Like many women over 50, Lori Nickolchuk feared fading into the background – or disappearing altogether. She wanted something more for herself, so when the opportunity for a makeover presented itself, she jumped at the chance.
“I wanted to try to get a new perspective on myself,” she says. “The best part for me was the hair. I was very pleased with the results. I had a couple of ‘hair disasters’ over the past three years (I think most women can relate to that). Hana at Akai did an excellent job of colouring and I felt she really listened to my concerns.”
“I’m happy with the overall experience and would do it again. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a unique way of finding new ideas for their image and overall look. It was fun to be in the spotlight for a while!”
Currently single, Lori finds herself in a dating scene she calls “challenging” for people in her cohort. “Anyone who has tried it will understand what I mean.”
Having grown up in Victoria, she is drawn to the natural beauty of BC, and enjoys camping and scenic walks. But Lori also loves travelling, new experiences and exotic food – “even if I can’t pronounce it.”
Her personal motto is “random acts of kindness make the world a better place” and she looks for opportunities to help others in her community.
“A quick, simple gesture that is easy to do can make a world of difference to someone who is having difficulty,” she says. “I hope we can all ‘Pay It Forward.’”
WHAT THE STYLISTS DID:
Hair by Hana Akai: Lori had been keeping her hair long. She has such a beautiful face and all that hair was hiding her a bit. I wanted to give her a cut that would showcase her facial features as the focal point. I gave Lori a long-layered cut that would still give her the length she wanted but also a cut that would be easier for her to wash and wear. By taking some of the weight out of her hair, I brought her natural curls back to life.
For the colour, I chose to match the darkest parts of her hair and cover up the grays. Doing so gave her colour a richer, healthier look. I then put some balayage highlights in with the Redken lightener and toned with a beautiful copper colour to show some of the warm tones in her skin. The way I put in the balayage highlights gives her the look of being out in the sun all summer. They will grow out nicely, even if Lori decides not to keep them up.
I used Redken’s Shades EQ Color Gloss because of the beautiful, healthy finish it has. For styling Lori’s hair, I used a few products in the curvaceous line by Redken – products made specifically for curly hair. With her hair wet, I started with Redken’s Extreme Play Safe 450 to nourish her hair and protect it from the heat of the blow dryer. I then used Redken Curvaceous Full Swirl to give her curls hold with a polished finish and much needed hydration.
I then finished off with the D frizz serum to take care of any frizziness and give Lori’s hair a beautiful shine.
Hana Akai of Akai Hair Design, 2559 Quadra St. Call 250-383-3227 or visit www.akaihairdesign.com
Makeup by Jeanna Duke: To start, I ask all my clients key questions about colours they typically wear, how much makeup they normally wear and how much change they want to see in their makeover.
To prepare the face for cosmetics, I apply concealer to lighten any dark areas and then use primer to correct any discoloration. I select the foundation and powder based on skin type and natural skin tone. Eyebrows are shaped to maximize the eye shape.
Lori really wanted to have more confidence for everyday life. She was willing to put time into applying her makeup. I applied three colours on her eyelids in cremes and browns. Eyeliner and mascara brightened and defined her eyes. And to finish her look, I applied soft pinks for her lips and cheeks.
Jeanna Duke of Simply Beautiful Spa, 6224 Siros Place, Nanaimo. Call 250-585-4070 or www.simplybeautifulspainc.com
Clothing provided by KC’s Boutique and Petites, Nanaimo BC.
After photo: Ramona Lam Photography
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