Lipstick Jungle Writer's Blog

Hairy Halloween

October 29, 05:03 PM

If only you could flip/twirl/toss your way to the top, Wendy, Victory and Nico would never have another problem with their BFs, bosses, or Mr. Nielsen. Admit it, they're three of the best-tressed women on television. Thanks to an unfair Creator – who certainly double-dipped when doling out good hair genes to Brooke, Kim and Lindsay – and to Elizabeth Martinelli, LJ's hair department head. "This takes a lot of creativity and planning – making things new every week," says Ms. Martinelli, who has been on the show since the beginning. But she loves it, maybe more so than one of her last jobs, on "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit": "Two years of styling lawyer and cop hair, and dead bodies." A few secrets of her LJ tress-success:


What products keep them together?
Aquage hair spray. El Next, by Loreal. Really easy to comb through. Never looks flat or greasy. And GHD Reflection spray to give them shine. All three women love to have shine, especially under the lights.

Favorite tool:
T-3 curling iron. It gives the best curl and is versatile, for different looks. Another is the bubble iron – a straightener and curling iron in one. We use it every day.



Victory's styles change the most...
Because she's a fashion designer. We go by what she's wearing. She loves playful hair. A lot of her looks are modeled after Audrey Hepburn. But she's a chameleon. We do a lot of beachy, wavy hair (with the T-3 iron). And Aquage Sea Spray. She loves a messy bun or knot. We throw fun braids in her hair. For Halloween, she wanted something edgy. We put extensions in her hair, and clipped in pieces for a tighter cupie doll style with more volume and texture.

Victory always has good, realistic morning-after hair.
If the hair is curly for a party at night, the next day we'll comb it out and then it'll have that beautiful soft wave, and pin it up and it looks beautiful and sexy. One thing that's always in our kit: bobby pins. If I had one thing in my desert island kit, it would be that.

Is that hard shooting out of sequence? Don't you end up having to shoot the messed-up curly do before shooting the well-coiffed one?
Yes! In the Halloween episode we had to go from straight to curly, then re-straighten it – all in the same day."

When it comes to Kim Raver, is the secret don't do too much?
Kim prefers a sleeker look. Just a beautiful blow dry, Oscar Blondi styling cream. And we use Velcro rollers to give volume and movement. She loves a low bun, or sleek chignon.

What real-life inspiration do you use for Nico's look?
I think of Upper East Side beautiful power women: like a socialite. Smart and beautiful and classic. She doesn't need to try. She just is. Kim doesn't need curl. The cleaner she looks, the more elegant. Simple is the most stunning. With a simple ponytail, natural and loose, she looks sexy.

After sex with Kirby in Episode 204, Nico is basking in the afterglow by the fire, and her hair is all crimped, what was that?
That is Kim's natural curl. We just used a curly hair product from Ouidad, smoothed in with hairspray. It's natural, but still a lot of work making it not look frizzy.

How much time does it take to get her to look that simple?
About 45 minutes. Kim gets a blow-out every day.

Brooke's hair looks better this season – what changed? The color. We convinced her to get highlights because we thought it looked too heavy and dark for her face. Brooke has more Bohemian style. She doesn't need a lot. Brooke is stunning when she walks onto the set with big knot on top of head. Absolutely effortless. Brooke's natural texture is a loose soft wave. We do add a curling iron, but that's just to add texture and volume.

What hair trends are you showing in the Jungle?
Softer. Incorporating the ladies' natural texture. The blow-dry look is out. Everyone has their natural texture. Messy but kempt. Like a fancy headband with messy hair. A cool braid with frizzier hair. Everything's undone. And if it is "done," it's soft and pretty and natural. Lots of chignons and buns, and side braids, or a fishtail braid (like Mary Kate and Ashley always wear). If people are wearing more solid colors and tights and looking more put together, the hair is messier. Everything's really sexy and soft.

Permalink | Posted by Ilene Rosenzweig | Comments [36]

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I love Lipstick Jungle. I'm glad it's a success. What I'd like to know is if the scriptwriters use any writing software. I'm published in fiction and I'm looking to expand into screenplays.

Chelle (06:26 PM)

I love lipstick jungle. All the girls in the office get together the morning after it airs. Please do not cancel Lipstick Jungle.

suebu (04:56 AM)

I love Lipstick Jungle!! This is the only show that I watch on t.v. these days!! WE WANT ANOTHER SEASON OF THIS SHOW!!!! AND POSSIBLY MORE SEASONS FOR THIS SHOW!!!!

luchie (06:35 AM)

I too love lipstick jungle and feel as though I live through each character in some way each week. I'm very bummed to see the show now moving to Friday night and even worse still carrying the same time slot 9pm, for me. I'm a busy mom so 9pm, I'm about to pass out from work, dinner, laundry, kids sports, homework, etc- so this is why if you are trying to get viewers back why the 9pm time slot and better yet Friday, the show will be lost forever. I read someone yesterday that the polls are down for lipstick jungle and that is why the move to Friday nights, can we not blame this on election time and all the debates and etc, taking up the tv. Oh well I will still be watching just might be DVR first.

Rhoda Binkley (11:13 AM)

Unbelievably familiar and poignant! the script and acting of this show is unprecedented! I. LOVE. THIS. SHOW! Please continue to film and show it on NBC. Like the previous commenter said, i can relate to the characters and "live through them" too. That the actresses are knockouts is a given. But, the MEN are so awesome too. McCarthy is a heart-throb and i look forward to seeing him each week. We want MORE of McCarthy! i was aghast when Wendy let that friend kiss her...and that she liked it, OUCH! I admire her and Shane's stable, communicative and unconditional marriage, please let it last without cheating, please! LJ: keep it up!

LJ diehard fan (10:06 PM)

Hi, can you tell me more about the bubble iron? I am looking for a tool just like this that allows you to curl and or Flatten.

Melissa (08:01 AM)

I am in Love w/Lipstick Jungle it's one of the only shows that hold my interest, and have to watch!!! The girls are great love the story lines,not much on tv theese days for our age group 50. Keep holding our interest and also the seasons to come!!! Cant wait till this season is on dvd, purchased season 1. Never sick of it, watch over and over.

Lisa (01:31 PM)

I heart Lipstick Jungle. Please don't cancel this show. I love the storyline, the cast, the characters, the actors, the costumes, the men, everything.

Frances (07:23 PM)

I LOVE THIS SHOW, LLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEE IT. I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO GO OUT ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, LIPSTICK JUNGLE MAKES ME LOOK FORWARD TO STAYING HOME ON A FRIDAY NIGHT. MY WHOLE MY-SPACE PROFILE IS DEDICATED TO EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE SHOW..

Angelina (02:19 PM)

Why are they taking lipstick jungle off the air after this season. I love the show and would love to see it back next year.

Bob Petersen (03:42 PM)

I live this show!! This is the one show on television I look forward to seeeing each week. Please do not take it off the air!! This is only a rumor...Right???

Darlene Roper (09:25 PM)

Lipstick Jungle is my absolute hands down favorite show, YOU CANNOT CANCEL IT!!!!! I live for this show!!! What other shows out there are targeted for the modern woman and her girlfriends? Cancelling this show would be a huge huge mistake!!! LIVE ON LIPSTICK JUNGLE!!!!

Lastly...loving the whole Nico and Griffen idea!! He's HOT!!!!

Anika Mitchell (01:18 PM)

I love the show PLEASE do not cancel. How waz the ratings when it waz on wed. night? I know I only catch it on the web now that it is on Fri. I am always out on Friay night doing something, as I would hope most of the viewers that watch this would be doing. So MAYBE move it to a diffrent night.

Rebecca (07:57 AM)

I love the show & don't want to see it cancelled. We've got to work to keep it on the air.

Sheila (08:54 AM)

This show should remain on the air, pls write more scripts, it's light, easy to follow and now that it's on a Friday night made my tv time even better!!

LdyDior (09:26 AM)

i want to know what i can do to safe lipstick jungle from being cancelled. i love this show and want to see more

robyn st ann (07:37 AM)

i want to know what i can do to safe lipstick jungle from being cancelled. i love this show and want to see more

robyn st ann (07:37 AM)

i want to know what i can do to safe lipstick jungle from being cancelled. i love this show and want to see more

robyn st ann (07:37 AM)

i want to know what i can do to safe lipstick jungle from being cancelled. i love this show and want to see more

robyn st ann (07:37 AM)

i want to know what i can do to safe lipstick jungle from being cancelled. i love this show and want to see more

robyn st ann (07:37 AM)

i want to know what i can do to safe lipstick jungle from being cancelled. i love this show and want to see more

robyn st ann (07:37 AM)

i want to know what i can do to safe lipstick jungle from being cancelled. i love this show and want to see more

robyn st ann (07:37 AM)

i want to know what i can do to safe lipstick jungle from being cancelled. i love this show and want to see more

robyn st ann (07:37 AM)

i want to know as a fan of lipstick jungle what i can so the show will not be cancelled. i love this show

robyn st ann (07:59 AM)

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robyn st ann (07:59 AM)

i want to know as a fan of lipstick jungle what i can so the show will not be cancelled. i love this show

robyn st ann (08:00 AM)

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robyn st ann (08:00 AM)

i want to know as a fan of lipstick jungle what i can so the show will not be cancelled. i love this show

robyn st ann (08:00 AM)

i want to know as a fan of lipstick jungle what i can so the show will not be cancelled. i love this show

robyn st ann (08:00 AM)

i want to know as a fan of lipstick jungle what i can so the show will not be cancelled. i love this show

robyn st ann (08:00 AM)

i want to know as a fan of lipstick jungle what i can so the show will not be cancelled. i love this show

robyn st ann (08:00 AM)

i want to know as a fan of lipstick jungle what i can so the show will not be cancelled. i love this show

robyn st ann (08:00 AM)

i want to know as a fan of lipstick jungle what i can so the show will not be cancelled. i love this show

robyn st ann (08:00 AM)

i want to know as a fan of lipstick jungle what i can so the show will not be cancelled. i love this show

robyn st ann (08:00 AM)

i want to know as a fan of lipstick jungle what i can so the show will not be cancelled. i love this show

robyn st ann (08:00 AM)

i want to know as a fan of lipstick jungle what i can so the show will not be cancelled. i love this show

robyn st ann (08:00 AM)

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