By: Alison Nemetz
More dazzling than a diamond choker--and a lot less expensive--a beautiful smile is one accessory no woman should be without. "Your smile is your calling card," says Dr. Linda Golden, a New York dentist. "If your teeth embarrass you so much that you're always hiding your mouth, you're sending a negative message."
Though cosmetic dentistry is not cheap--about $800 per tooth--Dr. Golden's patients agree that it's worth every penny. We introduced two of them to our makeover team, who set out to further enhance their newly glamorous grins.
Dana
Eng, Age 35
Background: A
big fan of cutting-edge technology, Dana spends a lot of time surfing
the Internet. From nine to five, she's the director of marketing
for a major financial institution. Married to Jeff Becker.
Passions: Hiking; playing jazz guitar;
Arizona vistas; golf.
Hair Fixes:Colorist Emilie covered gray and added chocolate highlights
to soften the solid blue-black of Dana's natural color. Says stylist
Mark, "a classic bob was the perfect choice for Dana. A few layers
softened the look and framed the face beautifully."
Smile Fixes: Dana went to Dr. Golden hoping to correct a rotated tooth. "We were able to drill it down a bit and cover it. Otherwise Dana would have been in braces for two years," Dr. Goldensays. "Dana's teeth are also genetically predisposed to discoloration. Some people can smoke heavily without changing tooth color--others just drink an occasional cup of coffee and see staining. Bleaching was a very effective solution for Dana."
To give Dana's smile extra kick, Lana tweezed brows into expression-laden arches. Triangles of color on each cheek (from earlobe to apple to arch to temple) created slimming angles. Lana used a pink pencil to enhance slim lips, then topped them off with an eye-catching shade of rose. A tip from our pro: "Wide-open, sparkling eyes give a smile energy. Both women had their lashes curled before applying mascara, and if you compare before and after shots you'll see what a huge difference it makes.
Pooley
Mota, Age 25
Background: Pooley loves girl stuff--and making money. A hair stylist who does do's by day and studies finance by night, she plans to open her own salon soon. Dating James.
Passions: Love stories; Spanish dancing; pasta; her family.
Hair Fixes: Colorist Emilie of New York's
Recine Salon gave Pooley lots of subtle auburn highlights then added
a semi-permanent gloss for an all-over, healthy looking shine. Recine
Stylist Mark then cut precise layers to accent delicate bone structure.
A blow-dryer and round brush made wavy hair smooth.
Smile Fixes: Porcelain laminate
veneers--covers that are bonded to each tooth--evened Pooley's teeth
and brightened their natural color. To play up this change, makeover
artist Lana used an intense shade of tangerine on lips that worked
nicely with exotic eyes done in shimmering violet and kohl. A tip
from our pro: "If you create strong eyes and lips, adding cheek
color can make you look painted. Skip it altogether or opt for flesh-toned
contouring."