy on the video.

I’m afraid I was so inspired that I went home and tried lopping off some of my own bangs, which didn’t work out all that well. As simple and messy as my haircut by an S.F. stylist seemed to be — considering it has a lot of what Coby termed “messy bits” all around and was done dry while I was standing in a rather unorthodox venue — it is actually more precise than I thought.

So, yeah, don’t try it at home unless you’re prepared to live with the results. As Coby said, she loves it when people cut their own hair. That’s an indication they’ll try anything, plus, they’ll probably visit a salon soon afterward.

From left, Cass Gravitt in floppy mohawk, Heilika Leinus and Danielle Doucette were happy with their loose, updated ‘dos.

Photos by Nadine Kam
Makana Esthetics Director of Education Malia Sanchez, left, with former classmate, the Star-Bulletin’s Rose Bernardo.

With the growing interest in the spa industry and physical well-being, Malia Sanchez and Christine Hall saw a need for advanced esthetician training for those aspiring to work in high-end resort spas or medi spas, and created the Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy, an accredited Esthetics Certified training program that celebrated its grand opening May 29.

Melissa Samiano was one of the beneficiaries of her sister Melanie’s hand and arm massages.

Those who attended were able to walk through the treatment rooms, enjoy hand massages, sample the lines of Peter Thomas Roth Clinical Skin Care and June Jacobs Spa Collection carried by the school, as well as enjoy food, including shrimp scampi and spicy ahi on tortilla chips, catered by Pearl Kai’s newest restaurant Off the Wall.

The school’s Core Esthetics Course consists of an intensive 15-week curriculum designed to help students pass the Hawaii State Licensing examination. Summer courses open for registration start up July 14 and Aug. 25. Call 591-6090 or visit www.MakanaAcademy.com for more information.

Model Karen Vance showed up with her fringy dog-shaped purse from Anteprima Plastiq.

Where there are students, there’s a need for guinea pigs, and what that means for you is the availability of facials running $35 to $45, with add-ons such as a single microdermabrasion treatment for $25, or single glycolic treatment for $25.

They’re at 1168 Waimanu St., across from the Ko’olani condominium. Park on the street.

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Among restaurateurs in attendance were Ed Kenney (Town, Downtown), Donato Loperfido (Pasta & Basta, Elua), Philippe Padovani (Elua) and Henry Adaniya (Hank’s Haute Dogs). The room was so packed it was hard to back up far enough to get a photo, and the only reason this one was possible is because these party guys were among the last to leave.

After dropping in on the Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy, it was off to Waikiki for Nobu Waikiki’s one-year anniversary. I couldn’t believe a year has flown by, but so it has.

In a small room in the back of the restaurant, the fashionable — including a bunch of magazine eds., party girls and a contingent from Louis Vuitton — mixed with the foodies. It was near impossible to back up for a photograph, and among the restaurateurs able to take a break from their own kitchens to congratulate Nobu were Henry Adaniya, Kevin Aoki (Doraku Sushi), Ed Kenney, Donato Loperfido, George Mavrothalassitis (Chef Mavro), Philippe Padovani, and Ana and Tushar Dubey of Hokulani Bake Shop.

Wine and lychee martinis flowed, and waiters made the rounds with trays of lamb chops, Nobu’s famous black cod, temaki rolls, seabass and jalapeno-topped hamachi, one of my favorite dishes.

The party didn’t end after it was over, as many just took their celebration to the sushi counter or to the bar.

Congratulations, Nobu!

Diorshow Artist Thuy Pham, who visited Hawaii twice during spring to show Dior’s latest makeup tips, tricks and trends, is featured in the June issue of Elle magazine, demonstrating how to “indulge your inner diva” with Diorshow products.

Of interest to beauty junkies is Dior’s, Elle’s and Macy’s invitation to be an Artist in Action, featured in the January 2009 issue of the magazine.

Give it a try by grabbing a friend and digital camera and heading to a Macy’s Dior counter. Make over your friend using Dior products and snap a photo of your work. Email the photo to ArtistinAction@Elle.com. The deadline to enter is Sept. 15, 2008. You’re limited to one entry per person or email address. Full details are available at Elle.com/Promotions/ArtistinAction

Good luck!

Beautyanalysis.com
The mask, fitted over an Asian face.

It’s not often you’ll find male reporters on our staff tackling beauty issues. Most often, they’re laughing heartily at story meetings in which I share what’s new in fashion (which would explain their rather clueless, careless appearance which wouldn’t fly anywhere else but a newsroom).

But, if you check out Digital Slob Curt Brandao’s column today, he talks about new software that quantifies feminine beauty, meaning someday you won’t have to turn to an online community to confirm whether you’re hot or not. Instead, you’ll likely get the cold, hard fact in the form of a number.

(According to Curt, the formula doesn’t yet work with men because there are too many variables associated with male attractiveness. What? Like the size of their bank account and make and model of their car?)

Curt sends the reader off to Marquadt Beauty Analysis beautyanalysis.com, where there is a mask that shows the Golden Ratio of beauty that fits women of different races and time periods, so we can see how women from Nefertiti to Renaissance beauties to Marilyn Monroe all fit the mask.

There is nothing new about measuring beauty in the form of ideal proportions. In print, we follow a rule of thirds in our page designs to create a range of visual experiences, from harmony to dissonance, depending on the story.

What’s new in quantifying human beauty is potentially negative applications. It may seem like fun now, but Curt raises the idea that later, it might prevent you from getting into a club, or might be used to pre-screen applicants for certain job positions or dating services, as if a 10 and a 5 have no chance at love.

What such a program can’t do is take into account physical quirks that are endearing. How else to explain how Steve Buscemi is just as appealing to me as a conventionally handsome man like George Clooney seems to be appealing to everyone else. I actually find conventional good looks rather boring, but I’ll always look twice at a guy with a snaggletooth.

Sephora is promoting “Five reasons we adore Dior” through its Beauty Insider program

Reason No. 1 is Dior Addict High Shine Lipstick ($25) for long-lasting, smudge-proof wear and intense color. But I was checking out the Midnight Blue Dior Vernis nail lacquer ($19) manicure in the photo.

I was just talking to someone about how fast my fingernails grow, faster than it takes to ruin a manicure, and how great it would be to promote something like a reverse French manicure so I wouldn’t need a do-over so quickly, and here it is in the ad:

M.A.C illustration

Just did a story on M.A.C and they have struck again with a new limited-edition Heatherette collection with pink-cased lipstick and lipglass, plus two eyeshadow trios—one with peach and turquoise colors plus a darker liner color, and one in shades of pink and purple. You can finish with any of M.A.C’s glitter or pigments for a look that says “Superstar” and living up to Richie’s and Traver’s rep as 24-hour party people.

Alliway photo

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for something to do this Good Friday, you might head over to Ward Warehouse to check out Alliway’s 3-2-1 Easter sale. That is, 30 percent off Alliway jewelry, 20 percent off handbags, 10 percent off other merchandise. The sale is on through tomorrow.

Alliway, along with Ginger 13, are among the local designers selected to be showcased in the second-floor jewelry section at Nordstrom. Congratulations Alli and Cindy!