Pink's Monthly Makeover
The Lead Up:
I would never, ever do a thing like this, but what the heck? said Ruth Hockemeyer on the day of her appointment. With encouragement and a gentle shove from her friend, Stacey Macioszek, who submitted her name for the Pink makeover, Ruth is following through with her New Year's resolution. "This year I decided I was going to get out and have a little more fun and do things out of my comfort zone."
Getting out of her comfort zone means reinventing herself, according to Ruth, whose daily routine changed dramatically in February, 2007, with the loss of her beautiful 15-year-old daughter, Haley. When Haley was diagnosed at age five with a rare form of Neimann-Pick Disease-an incurable metabolic disorder which affects the spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow and brain-Ruth knew it was unlikely her daughter would see adulthood. So she made up her mind to concentrate on the living instead of the dying, making the most of the time she had with her. A single mom, she devoted her life to providing for and taking care of her only child.
Working through this first year without Haley has been tough. "I'm still a little bit lost," said Ruth. "I haven't been out in so long. I have to remind myself every day to get out and do things."
What better way to start than with a new look and a shot of confidence?
The Plan:
Hair color and cut by Kelly Hager of Freda Salon:
Hairstylist Kelly Hager and salon owner Larry Freda evaluated Ruth's hair. "You have really pretty hair," said Larry, who suggested taking off some length to eliminate thin, "see-through" ends. "Taking it up a few inches gives it a nice fullness and a swing when you walk," he said. Kelly suggested face-framing layers to accentuate Ruth's high cheekbones and strong chin line.
Expressing her practical concerns, Ruth said that she needed to keep enough length to pull her hair back for work. Kelly assured her that she would have plenty of easy styling options, including enough length for a simple ponytail.
In addition to the cut, both Kelly and Larry recommended subtle highlights to add warmth and shine for a more youthful appearance.
Makeup by Shauna:
Freelance makeup artist, Shauna Phillips, immediately zoned in on Ruth's gorgeous greenish-blue eyes and dramatic cheekbones, formulating a plan to highlight those features, yet keep her look natural.
The Process:
Ready, set, begin. With her eyes closed, Ruth reluctantly allowed Kelly to take four inches off the bottom of her hair. Still a bit nervous, but finding it relatively painless, she opened her eyes during the highlighting process. Using two colors, Kelly strategically painted and wrapped select strands of Ruth's hair in foil, with the goal of achieving a sun-kissed look-nothing drastic. "I personally like really natural-looking highlights, especially for virgin hair," she said, pointing out that less is more in terms of maintenance as well. Finishing the cut and working some simple magic with a round brush and hot blowdryer, Ruth's new style came alive with bounce, shine and a touch of sophistication.
Next, Shauna put her plan into action, mixing two colors of lightweight foundation to achieve a perfect match for Ruth's complexion and applying a soft blush to accentuate her cheekbones. Neutral eye shadows and a coat of mascara brought Ruth's eyes to the forefront. Finishing with a soft, natural color lip gloss to brighten her mouth, Shauna was able to give Ruth a youthful glow without a heavily made-up look or feel-perfect for her lifestyle and personality.
The result:
Ruth's take: After wearing the same hairstyle for many years, Ruth was ready for a change. "I like it a lot. It's easy to do and I can still wear it up. Now it's just a little bit more fun!" The best part of the experience, she said, was doing something different and meeting some new people.
Friends' take: With an updated look and a bright new outlook, Ruth was ready to face the world. Planning a night out with friends, she was anxious to get their reactions. The response was unanimous. "Everybody really liked it. They thought I looked more vibrant and my hair looked healthy," said Ruth.
A heavenly perspective: "If Haley were here, she would love it. She wouldn't want me to sit around and be sad," said Ruth. A radiant beauty from the inside out, she added, "I got to be the lucky one. I was so fortunate to be Haley's mom."
Up Close:
Home state: Michigan Bluffton resident: 20 years Recent accomplishment: Buying a house Works at: Crazy Crab Friends describe her as: soft spoken but straightforward, quick-witted, one-of-a-kind