55 Secret Street

55 Q&A with Celebrity Hairstylist Ted Gibson

You may be able to tell by now that I lurve Ted Gibson! 

Ted, along with his partner Jason Backe, a hair colorist, owns the Ted Gibson Salon in Manhattan's Flatiron district and is one of the best - and busiest - celebrity hairstylists in the business.   Born in Texas and raised in a military family, Ted has styled Angelina Jolie, Demi Moore, Meagan Good and Anne Hathaway to name a few and he has also worked his magic for runway shows for Chanel and Dolce & Gabbana along with countless magazine covers and editorial spreads. He is also a product developing genius, and not at all in the sense of merely placing his name on a product.   Prior to opening his own salon, Ted spent seven years as Creative Director for Aveda in New York.  He was asked to take on this position after he developed several amazing products for Aveda that you probably use today like the Self-Control Styling Stick, Phomollient and the Brilliant Line.  Nowadays, he has his own incredible products for the hair and body, Ted Gibson Beauty. 

I had the pleasure of meeting him along with several of my beauty blogger pals during New York Fashion Week and we hit it off immediately.  When I saw him again during the "cut-a-thon" his salon held for Carbon Zero, he was raving about this new necklace they he got from Mantra Jewelry, designed by his friend Jessica Robinson that I wanted to make sure that you saw it.  He's wearing it in the opening photo.

Nichelle Gainer: Can you give some advice for avoiding hair breakage and achieving growth?  At times, there is different advice on how often you need trims and which products to use to moisturize and protect different hair textures (relaxed, texturized, natural).

Ted Gibson: I think it is important to have a trim every 6-8 weeks even if you are growing your hair out. You will notice a difference in a matter of 4 months if you do this. I think African American hair relaxed, natural or texturized needs moisture and protein. Ted Gibson products are about turning frustrations into freedom and providing products that are simple to use.

Nichelle:  Tell me about how you select the ingredients for your products - like the Merlot Complex and the Wild Orchid Extract present in all of your products?

Ted: I do a lot of research on what ingredients are going to be great for what I want the hair to achieve. Merlot is because there has been so much talk about red wine and how great it is for the body why wouldn’t it be great for the hair.

 

Nichelle:  When I told you I didn't think I could use your products because my hair is mostly natural (growing out a texturizer) you had a good laugh.   There has a been a big product push in this category with a few "ground rules" like avoid sodium laurel sulfate and mineral oil and always a fervent push for products that moisturize.  Which of your products would work well on natural or texturized hair?

Ted: It depends on what you want to achieve. For styling, Fix It combined with Tame It Shine Lotion will give light weight and shine control.  For deep conditioning, Goodnite Replenish Hair Repair Serum and for temporary color, you can pick the appropriate shade of our individual color shampoos and conditioners. 

Nichelle: How about wearing weaves?  What should a woman with a weave do to maintain it well and which products should she use or avoid?

Ted: Make sure to see your stylist on a regular basis to maintain and condition your own hair and to maintain the weaved hair. If you want more information I can refer you to my weave special Nancy at my salon. She is MAJOR!!!

Nichelle:  You are also famous for your Hair Sheets. The directions for the treatment and the styling sheets say to use on dry hair, but I remember you saying one (or both?) could be used as a blowdrying tool.

Ted: Yes, we use them all the time in the salon as blowdrying agents. Depending on what the hair needs.  For light weight shine and UV protection use the Styling hair sheet and the Treatment hair sheet for deep conditioning.

Nichelle: What are some of your fall favorites, i.e., things you are looking forward to this fall (books, music, fashion, beauty, food & drink - anything!)

Ted: Designing my new salon locations, shopping at my favorite places, traveling to Texas, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and Thanksgiving most definitely.

Nichelle: What do you do when you're not styling hair?

Ted:  Meditation, working out, watching TV, reading, listening to music, shopping. Weekend drives in the country.

The NAVAN Orchid Studio at Ramscale Studio

Did you know that vanilla came from orchids?

As a champagne and chardonnay enthusiast, I had no idea and I had not heard of NAVAN before last week but, as the saying goes - now I know.  NAVAN is made by the House of Grand Marnier and, although it stands for "natural vanilla", it is blended using the select vanilla that is found is the village of Navana in Madagascar.

The NAVAN Orchid Studio was a presentation designed to showcase NAVAN Vanilla Liqueur in various incarnations - spice, floral, mixology and culinary.  I didn't have a chance to chat with the floral expert, but I did speak with the experts for "Spice", Brett Breach; the "Mixologist" Aisha Sharpe (below right)  Think of her as sort of a sommelier for mixed drinks. I'm a witness!  I had my share of the "Navan Orchid" martinis she's holding in the picture.  Culinary expert,  Jacqueline Lombard (bottom photo, far left) a chef who created a number the fabulous hors d'oeuvres in the opening photos utilizing the unique taste of NAVAN including an amazing Late Summer Corn Risotto (recipe below!)   


The event was held at Ramscale Studio, a beautiful and popular event space in Greenwich Village.  For whatever reason, it has taken several visits for me to realize why Ramscale has always felt so familiar to me.  Remember the movie Boomerang?  Of course you do!  Now, do you remember the incredible apartment where Eddie Murphy's Marcus character lived?   That is Ramscale!

 

Is "Love Should Have Brought You Home Last Night" going through your head yet? Small world, isn't it?  I touched on Navan on the night of the event, but I could not let the Boomerang connection go!

Jacqueline Lombard, the chef behind the amazing culinary creations made with Navan, was kind enough to send over the recipe for her delicious Late Summer Corn Risotto.  I actually stood beside her by the stove as she made it and I had about three or four of these things...

Jacqueline Lombard's Late Summer Corn Risotto

2 sticks/1/2 # unsalted butter

6 medium shallots, minced

6-8 Ears fresh local Corn, shucked and kernels cut from cob

1 box/32 oz./2#  Vialone de Nano Rice

1 cup NAVAN (or dry white wine such as DRY white vermouth)

3 quarts vegetable stock (Imagine Organic Veggie Stock works great)

1 container/8oz. Crème Fraiche

1 bunch Scallions, sliced thinly on the bias, green parts only

Salt

Pepper

Procedure:

Melt butter over medium heat in a wide, shallow pot—the wider and shallower, the better.

Add shallots and cook for about 5 minutes, until they become clear but do not take on any color.

Add corn, stir well and cook for 10 minutes, until the kernels have become bright yellow in color and are occasionally “popping”.

Add rice, stir well to coat each kernel in butter, and increase heat to medium high.

Stirring constantly, add the wine.  The pan should sizzle.  Stir well to make sure that nothing is sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Add 2 cups of stock and stir slowly but constantly until all the liquid is absorbed and the pan is almost (but not quite) dry.

Repeat until you have used up just about all of your stock and the rice has become al dente.

Stir in Crème Fraiche and continue to cook for another 5 minutes, until rice is cooked all the way through.

Season with Salt & Pepper.

Check risotto for consistency—you want it to be almost soupy, not dry or gummy.  Add a little more wine or vegetable stock to achieve consistency if needed.

Ladle into soup bowls, garnish with Scallions and another sprinkle of salt & pepper, and serve immediately.

Enjoy!!

Web Snob Weekend

Stiletto Jungle dishes on the best fall nail colors.

KRISTOPHER is wanting, wearing, hating drugstore makeup.

Stephane Okereke chats about the Making of "Through the Glass" film with Ladybrille.

 Mónica Bursztyn, Colombian designer, talks with Quinta Trends about her creative process and her last collection.

The Duchess movie has StyleBakery craving 18th century style: ruffles, lace and rosettes.

Bag Snob revisits her youth via Tod's Helmut bag.

Beauty Snob chats with David Yurman and revisits the scent of romance.

Christina Loves...helping with hair extensions.

Coquette wants to wrap herself in fall's most stylish wrap sweaters.

After watching the red carpet affair at the Emmys, Fashion Pulse states that brooches are back in style!

The Shoe Goddess shares pictures of our fabulous (celebrity attended) NYC Fashion Week Party!

Second City Style thinks safety is important   but not when it comes to fashion.

Bag Bliss handbag face off: Yves Saint Laurent vs. Mayle. 

Shopping and Info went to a Kate Spade party and spoke to Alyssa Milano about her dress and shoes.

Stylehive interviews the latest Project Runway reject - it's Suede vs. Kenley!

The Beauty Stop is loving Laura Mercier Black Gold Kohl Pencil.

A Few Goody GumDrops "rings" this year's election in style with Hidalgo's enamel and diamond bands.

Are Drew Barrymore and Ed Westwick dating? Allie is Wired has telltale pics.

Arthur Ashe by Rowland Scherman

Arthur Ashe by Rowland Scherman from the collection "Wasn't That A Time". 

Mick Jagger by Dave Stewart

I am on an "insider's wine tour" by Kim Crawford Wines.  We are at the Morrison Hotel Gallery in the Bowery, an art gallery that specializes in music related art work.  Rachel Ray bought this photograph by Dave Stewart (you know him from the Eurythmics) for $10,000 to benefit City Harvest.

Are You Wearing Angel?

Why, yes I am!

It never fails.  I can just wear a little hand cream -  Thierry Mugler's Angel - and people recognize it right way. Or demand to know what it is immediately.

I'm surprised I haven't written more about Angel since I wear it so much.  I have a long history with this  délicieux fragrance (a magical combination that includes vanilla, chocolate, patchouli and honey for the uninitiated) that began the moment it arrived sixteen (!) years ago.   Magazine salaries being what they were (are) I had a second job at Saks Fifth Avenue and I remember the original launch quite well.  It's one of those fragrances that can take me back like certain songs.

The  products in the new Angel Les Parfums Corps collection include basics like shower gel, hand cream and body cream and benefit from a new technique called Intense Diffusion Technology that makes the distinctive Angel scent in these products just as strong as the actual fragrance.  This will work out really well for you if your are basically an addict with the stuff like me.  Most days, I will only wear the hand cream (I keep it in my purse) and people always compliment me on the fragrance I am wearing.  And yes, it does last all day.  I will be on the train going home at the end of the night and someone will invariably ask, "Is that Angel?"

Angel by Thierry Mugler Perfuming Body Cream $80.00.

The Spa Capsule

According to its website, the Spa Capsule is " a self-contained, full body massage system, aroma-therapy unit, audio and video entertainment system packaged into one futuristic capsule-shaped relaxation station."

I can attest that it is all true.

I had the distinct pleasure of experiencing it last week when I attended a special spa event at the home of Sara Herbert Galloway, a journalist and philanthropist who serves on the board of the World Wide Children's Foundation of New York.  Usually, the Spa Capsule is found in a mall or a spa, but every now and then it finds its way into a private home.

How did it feel? Ticklish!  It's a water massage but you don't get wet and you can keep all of your clothes on.  It features an LCD panel with preset programs (you can change this to whatever you want), 14 Vichy shower heads, aromatherapy reservoir and adjustable steam therapy, all workable by remote control.  You can use it anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes and zone out to whatever you choose to put on the LCD monitor or in your iPod.  I guess I haven't been in a mall in a long time because I had never seen it before - but I could definitely see (and feel) its appeal.

Sara Herbert-Galloway in her Spa Capsule.  You would smile too if this was in your house!