Q&A with Sacramento hair stylist, Laura Milo

Hair by Laura Milo, Photo by George Maxwell

“Life is an endless struggle full of frustrations and challenges, but eventually you find a hair stylist you like.” ~ Author Unknown

The quote above is meant to be read with a sense of tongue-in-cheek humor, but it actually  rings true for any individual who has experienced this claim. Not only for the person concerned about their own personal style, but for photographers as well.

Great photos can be achieved without the aid of a hair stylist. In fact, many portrait photographers prefer that their subjects do not do anything different with their hair on the day of the shoot, whether it is a visit to the salon or making the extra-effort on their own. Those photographers want to preserve the character of their subject by keeping them from breaking routine and creating a spark that may fuel a self-conscious fire in their head that will have a negative effect and ultimately destroy a shoot before it even begins.

While that is a sound philosophy for photographers shooting professionals and/or executives who are seeking simple headshots, choosing the opposite side of that ideology can be much more rewarding for photographers. Having a professional hair stylist at your photo shoot automatically adds versatility to your effort. A good professional hair stylist can give your subject multiple, quality, looks (styles) in a limited time frame, and keep your subject comfortable while doing it.

I recently caught up with Laura Milo, a hair stylist in Sacramento who has been a licensed cosmetologist for 25 years. Laura has an impressive and continuously growing portfolio online at ModelMayhem.com. She get’s a lot of requests because she is fast and provides quality work on location. Her main goal is to get her work published in a major hair magazine or book.

Her interview follows. Please be sure to check out her work in the slide show at the bottom of this article.

How did you end up styling hair?
Well I knew I didn’t want to go to college when I got out of high school, and I had to do something, so I started going to cosmetology school while I was in high school and earned extra credit. That's where I discovered I love doing hair.

Which iconic hairstyles are your favorite?
I would have to say the A-line and Bob. They are classic hairstyles that look good on anyone at any age.
What should models be aware of before they arrive to a photo shoot?
They should not have a lot of products in their hair or styled hair.They should have a good attitude and be prepared to have fun.

How do you think hair affects a person's confidence?
It's funny how hung up people are on hair. It's like the first thing we notice about someone when we look at them. Hair can make all the difference in someone’s look, and how they feel about themselves. You can have great hair. But if you don’t like it, chances are your self-esteem is going to be low. Wouldn’t it be funny if we were all born bald and some one walked by who had hair? We would be like “Ewww! Did you see that she has hair?” Also, hair on your body is almost taboo these days. But the thicker and fuller your hair is on your head, the luckier you are. It just cracks me up.

How important is personal style?
I think personal style is an important part of being original and different; that's why we aren’t clones. No one wants to look the same as someone else but we all want to look good. Its really just personal preference, and hoping to stand out.

Is there some hair styling Don'ts, or products, people should be aware of?
Be aware of sun-in, and home coloring, and bleach kits. Always use heat protectant even if you are not using hot tools and get your trims every 6-8 weeks.

What can a fashion designer or photographer expect when they hire you for an event or photo shoot?
They can expect professionalism, and I'm usually fast and on time. I like to have a good time and joke around. I'm a bit of a smart-ass but all business at the same time. It helps loosen up the models and I think the photogs like that.

What are some good tips for beginning stylists trying to work with models and photographers?
Rip out some photographs from magazines to try to get an idea what they [photographers/models] like, or don’t like, but make it your own. Don’t try to copy someone else’s style. Communicate!

What is beautiful to you?
Wow, that's a loaded question. You would need to be more specific. As far as hair-health goes, someone who takes care of their hair and themselves.

Final Question. Given the speed of in-and-out trendy styles in the celebrity world, as of today, who has the best hair in Hollywood? Who had yesterdays?
Right now I would say, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, Megan Fox and Halle Berry. In the past it would be Farrah Fawcett and Dorothy Hamill.

Some other Facts About Laura Milo:
Her Online Portfolio
She has been married for 22 years, and she is very proud of that
She has 3 kids, 2 dogs, 3 cats, and 4 horses
She loves animals, ice-cream, Ghost Hunters, all forms of Rock-n-Roll, and crocheting.
She prefers the beach, summertime, Diet Pepsi and silver jewelry
She also dreams of traveling and sugar plum fairies and not living forever.