4 Marvelous Mom Makeovers

In honor of Mother's Day, we set out to change the lives of four very different moms. Check out their transformations below and learn how the stylists worked their magic.

Kathy Hanna
Elementary school teacher and single mom of Carson, 15, and Christopher, 13 
Age 49; lives in Middletown, Delaware 

Haircolor: Since Kathy's salt-and-pepper hair was more cool-toned salt than warm-toned pepper, it was washing out her complexion. So Louis Licari, colorist and owner of Louis Licari Salon, New York City and Beverly Hills, colored it a medium golden blonde to enhance her skin tone. By leaving the lighter baby hairs framing her face au naturel while he deepened the rest of her hair, Licari created a natural highlighting effect. "Haircolor is makeup that doesn't wash off," Licari says. "We're making her complexion pop so she looks gorgeous when she wakes up in the morning without a bit of makeup."

Hairstyle: Jennifer Lawrence, senior hairstylist, gave Kathy a short A-line bob, then cut layers into it to "give it more shape and oomph," she says. "The bob line gives strength to her jawline and opens up her neck area." Lawrence used a heat protection product to tame and protect Kathy's hair before blow-drying it smooth and straight with a round brush.

Makeup: To brighten Kathy's skin and bring out her eyes, Makeup Artist Enid O' applied soft pink blush and a rosy lipcolor.

Clothing: "Since Kathy is starting to get her sexy back, I shook up her style for date night," says Felix Mercado, style expert and blogger for ShutUpandWearIt.com. "There's nothing sexier than a leopard-print pencil skirt—it gives you the illusion of an hourglass figure. Plus, animal print is a neutral—from a skirt to a shoe to a jacket, it goes with everything. I paired it with color to bring the focus to her face."

Her Verdict: "I want to look nice for the love of my life," says Kathy of Dave, her boyfriend of six months. "And I'm very excited! I've wanted to go blonde for a long time but never had the courage."

Gladys Bucov
Recently widowed mother of Jennie, 45, and Tim, 43 
Age 67; lives in Millbrook, New York 

Haircolor: The Licari color team lifted Gladys's overly darkened haircolor three or four levels before depositing a new base color: a deep auburn brown. "The result is a warmer haircolor that has the depth of some brown so the red doesn't become too brassy or harsh," says Gus Hedrix, colorist. "Gladys can carry off this warm auburn because it's soft—this is definitely not a bright, firecracker red."

Hairstyle: "I cut layers and some soft, face-framing pieces to break up that heavy wedge shape," says Lawrence. "The style is very versatile—Gladys can wear the bangs down, sideswept, or with a side part and the bangs sleekly smoothed off her forehead." She applied mousse before drying, then a bit of styling cream on the ends to create separation. 

Makeup: Enid O' chose neutral taupe and brown eyeshadow colors to make Gladys's baby blues pop and flatter her auburn hair. A pastel pink lipgloss enlivens her complexion and keeps the whole look soft.

Clothing: "I wanted an elegant, age-appropriate, tailored monochromatic look that Gladys could take from brunch to dinner," says Mercado. "She can wear winter white year-round, and the clothes can be worn as an outfit or as separates. The look is easy on the eyes, yet you notice her."

Her Verdict: "I've reached an age where I need a change— and I like the auburn hair immensely," says Gladys. "I feel comfortable in this outfit. I'd wear it out to dinner or to a party."

Jennie Bucove
Entrepreneur and mother of Caroline, 6 
Age 45; lives in New York City 

Haircolor: "We made her base color much richer, taking her from mousy brown to a warm, dark blonde," says Hedrix. He kept some of her existing highlights—covering those pieces with conditioner to protect them from the dye. When Hedrix was finished, Licari added three highlights on each side of her face "to create width and the illusion of fullness," he says. "The cut and color work together to enhance her facial structure."

Hairstyle: Lawrence trimmed Jennie's hair at the nape so it could grow out thicker and fuller. "Slightly longer hair will soften her long, graceful neck. Long bangs help to minimize her high forehead, and volume at the crown lifts her entire face." After applying mousse to Jennie's fine hair before drying to "bring out her natural wave," Lawrence winged the side pieces outward away from the face with a round brush; this simple trick shows off the highlights and adds width.

Makeup: Enid O' warmed Jennie's skin with a yellowtoned foundation and swiped on nude lipstick and gloss over a rose lip pencil. "The rose tint underneath prevents a nude lipcolor from looking too muddy or flat," she says.

Clothing: "Jennie is launching a business, so I wanted people to notice her and her confidence when she walks into a room," says Mercado. "The pop of color on top really lights up her face and lets people concentrate on what she's saying, since they're not distracted by a crazy print. An at-theknee graphic skirt lets her be playful on the bottom and businesslike on top."

Her Verdict: "My husband will be really happy because he's always asking why I highlight my hair. This is much closer to my natural color," says Jennie. As for her work-to-dinner outfit, "I'd wear the top to a business meeting. I don't usually wear color—and now there's a color I know works."

Tara Harding
High school teacher and married mom of 6-month-old daughter, Amina 
Age 35; lives in Brooklyn, New York

Haircolor: Like many a home colorist, Tara made the mistake of pulling hair dye through the length of her hair each time she touched it up, staining the strands almost black—especially near the ends. "We lifted that buildup of dark pigment from the hair," says Hedrix. "Now she has a rich, warm medium-brown with a few caramel highlights."

Hairstyle: "I took at least 3 inches off the length and gave her some long layers," says Lawrence. "I angled layers around the eyes to open up her delicate face, and cut some shorter pieces into the bangs to make the fringe airier and less like a heavy curtain." Once Tara's hair was blow-dried smooth, Lawrence wrapped 2-inch sections around two fingers and clipped the pincurls to Tara's head. After a few minutes, she unclipped them to reveal loose, luscious waves.

Makeup: "Warm brown shadow and liner make Tara's hazel green eyes stand out, and match the warm tones in her haircolor," says Enid O'.

Clothing: "Tara's pear-shaped, so I chose a flowy top in a tiny print that just kisses her shape so it's more forgiving," says Mercado. "A bigger print would have drawn too much attention to her figure. I anchored the look with dark denim to create the illusion of a longer, more narrow leg. And the cotton blazer gives her a more tailored look—but it's still very relaxed and comfortable, which suits her as a teacher and a new mom."

Her Verdict: "I look a lot younger. I love that the team made my hair look this beautiful with a low-maintenance cut. I can wake up, run out of bed and go straight to work, and I hardly even need to brush it!" says Tara.

Photos: Sergio Kurhajec/Woman's Day