Bold Beauties Tell All

Platinum Strands

"I felt invisible until I went platinum," says hairstylist Marie Robinson. Although Robinson tints the strands of A-list celebs at her namesake NYC salon, she struggled to find her perfect shade until she tried the near-white hue. "My own dark brown didn't give pop to my skin or eyes," she says. "Now I'm addicted to my color."

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Platinum Strands

NYC-based fashion stylist (and natural brunette) Kate Young has been fair-haired for 10 years—a look that was originally inspired by Madonna's "True Blue" era. "It's a part of my identity," says Young. To keep her drastically dyed hair from breaking, she avoids heat-styling, abiding by a dry-and-go routine.

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Secret Weapons

The platinum-obsessed alternate their daily shampoo with Clairol Shimmer Lights to prevent fading and brassiness; Young uses Kérastase Masquintense to condition and follows with a nourishing hair oil post-shower to avoid fried ends.

Black Liner

Hairstylist Mika Fowler feels "completely naked" without kohl eyeliner. "It definitely gives me a feeling of power and confidence—black liner allows you to be sexy but strong," she says. Fowler is "addicted" to the creamy finish and built-in smudging sponge included with Valerie Beverly Hills Eyeliner in Midnight.

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Black Liner

Artist and illustrator Jane Kirby adds dimension to her heavily carbon-lined lids with a golden or pearlescent shadow base. "I like when my makeup has worn a bit and naturally smudges—I want my eyes to look like the girls' smoky eyes in Peter Lindbergh photos," says Kirby, who advises first applying a line along lashes with a light brown eye shadow or liner for precision, then tracing with darker black shades for an intensified effect (try a disposable shadow applicator to smear lines with control).

Secret Weapons

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack is a favorite, long-lasting gel formula. Of course, at the end of the day proper removal is key. "I've ruined some of my favorite white Pratesi pillowcases by not getting all my makeup off," says Kirby, who carefully wipes away her liner with drugstore makeup removers, such as L’Oréal Clean Artiste.

Red Lips

NYC-based photo agent and girl-about-town Jen Brill also loves the ease and surprising versatility of crimson. "Red lips go with everything at any time," she says.

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