Following a 39-year career as a registered nurse, Linda McGarry decided to retire and start pursuing her passions.
“I worked 12-hour shifts in scrubs and a ponytail with short fingernails and sturdy shoes,” she says. “It wasn’t a very glamorous occupation.”
Linda loves to ride her motorcycle and is a member of a women’s riding group the Motor Maids (see story in this issue on page 8).
“Again, helmets and riding gear are designed for protection, not necessarily for style. I think I was mostly dressing to be comfortable and didn’t give style any consideration. You can have both, I have now discovered.”
Jumping into a makeover was a bit of a deviation for Linda, but she was thrilled with the results!
“The haircut just falls into place and always looks great. My makeup was all the right colours for my skin tone and it was preceded by a magnificent facial and manicure. My clothing advice and outfit selection were guided so professionally!”
With her new understanding of a beauty routine that works for her, suitable styling and selfcare, Linda is inspired to look her best every day.
“I’m so grateful for getting this start to my selfcare journey,” she says. “It was so much more than the physical transformation; I felt special and privileged. I was truly pampered! My friends and family were so happy to see the results. Thank you for this opportunity, INSPIRED!”
WHAT THE STYLIST DID:
Linda came in wanting something fun and she has the lifestyle and personality to pull it off.
After I learned that one of her hobbies is motorcycle riding, I knew we could step away from a classic look.
Because Linda’s hair is fine, I decide to cut it shorter with a variation of a graduated bob. I chose this cut because the graduation helps add more volume to the top of the head. Then I chose to use a straight razor to add some texture and give Linda more of a “piecey” look. To add a little more fun to the style, I went with a slight asymmetrical bang with lots of cute, jagged pieces.
For Linda’s colour, I used the Shades eQ Gloss. The gloss is a demi-permanent colour, so it will wash out over the next 20 or so shampoos. This was the perfect choice for Linda, who was looking for a low maintenance colour because she didn’t want the monthly upkeep. I added a soft gold iridescent. It worked beautifully with her salt-and-pepper natural hair colour. With this choice, she won’t get the dreaded “roots” because the gloss will fade as her hair grows out.
For her makeup we started with a primer, which fills in pores and fine lines. That way, when we put on concealer, it smooths over the skin instead of falling into cracks. I chose a concealer that had BB cream in it because it’s a moisturizer and foundation in one, and it blends well on the skin. This concealer had a slightly yellow tone to help cancel out some of the darker tones under the eyes.
For the eye shadow, I went with a bit of teal on the outer corners of her eye lids and lighter grey along the crease. I used a light white-beige to highlight the brow bone. I also used this light colour in the corners of the eye. Adding a shimmery highlight to the inner corners of your eyes creates a bright, open, and youthful appearance, perfect for day or night. It reflects light and counters the look of fatigue.
Finally, I added false lashes to bring more attention to Linda’s beautiful eyes.
To complete the look, I used a light peach-pink lip gloss.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Hana Akai of Akai Hair Design & Esthetics in Victoria for Linda’s hair and makeup. 2559 Quadra St Suite 101, Victoria, BC. 250-383-3227.
Chelsea Michelle Esthetics for Linda’s manicure and facial. 350 Marigold Rd, Victoria, BC. 250-580-2799.
Suzanne & Jenny’s for Linda’s outfit. 777 Royal Oak Dr #190, Victoria, BC. 250-658-3618.
“After” photography by Timothy West. timothywest.com