Meet Our Beauty Expert: David Babaii

At an early age, world renowned celebrity hairstylist David Babaii encountered a deep passion and love for hairdressing. Quickly, his imaginative hair creations gained him world-wide notoriety. His distinguished status allowed him to work within the world of haute couture, designers, fashion magazines and the world’s top models. David’s work appeared not only on the run ways with Versace, Armani, Chanel and Dior but on the covers of every leading fashion publication such as InStyle, Allure, Glamour, Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.

To date, David Babaii elite celebrity list includes:Angelina Jolie, Bradd Pitt, Nicole Kidman, Olivia Wilde, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Hudson, Scarlett Johansson, Emma Stone, Uma Thurman, Reese Witherspoon, Blake Lively, Catherine Zeta Jones, Christina Aguilera, Emily Blunt, Kate Winslet,, Katherine Heigl, Katie Holmes, Kiera Knightly, Liv Tyler, Mary-Kate Olsen, Meg Ryan, Milla Jovovich, Hilary Swank, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Julianne Moore, Rachel McAdams, Rachel Weisz, Ryan Reynolds, Sandra Bullock, Vanessa Paradis and Winona Ryder to name a few.

He has even appeared on television shows such as Oprah, Good Morning America, E Entertainment, Access Hollywood, The Today Show, The View and many more. He is also a brand ambassador for Couture Colour.

Hair Tips

1. During chemotherapy many women experience hair thinning and hair loss. What is your recommendation for the best way a woman can camouflage spots where her hair is thinning?

Since this is such a difficult time for women both physically and mentally, I like to place more emphasis on some of their other assets. I might mention they play up their eyes or lips to draw attention away from what they are going through and seeing in a mirror. Even if they have a love for jewelry, scarves or hats, I use this to help them create a new look that will make them feel beautiful and not put such an importance on the hair.

As for their hair, the haircut process is so important and depends on each woman. I spend a lot of time talking with them and really knowing how they feel. This helps me to understand and give them a haircut that will not only help their have some style but make them feel good.

2. Many women opt to wear a wig during chemotherapy treatment. This is a chance for many women to experiment with different styles. What are few things women should look for when picking a “do”?

I love the scenes from Sex and the City when Samantha went through her chemo. She wore different wigs for each scene. The color, the cut and the style didn’t matter. She was determined to look fabulous. This opened the door for many women to do the same and not settle for one boring wig. I think women should experiment and try on various styles, colors and cuts. Feeling good about how you look is always good medicine.

3. Most of the time during chemotherapy women keep their hair shorter, either because they have no choice or they want to draw less attention to thinning areas. What are some fun and easy ways to style short hair?

Short hair has so many benefits and has its own style statement women can look fresh and beautiful with. It should never be looked at as just a hairstyle for women going through such a rough time. I always make my clients feel sexy and gorgeous by showing them various ways to wear their hair along with the right styling products. My favorite way to wear short hair is naturally textured. Almost as if you just woke up is the best way I can describe it. Wearing a hairstyle that is too stiff and structured is old-fashioned and doesn’t compliment anyone. To change your style, I recommend hair accessories such as headbands or a thin scarf, letting some soft wisps to show through.

4. Wigs make it easy to change your hair color on a daily basis. What colors do you think look the best on, brunettes, blonds and redheads respectively?

There are so many color choices when it comes to wigs today but women on Chemotherapy need to shy away from some cool tones and look toward shades that will brighten their skin tones. At times, chemo can rob a woman’s skin tone of its vibrancy so the right color wig can help correct that. It is all about pampering yourself and looking good so you feel better from inside out. Their bodies endure a great deal during these treatments so any color that makes them feel or look better is the way to go when selecting a wig.

5. How do you recommend women keep their newly growing hair healthy after completing chemotherapy treatment?

It is important for them to have a good hair and scalp care routine. This starts with a gentle shampoo and conditioner along with a leave in treatment to properly treat the scalp and hair while maintain the balance and condition. Next, regular trims at the salon to cut off any split/dry ends. Some areas might grow faster than others so maintaining as much of a style is very important.

6. Sometimes after chemotherapy women’s hair grows back gray or a different color than they are used to. How do you suggest women use hair color to fix this problem, and how do you choose the right color when the color comes in different than before?

Yes, this is very true plus many times straight hair grows back curly, coarse and/or thicker. This is certainly an adjustment for many women who have had to endure many physical changes due to cancer treatments. If a woman would like to correct her hair color after treatments are over, she should first consult with her oncologist to make sure she is ready for hair color. Then, as in any color consultation, the skin tone and eye color play a very important role in deciding on a color along with their lifestyle. I would also use a non-ammonia hair color since it will be gentler on the scalp and the hair.