Celebrity colorist Marie Robinson caused a bit of drama in the New York salon scene recently. She jumped ship from Sally Hershberger Downtown and took seven of her colleagues to her newly opened salon in the Flatiron district, including Tommy Buckett, Allison Woodruff and Ryan Trygstad–all top New York stylists. Included in the sweep, celebrity stylist Danilo (the guy who does Gwen Stefani’s hair!) He will work out of Marie’s new 5,000-square-foot space when he’s in town. Other salon details? Master Cleanse lemonade is on tap, the space is fully eco-friendly, and no one charges $800 for a haircut…

Hershberger told W Magazine that she was dismayed by the secrecy, but thinks her tutelage will serve her old charges well. “These were my assistants–I got them when they didn’t have one client,” she said. “But I feel confident that I can build anybody.” She also said she had already hired replacements and promoted Marie Robinson’s former assistants, Keith Shore and Erin Bogart, who will now tend to the hair color of Pat Wexler and Annie Leibowitz. The loss of so many key stylists “could have been a devastation, but it wasn’t,” Hershberger added. “You can ask anybody who was there on Saturday. It was so crowded, Vera [Wang] was sitting on a bench in the hall.” (Hm.)

Marie Robinson is best known for her blonde expertise. She does everyone from Naomi Watts to Scarlett Johansson to designer Tory Burch. But she says her all-time favorite hair color transformation was making Jennifer Connelly blonde for the upcoming What’s Wrong With Virginia. She told Marie Claire, “I used to assist Danilo on color jobs, and when he was too busy, he’d send me models who needed drastic changes–Carolyn Murphy, Eva Herzigova. I kept their hair in good condition. From there, I got the actresses who wanted to go from dark to light for a part. After the break, an excerpt of  Marie’s interview with Marie Claire.

Marie Claire: How do you keep colored hair healthy?

Marie Robinson: I like to do drastic changes over several days or weeks. Giving hair a break between chemical processes improves its condition and elasticity.

MC: New York vs. L.A.: Are the blondes different?

MR: If a New York client asks for California blonde, that means more of a buttery shade. L.A. taste runs warmer because you’re naturally a little more tan, so you don’t want your hair color to be too flat.

MC: As a colorist, you must hate DIY dye.

MR: No, I encourage it! To save money, I’ve told clients to get big changes at the salon and do subtle ones at home. A highlighting kit can give a sun-kissed look. Just put your hair into a ponytail, then pull out a few strands around your face and at the ends.

MC: Any other brightening tricks for summer?

MR: When I had light-brown hair, I’d spritz it with a mixture of vodka and lemon juice at the beach for blonde-y highlights. I think it’s mostly the lemon juice, but that combination seems to work best.

Sources: Marie Claire, W Magazine

The Marie Robinson Salon
155 Fifth Avenue, 4th floor
New York, NY
(212) 358-7780

I was gushing over Diane Kruger’s Oscar hair yesterday and thinking that no one was going to send me a how to on her style, but low and behold, Danilo, celebrity stylist for Pantene, did! He styled Diane’s beautiful knotted updo last night for the Oscar’s. Find out how he created the look!

1. Cleanse and condition hair.
2. Mist a leave-in conditioner and the Pantene Pro-V Volume Root Lifter Spray Gel all over damp hair.
3. Blow dry hair upside down to create a voluminous base for styling.
4. Section hair into a side part, divide into three sections (sides and back).
5. Braid side sections of hair back away from the face in an upward direction creating tightness on the sides.
6. Pull the back section of hair into a high ponytail leaving volume on top.
7. Split ponytail into two sections and twist in a rope-like formation, incorporating side braids into two back twists.
8. Continually twist hair while pinning it into place as the twist braid is knotted up around itself.
9. Mist hair with Hairspray to lock style in place.
10. Finish the look with a pretty broche to dress up the look!

Danilo, Celebrity Stylist for Pantene, styled Katy Perry’s hair at the 2010 Grammy Awards. As inspiration, Danilo sought a “hipper version of Bettie Page” for Katy.

• To achieve the look, Danilo first combed through the Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths Split End Prevention Leave-in Cream to condition and ready Katy’s hair for styling.
• He also used the Pantene Pro-V Restoratives Frizz Control Extra Strength Serum on her damp hair before drying it straight.
• While blow-drying individual sections of hair, Danilo sprayed the Pantene Pro-V Volume Root Lifter Gel for extra lift and definition.
• He then spiral set her curls with a medium curling iron for contemporary waves, tousling hair with hairspray to finish the look. He described her bangs as “bumper perfection!”

Betty Draper from Mad Men:

1. Start by using the Pantene Pro-V Smooth Shampoo & Conditioner to help tame frizz and leave hair silky.
2. Apply the Pantene Restoratives Frizz Control Ultra Smoothing Balm to damp hair.
3. Blow-dry hair using a natural or combination bristle round brush.
4. Wrap big sections of hair around a 1-inch barrel curling iron, wrapping from root to end for deep waves (wrap the front of hair away from the face and curl ends under).
5. Part hair to one side and apply gently brush hair with a natural bristly brush to keep curls together (using a synthetic brush will separate the curls creating a more tousled look).
6. Finish the look with the Pantene Pro-V Ice Shine Maximum Hold Aerosol Hairspray.

Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl:

1. Start by using the Pantene Pro-V Texture Shampoo and Conditioner  to prepare hair for a healthy, textured look.
2. Apply Pantene Pro-V Volume Root Lifter Gel to damp hair from root to tip.
3. Blow-dry hair periodically flipping hair upside down to create maximum fullness at the crown.
4. Wrap large sections of hair around a 1-inch barrel curling iron starting at least 4” from scalp.
5. Remove iron and quickly twist hot section pulling it into a rope-like shape until it cools – this will transform curls into waves.
6. Brush hair out and run fingers through hair to break up the curls for a tousled look.
7. Give hair added texture by adding some small braids and twists throughout hair.
8. Complete the look with a headband, placing it 1-inch away from your hairline.

Find out how to recreate the Vampire curls in True Blood or Twilight or Uhura’s look in Star Trek after the jump.

True Blood (or Twilight) Vampire:

1. Start by using the Pantene Pro-V Moisture Renewal Shampoo to hydrate hair for a good styling base.
2. Apply the Pantene Pro-V Ice Shine Mousse to damp hair for lightweight hold and added shine.
3. Blow-dry hair using a natural or combination bristle brush.
4. Curl hair using a 1-inch curling iron wrapping hair from tip to root to create tight curls; for defined curls, hold each section of hair in curl formation as it cools after removing iron.
5. Pull hair half-up starting approximately ½ inch above the ears and secure with a clip or bow.
6. Apply the Pantene Pro-V Restoratives Frizz control  Anti-Humidity Hairspray to hair keep curls smooth and frizz-free.

Uhura from Star Trek:

1. Start by using the Pantene Pro-V Restoratives Frizz Control Shampoo and Conditioner to smooth hair and tame fly-aways.
2. Apply the Pantene Pro-V Smooth Serum to give shine and smoothness, and protect hair from heat.
3. Blow-dry using a flat brush with the airflow aiming down for a sleek, straight look.
4. Flat iron hair, directing the iron downward, parallel with face for more “finished” looking ends.
5. Pull hair back using a natural bristle brush for superior tension and smoothness, and secure ponytail at top of crown with an elastic.
6. To create the illusion of a bun at the top of the ponytail, secure hair with a hair-embellished elastic (available in multiple shades to match your hair).
7. Complete the look with Pantene Pro-V Ice Shine Maximum Hold Aerosol hairspray for reflective shine.