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Woman's World Makeovers at Saloon

It seems like everyone has jumped onto the makeover bandwagon. There's a Sex and the City makeover on the Live with Regis & Kelly morning show, ABC's Extreme Makeovers features people getting plastic surgery to improve their appearance, and the most recent: Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, in which men (and their apartments) get a new look from a group of stylish gay guys from Manhattan.

Not to be outdone, Saloon has its own claim to makeover fame as the setting for Woman's World Magazine's Miracle Makeover beauty feature.

Owner Frank Arcabascio and his staff produce all aspects of the makeovers along with Woman's World freelance beauty editor Betty Solo of Astoria

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On a recent Sunday afternoon the salon was filled with cameras, make-up artists, hair stylists and colorists, as several women, (including the writer) had their fifteen minutes of fame in front of celebrity photographer Robert Milazzo.

The Before Photo

The makeover process starts with the dreaded before photo, in which, no surprise, you're made to look as unattractive as possible. (They told me later that my before photo didn't come out, but I wonder if they were just afraid to show it to me?)

After getting your hair cut and colored and having make-up professionally applied, it's time for the photo shoot.

Photo Shoot

As the motor drive on the camera kicks into gear, so does the fantasy that every woman dreams of - a real photo shoot with yourself as the model. Milazzo, who has a thriving business in Manhattan shooting portraits of celebrities and aspiring models and musicians, clicks off photo after photo while encouraging your inner model: "More energy." "That's good." "Great smile." "Yes." "Perfect."

When you leave, you're allowed to take a few test shots, then it's just a matter of waiting for the magazine to come out and hoping (or maybe not, depending on the before photo!) that you were included in an issue.

Looking For The Next Cindy Crawford?

Women come from all over the metropolitan area to Saloon for a Woman's World makeover. Aspiring dance pop diva Sara D’arce of Manhattan was approached by one of the magazine's freelance make-up artists while riding on the subway and asked if she'd like a makeover. "It came at the right time. I needed a revamping," said D’arce, who just finished recording her first demo album.

Another recent makeover participant is April Sandmeyer, a New York native who co-wrote "The Bi-Sexuality Pocket Essential" with Angie Bowie, (David Bowie's ex-wife), and frequently rents out her penthouse apartment for music videos and movie shoots. Sandmeyer, who worked with Steve Guttenberg on a press preview for his new movie P.S. Your Cat is Dead, received a great new color and cut and left the salon beaming.

Kristen Stuart came all the way from Washington, D.C. to be a part of the photo shoot. A consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., Stuart is originally from Buffalo and is an aspiring model. She learned about the makeovers from an announcement posted at a modeling website called OneModelPlace.com, as did Maria Gundy of Sound Beach, Long Island. Gundy, who appears as a film extra with Lisa Kudrow in an upcoming movie, said she plans on using one of the photos taken for her makeover in her portfolio.

Woman's World is always looking for new makeover subjects of all ages. The magazine's readership is rather conservative, so makeovers are never drastic, but "nice and elegant," said Milazzo. Be forewarned, however, if you are selected, the process is time consuming - expect to put in a full eight-hour day at the salon.

If you would like to be considered for a makeover by Woman's World, send a brief description of what's bothering you about hair, face, figure plus a snapshot illustrating the problem to:

Miracle Makeover, 270 Sylvan Ave. Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632.

	The Cut! Freelance hair stylist Kaz Suzuki gives NYC singer Sara D'Arce a choppy bob to show off her eyes and bone structure.
	Make-up! Applying the make-up behind the scenes is Marian Lee with reader model Kristen Stuart.
	Action! Photographer Robert Milazzo sets up for a shot of April Sandmeyer's makeover in progress.
	Perfect! Frank Arcabascio, owner of Saloon, with aspiring model Kristen Stuart after her makeover.

Article By : Kathy Gerber