Going gray instead of coloring one’s hair can, in the long run, be liberating. However, other elements need to be added for body. Color adds body to the hair if the hair is thinning. Going gray may make thinning hair more noticeable. Color with highlights often gives a look of fullness to the hair. If your hair is gray, look into products that will add body to your hair. Be sure the cut is one with an up to date contemporary style. Look at the color choices in your clothing and your make-up to ensure a contemporary impression.

Eyebrows are becoming significant. In 1995, while working for a major organization, I was asked to give individual sessions with their managers to offer quick tips to help them strengthen their presence. Nearly 90% of the advice had to do with their lack of eyebrow care. Their eyebrows were either too thick, too thin, or non-existent. Fast forward to today – and women have gotten the message due to the promotion of all the newest and latest hype over eyebrow products. So, what do your eyebrows say about you? In Stellan Skarsgard’s acceptance of his supporting actor Golden Globe for the film Chernobyl, Milos Forman, the filmmaker, said, “I have seen many of your films but never remember your face.” Skarsgard realized nobody could tell if he was angry or sad. Skarsgard had the make-up designer, Daniel Parker, make him a set of eyebrows for the film. So, what message are your eyebrows sending?

Ballet Slipper has been my go-to nail polish color for more than 20 years. It is reported to be the number one-color choice—and that’s saying something with the hundreds of colors of nail polish on the market. Ballet slipper pink is a color that looks good on everyone. It also hides any wear and tear on the cuticles. However, it can highlight any red roughness around the cuticles. Gray, a color that started as a trend, continues to be popular. In 2008, Michele Obama wore it during a speech. Gray nail polish is neutral but can have a dead look on certain skin tones because it can make the skin look blue and bruised.

Gray hair, either the salt and pepper combination or pure white, for men and women has become more popular. Not yellow tones, though! Folks with auburn hair tones need to stay away from coloring that highlights yellow whites.

Most folks who capture their color in the eyebrows will look the best because it highlights true coloring. Gray eyebrows work well with those who have natural gray tones in the hair and even better with an accent of the natural hair coloring before going gray. The role of the eyebrows is to capture the eyes. Strong eyewear frames can offset gray eyebrows.

The last two years have trended toward lightly unshaven men’s faces. It began with actors, and then moved to younger men in the fashion and art field. In professional settings, beards and goatees are trending.

For years, Larry Ellison, now, the Chairman of Oracle, has worn a goatee. Facial hair kept neat and cut close to the face can look attractive. If you’re not sure how it looks on you, take a selfie and ask yourself – is this the look for me? Also, solicit an opinion from your partner.

Here we go again with the eye brows – eye brows should accent the eyes, not create a strong reaction like – what the heck is that on your face! Eye brow shapes including no eye brows, depend on the total face and how the hair frames it. The best eyebrows enhance rather than take away from the eyes. Do a test by taking a quick look in the mirror. Do your eyes blend in or shout out?

A recent photo of Megan Markle wearing a dark nail polish at a formal event spurred the question- why not a neutral color? I believe she wanted to make a statement focusing on the nails rather than the dress.

However, for an accent, my preference tends toward a less dramatic color, maybe a gray a neutral one (OPI sells very popular nail polish in these color tones, for instance). This brings up the dramatic nail color changes from multicolor to dark to sparkles to even different nail colors on each finger of the same hand! If you live in a fashion environment, wearing dramatic nail colors are the norm, it works. Perfectly groomed, neutral color nails, always make an elegant statement in any setting.

Years ago, while working an all-day women’s event at a fortune 100 company, women and men stopped by for a tip on their image. The number one item was the lack of attention to their eyebrows. They were mostly unattended. The purpose of eyebrows is to capture the eyes and enhance facial expressions.

Twenty years later, the proliferation of new products to add color and boldness to eyebrows may have gone too far! Most eyebrows look very painted on which is fine for television but not for everyday wear. The tip is to brush the eyebrow out, so it will look more natural. Also, when using these new tools, stay within the arc of the brow. Too many touch ups look like they belong on a science fiction character!

Hair is the frame of the face. For some it is glaring statement of identity. A crowning glory. Take Kim Russell, the star of Americans and before that, Dawson’s Creek. She has long and spectacular curly hair. One day, she cut it very short. It almost cost her career! Her long hair had become her trademark.

Then you have Halle Berry as a completely opposite example. When she was starting out, she changed her long hair to a short pixie cut which ended up defining her brand. The bald head on Bruce Willis has made him more distinguished. So, the crowning glory can sometimes make or break a personal brand.

Gray nail polish with a blacker color to it is trending again. Michele Obama first wore the lighter gray nine years ago while making a major speech at a convention. This color looks best on lighter skin tones. On darker skin, it might look like a bruised nail. Another trend (a favorite of mine) are the different neutral shades. If you have lighter skin, choose a companion neutral to enhance the skin tones.