Should Women Shave Their Face? The Answer is Yes! And Here's Why.

Shaving your face is not a new concept. It may not be widely practiced in the United States, but this is a beauty process that is openly recognized and even advertised on the sidewalks of local salons in Japan. And let's face it who has a better reputation for perfect porcelain skin than the Japanese! No shame is associated with this beauty procedure on the other side of the world. It baffles me to this day why women would be offended by this idea. Dermatology and Plastic Surgeon's offices across America offer this same technique known under a different name called "derma-planing" only they charge hundreds of dollars to do it. Peach fuzz shaving is included in most micro-dermabrasion appointments too. 

I have been openly promoting facial shaving since publishing my book Face This: Real Secrets from Real Models, 5 years ago. It is a beauty secret I have been using now for 30 years that I learned about from a makeup artist behind the scenes for a big modeling job. This was a time before digital cameras and photoshop buttons, a time when we did beauty shots with black and white film. The reason shaving off the fine hairs on your face is so key to flawless looking skin in photographs is because in a tight shot those fine hairs on your face are quite apparent. Powder and foundation can get trapped and reflect light from them. 

Shaving their faces, is a part of Japanese womens' beauty routine that removes old, dead skin and allows facial regeneration and can improve collagen production. It takes the outer layer of skin and encourages new cell growth. Shaving exfoliation, helps to reduce the signs of aging, sun damage, and fine lines. It is a myth that facial hair, or any hair for that matter, will grow back darker or courser if you shave it. If it were true that shaving off a hair created more hairs, then most bald men would suddenly no longer be bald. Having shaved my face for nearly 30 years, I should be able to grow a mustache in no time, but the hair on my face is still the same - same for everyone shaving or not. And I as a working model I am far from being known as the "bearded lady".

Hair is dead and there is absolutely no way for dead hair, once shaved, to signal the hair follicle deep underneath the skin, to grow more hair. Hair does not grow in denser, darker or courser after shaving and mothers across America need to stop telling their daughters that it does.  I know we all love Mom but this needs to stop! 

The truth is that we ALL, supermodels included, have facial hair. In fact there are only 2 places on our bodies that we do not have any hair at all ... the palms of your hand and the soles of our feet. The hair on our bodies falls into two categories: Vellus hair - the soft lanugo found on women's faces, arms and back, and, Terminal hair - the thicker, course strands like that on your head. Around puberty, hormones transform the vellus hair under the arms and the pubic area into the coarse, pigmented hair. And just so you know, for many women, after menopause the hair under their armpits returns to this soft vellus hair again.

The number of hair follicles you have is determined at birth and no new hair follicles develop as you age. Hormones are the only thing that can affect the vellus hair to change to terminal hair outside of certain medical conditions; not shaving or waxing, cutting or not cutting it. Hormones. That is why we see changes in hair at puberty, pregnancy and menopause.

It is scientifically impossible to stimulate a hair follicle to change simply by cutting it off. It is possible that it may feel a bit courser when it first begins to grow because of the blunt hair cut it was given by the razor, but in a few days it will taper like before and look exactly the same as it did before. Also, the appearance of the hair itself against the contrast of your bare skin is what makes it appear darker, not that it actually has changed it's color at all!

Not only is it important to get rid of the fine hairs on your face for perfect skin in photos - so that makeup and powder do not get trapped and become more visible, but don't forget about other areas of your body that could benefit from shaving including your arms. This is something that college girls are well aware of and widely practiced at sororities everywhere - so just as you shave your legs, don't forget your other limbs! If I have not been convincing enough, here is a quote to consider:

"Arms, bikini, legs, underarms ... my entire BODY is hairless."

---Kim Kardashian, TV celebutante

There are many benefits to shaving off the fine hairs on your face besides just having a perfect surface to photograph so the hairs do not reflect light in your photos or so that your makeup glides smoothly on your face. When you use a razor or blade to remove the hairs you are also exfoliating the skin and taking off the dead surface layer, giving your face a healthy fresh glow. This is the allure of the professional procedures such as derma planing and razor peels that can cost hundred of dollars.

Experts have found that exfoliating the skin through chemical peels and microdermabrasion, removing the top layer of skin that may include precancerous cells from sun damage, may actually decrease the chance of developing certain types of skin cancers. Think about men who shave almost daily the lower part of their face -- it has been found that over 90% of all basal cell carcinomas, which are primarily caused through sun exposure, are found on the upper 2/3 of the a man's face. Could it be that men shaving has given them this clinical benefit? Pretty compelling!

If you are bothered by facial hair please know you are not alone!  In fact, more than 20 million women in the U.S. alone remove unwanted facial hair once a week and some every single day by tweezing, shaving or waxing according to a survey by Bristol Myers.  I shave my face about every 2-3 weeks, but it will be different for everyone. Shaving is the easiest and least expensive way to take care of it so please don't be afraid to try this ancient Japanese secret! Remember to check in with here at A Model's Secrets to learn more tips and tricks that models and celebrities use to look their best! 

XO

Shelley

Your Best Swim Suit Shoot Starts Here! Better Pictures on the Beach.

Shooting on the beach in a swimsuit can be one of the most challenging shoots a new model can do, but having a few tricks ready and practiced, can make the experience a lot less stressful and much more successful.

The whole point of doing a swimwear shoot is to show your proportions and how natural you can be without relying on a lot of styling or contrived hair and makeup.   It’s all you!  Make sure you are in great shape before you shoot swimwear so that you can actually use the images in your book – no one is going to retouch you into having an amazing body if you clearly need to go to the gym!

With that in mind, choose a bikini or one-piece that fits properly and does not dig in on the sides making rolls or indentations.  If you aren’t super voluptuous, don’t try to pad yourself up – it never looks good and clients will see it as a drawback. Enhance what you have and own it.  Same goes if you are curvy!  Wearing a suit that fits actually makes your body look better.  Watch where the bottom of the suit hits at the top of your leg to make sure it doesn’t dig in or shorten the visual look of your legs.

If you are a newbie, start by wearing a pair of shorts over your suit like above, until you are comfortable enough to shoot without them.  Or try a sheer cover-up that let’s the light through and catches the breeze and flutters around you – it can be super flattering.

Striking a static pose right away can feel forced and awkward so try movement, such as walking towards or away from the photographer, or twirling around.  This looks much more natural and can get you warmed up. When standing still you must be really aware of your posture and pose.  Model from the top of your head to the tip of your toes as the camera sees all of it, and it all matters.  This takes practice in front of a mirror at home to know your body’s best angles.  Cheating a little to one side is more faltering than shooting straight on, unless you are really fit and can slam-dunk a power pose, staring down the camera.

KEY TIPS TO REMEMBER:

• Keep your shoulders down and back so you have a long neck and beautiful collarbones.
• Arching your back a bit so that you feel it in your lower back makes the legs longer and thinner.
• Arms should be relaxed and natural.
• Crossing one knee slightly over the other and touching your ankles together while standing on your toes really lengthens visual look of the legs.

Opening your eyes on a bright beach can be really difficult but there are tricks you can learn that will help you to avoid a scowl

Close your eyes, relax your face, and breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth – open your eyes on the exhale and close them after your hear the camera click.  This makes the most gorgeous natural beauty look if you do it correctly.  Practice!

• Let the photographer count you in, opening your eyes on their cue. "1, 2, 3, OPEN"
• Shoot in an open shade area if possible, or see if there is someone on set who can hold a “scrim” to provide shade over you while you shoot.
• Smile!  A big, sincere, gorgeous smile makes a natural squint – and looks great!

You and your photographer are a team and it is in both of your best interests to make beautiful and marketable images.  Choose your photographer carefully, and make sure their esthetic matches yours, when you are choosing for a test shoot. Plan ahead and be on the same page.

Practice at home and learn as you go on the shoot and enjoy it!  If you are tense it won’t work. Have fun with sass and class  ... because it’s not all about your ass, despite what the Kardashian's might have you think!

Best tip from this entire post you must always remember .... SHOULDERS DOWN and be YOU!

Big thank you to Allana Wesley White for the amazing photos - definitely the photographer in the know in Miami! 

Taylor Hill - Model Crush Monday!

This week's Model Crush Monday is the amazing Taylor Hill, known for her gamine beauty that channels Audrey Hepburn, mixed with a healthy does of all-American sex appeal - which explains why she is one of the newest and most gorgeous Victoria Secret Angels.  Taylor is one of those rare models that easily crosses over between walking the runway and shooting editorials with the best fashion and beauty photographers in the world, to modeling bikinis and lingerie for Victoria Secret.  With full eyebrows, pillow lips, doe eyes with long lashes, not to mention fit legs for days ... Taylor shows a positive body image that is a throw back to the supermodels of the eighties.  And look what happened to those 80's supermodels and where they all went in their careers!  I'd love to be a part of HER girl squad!

Photos courtesy of Instagram:   taylor_hill      https://www.instagram.com/taylor_hill/

Model Daughter ... Like Mother, like Daughter. Following in Supermodel Footsteps

My daughter, Chandler and I, were featured in the May issue of Pristeen Magazine this month. At 13 she is now a signed model with Ford, the same agency I am represented by! We have already gotten quite a few bookings as a mother-daughter team. So in honor of Mother's Day here are a few other model - daughter pics ... it's definitely all in the genes for these beauties! 

Photo courtesy of @yolanda.hadid

The Real Housewive's star,Yolanda Hadid, was a Ford Model first becoming discovered in her country of the Netherlands. Her daughter's Bella and Gigi following in her footsteps. They are both the "it" girls at the moment in the modeling world!

Photo courtesy of @CindyCrawford

Kaia Gerber, still a teen, has already landed major campaigns as a model such as Versace, and why not? she is definitely a spitting image of her Supermodel mom Cindy Crawford. They recently appeared on the cover of Paris Vogue together. Definitely a dynamic duo!

Photo courtesy of @ireland.baldwin
Kim Bassinger  was first known as the Breck shampoo girl when she was a Ford Model before focusing her career towards acting. Now at 60, she and her daughter Ireland are both represented by IMG! 

Model Travel Style - Packing Tips

Models often travel for bookings, sometimes crossing timezones and climates multiple times in a week.  Packing for this sort of life becomes a survival art and we can all take a few tips from them, learning how to pack just what you need on short notice.  Models might receive their bookings only days and sometimes even hours ahead, so being ready at a moments' notice is critical.  Some models might be shooting a catalogue in Miami on Monday, fly overnight to Paris to shoot an editorial for next day, rounding out the week walking a runway in Hong Kong or Sao Paulo, Brazil.  

The model "uniform" has to be versatile and go from airport to studio or location, to castings, fittings, and even out to dinner with model friends who might be lucky enough to land in the same city at the same time.  Since everything has to work together, sticking to a simple color palette of black, white and grey, and adding pieces to layer for warmth or to dress up or down a look, simplifies things.  You can't go wrong with classic basics.  

Start with a great black jacket in leather, or lightweight down in a blazer style.  Simple white and grey tank tops and t-shirts can be layered under a warm sweater under the jacket when it gets chilly on the plane.  Black jeans work for both work and travel, so find a pair with some stretch so they keep their shape between washes.  A large scarf or wrap can work as a blanket on the plane or in a drafty studio, and just as easily as a coverup over your bikini for beach locations.  Yes, don't forget a bikini!  

Since models can't forgo their workout routine just because they are constantly on the move from place to place, pack workout leggings, sports bra, and athletic but fashion-forward sneaker that can also be worn running between appointments in and out of subways.  Pack a great pair of black booties and heels for arriving on bookings, meeting clients, and going out.  Bring one amazing blouse that can be worn with the jeans, and one little black dress that doesn't wrinkle when packed away.  Of course, nude lingerie is a must-have for every model, so a few pairs that can quickly washed and dried in a hotel room are practical.  Bring a wallet that can double as a clutch, statement sunglasses to arrive in star style, and a classic watch.

Packing for your beauty routine is easy with so many travel-sized products available now.  Try sheet masks in individual packets for face-saving treatments after long flights and different makeup products.  Take face cleansing wipes, a moisturizer with SPF, travel shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste, brush and floss, trial-sized body moisturizer and deodorant, a brush and comb.  Pack simple makeup products such as mascara, concealer and eye liner.  Find the perfect chubby crayon sticks that can be used on cheeks, lips and eyes.  Indulge in a great lip balm or treatment product since lips dry out from repeatedly wearing lipstick, and flying can leave lips dry and flaky like the dessert.  It is always a good idea to pack a little SOS kit with Ibuprofen, some bandaids, and antibacterial wipes.  Bug bites, flu, or cuts in foreign lands are not fun and having even a small emergency kit is a very good idea.  

Look for a bag that expands and isn't heavy before you actually put anything in it.  Models often show up to bookings with luggage in tow to make the mad dash back to the airport right after the workday ends, so think chic and practical with pockets for your phone, chargers, passport and wallet.  I always carried a tiny teddy bear with me and sometimes even a small candle to make foreign hotel rooms feel a little more like home.  

Packing light doesn't mean without style!  Models are always photographed for their amazing outfits running between shows at fashion week and more often than not, they are carrying this week and next weeks gear right along with them.  There is something to be said for knowing you can throw a bag together, fly somewhere at the drop of a hat, and be able to pull yourself together in a flash for whatever the adventures throws at you.  Bon voyage!