Celebrity Hair: Melanie Paxson - Notes From The Underbelly

Introduction

Melanie Paxson ABC Notes From The Underbelly 07-20-06

Note to Melanie Paxson's hairdresser - her hair looks fabulous! Her ultra sleek, short choppy do has a gorgeous deep rich mahoney hue that shimmers and makes her eyes totally pop.

I applaud the layering of the hottest print headband with a snappy yellow flower. Although Melanie (Deanne Moore) Paxson's face shape appears to be a classic heart shape with a prominent chin the side swept fringe beautifully balances her overall face while showing off her cheekbones and lips.

Melanie (born 9-26-72 in Chicago, Illinois) is one of the co-stars of ABC's hot new Fall series which airs on Thursdays at 8:30 pm.

In Notes From The Underbelly she plays a newly pregnant woman (Julie) whose partner is Eric (Sunkrish Bala). Julie and Eric are first time expectant parents part of a close knit group of friends including the stars - Andrew (Peter Cambor) and Lauren (Jennifer Westfeldt) who are also expecting for the first time. Julie and Eric play the overly excited, slightly obnoxious expectant parents that Andrew and Lauren detest.

Although Melanie's face might not ring an instant bell of recognition, her voice will probably be familiar. Melanie is the famous Glad lady who hawked Glad Products enthusiastically with the tag line of "Don't get mad: get Glad". From selling plastic wrap she won the role of Joyce DeWitt in the 2002 TV movie Behind The Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Three's Company. She also played the role of Sarah Brennan in NBC's Happy Family which starred John Laroquette.

Melanie Paxson ABC Notes From The Underbelly 07-20-06

Melanie has had an intense passion for theater from the time she was in elementary school in Illinois where she grew up. She eventually attended the prestigious University of Missouri in Columbia (BA '94 Theater) where she performed in numerous plays and musicals with roles that varied from small parts in Hello, Dolly to the lead as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker.

Ironically I also graduated from the University of Missouri (sociology & psychology) but my conservative parents, worried by rampant Mizzou "party school" rumors, restricted me to the St. Louis Campus where I managed to party my rear off as a playful member of the Alpha Xi Sorority while still graduating in four years, in spite of my extra curricular activities.

Once Melanie graduated from MU she played Wendy in Peter Pan at the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre before heading to Chicago where she continued her acting and singing lessons at the famous Second City. She also won her first recurring TV role as a receptionist in the comedy series Cupid.

The very talented actress had starring roles in Morning Star and Playboy of the Western World at the prestigious Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. She also has film credits in Slackers, Ready to Rumble and the critically acclaimed indie film The Opera Lover.

Melanie's Hair Transitions

Melanie Paxson NBC All-Star Casino Night 2003

I chatted with Celebrity Hairdresser Robert Hallowell who has not worked with Melanie or her hair but has worked on many TV shows as a hairdresser. I contacted Robert to get his general take on Melanie's fabulous hairstyle.

Robert said "it looks like Melanie has some sort of layered look with the outlining edge that has been razored".

Keep in mind that depending on your hair texture and type your hair may or may not respond well to razor cutting.

Note: If you're Melanie's hairdresser and would be willing to discuss her fabulous cut with HairBoutique.com - lets talk - please email me.

Melanie has a face that works with short to medium length hairstyles. In the photo at the side from 2003 she wore her natural light chocolate brunette hair in a face framing cap with soft flicks around the perimeter. She also adopted a very short fringe that had a few longer strands that hugged her forehead and showcasing her beautiful brown eyes and well shaped brows.

Although Melanie's current 2006 Underbelly style shows her with a deep side part, her haircut would allow her to play with the style so that she could part her hair down the middle or to the other side. This allows her to change up her image easily. She can also build in some texture for a different look.

Whether worn with or without the side-swept strands, the style is perfect with her classic heart shaped face and gorgeous features.

Highlights And Lowlights

If you look closely you will be able to see that Melanie's rich mahogany tresses have been very carefully highlighted with thin ribbons of lighter merlot and brunette hues placed strategically throughout her crown to add the illusion of fullness and depth. Additional lowlight accent hues appear to have been interwoven with the base color.

The lighter highlights placed against the rich base also helps to bring out blinding shimmer while playing off her beautiful skin and eye tones.

Steal Melanie's Short Hair Style

Melanie Paxson NBC Party 01-14-04

Robert suggested Melanie's style could be recreated with "a similar haircut while utilizing his Super Volumizing Tonic at the roots, blow drying with a round brush and then finished with his famous Dream Cream to get a really nice chunky look on the ends".

For that super watt shine like Melanie's Robert suggests his Love That Shine Spray which is one of my own personal favorites because of its non-greasy lightness.

Robert recommended the steps below to re-create Melanie's hair style:

1. Start by washing your hair in lukewarm water with a product designed to add back moisture and to treat colored or highlighted hair with tender loving care.

2. Rinse hair well and then apply a moisturizing rinse-out conditioner focusing the products on the areas of the hair that are most dry or damaged. If your hair is fine or thin you may wish to skip this option.

For extra conditioning substitute the rinse-out conditioner with a deep conditioner that is allowed to soak down into the hair's shaft.

3. Finish with a cool/cold rinse to lock in moisture and add additional shine.

4. Towel blot to remove excess moisture. Apply a conditioning detangling spray or leave-in conditioner and detangle strands with a wide tooth comb working from the ends to the roots.

Melanie Paxson NBC All-Star Casino Night 2003

Create either a center or side part, depending on how you wish to style your hair.

Note: If your hair is prone to frizzing apply a defrisant product or mix with your other styling products.

5. For lots of fullness, lift and volume, apply a volume enhancing product to the roots. Distribute a straightening balm to the rest of the strands distributing from below the roots to the ends.

One of my personal favorites is Super Volumizing Tonic.

6. Working from side to side separate strands into 1/2 to 1" uniform sections . Use a natural boar's head round brush along with your blow dryer (set on a medium cool setting to avoid over blowing the style) to build in natural volume and movement.

Roll the strands around the brush and direct air flow up the hair shaft for maximum movement and volume. Lightly flick the ends up using the brush.

7. When hair is completely dry apply a shine serum, shine spray or hair cream to seal in moisture and add that shimmering shine similar to Melanie's. Keep in mind that a good cream like Dream Cream will add a nice chunkiness and help to hold those tiny flicks around the perimeter of the style.

8. Finish with a cute headband or a combination of hair accessories like Melanie's. Embellish with a hair flower if you dare. Hairspray is optional but if you chose to use it, apply before any hair accessories.

More About Robert Hallowell's Prawduct Line

All of Robert's award winning hair care products are always available at HairBoutique.com in our Marketplace. For more information visit us on the Web at mp.hairboutique.com or call toll free 1-866-369-4247.

Summary

Melanie combines her award winning acting with a noteworthy hairstyle for her latest turn on ABC's new Notes From The Underbelly. I for one am pulling for her to have a long and prosperous run on this new 2006-2007 comedy. Besides being a fantastic actress she is a budding hair fashion icon worth watching for the future.

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