11 Questions With 'Hair Trauma's' Ellin LaVar

Celebrity stylist Ellin LaVar has been doing hair since she was a little girl. By the age of 12 she was working her own chair at a local salon in "Money Makin'" Mount Vernon, N.Y. and at 16 she developed the signature finely braided look of Essence Magazine's Susan Taylor. She has styled everyone from Miles Davis, Whitney Houston and Chaka Khan to Missy Elliot, Venus Williams and Oprah. She doesn't just style though. She's a business owner and operator, an innovator and now a reality TV big shot with her own WE show, 'Hair Trauma.' She manages her own salon, LaVar Hair Designs, on New York's Upper West Side with her brother and sister and a gaggle of stylists. She has recently developed a new line of hair care products, Ellen LaVar Textures. In an interview with AOL Black Voices, LaVar gave some great tips for not only styling but for life.

BV: What were your hopes for 'Hair Trauma'?
EL: I ultimately decided to do the show to get myself and my product out there. I knew the producer and I knew she would do a good job.

BV: What's it been like working so closely with your brother and sister?
EL: (Sigh) it's been challenging. I cannot manage my brother. I love him. He's my brother but he's hard. And my sister she's a real challenge. She was telling me she's not a morning person, but I think the good thing about the show is it's really helped with her work ethic.

BV: You mentioned on 'Hair Trauma' you like styling both celebrity and non-celebrity hair. Who do you prefer? And what are the biggest differences?
EL: People are pretty much all the same. Everyone just wants to look good so I try to give them styles. With the celebrities it's different because there are other people with them you know, like their assistants. But I don't really prefer to do one over the other.

BV: What is your hair philosophy?
EL: I keep it simple and straight. I just pull back my hair. And throw it in a ponytail. I have to look simple for my job.

BV: In your shop do you ever have customers who come in needing to change their look because their employer asked them to? Maybe they have locks or something. Do you feel this is ok?
EL: I think it's rough. I had a young girl in here not long ago with orange hair and long green nails and she was needing a change. I gave her advice about dressing professionally. I told her it was all about what we project and even though she is smart and qualified, because she's a black woman she's already got stereotypes going against her. So it's important to take that focus off. You can dress however you want at home and in your free time. Or if you find yourself in a job where you can't, you can move on. If you can't wear braids or something, you can find a place where you can be yourself.

BV: If you could give women one tip for styling their hair, what would it be?
EL: The most important thing women need to remember and the biggest mistake they make is they want to look like someone else. They come in and ask for someone's hair and it may not be a good look for them. They also forget all that goes in to making a celebrity look like they do. The air brushing and stuff you can do on a computer. Women often forget that and set themselves up for unattainable goals.

BV: For women who don't style or use a lot of product, what is the one product you need in order to achieve great hair?
EL: Have an excellent shampoo and conditioner. If you have the wrong type of shampoo for your hair it can become dry and brittle. It all depends on your hair. There is no one secret brand, the one that works for you could come from the drug store. If you find something that works, stick with it.

BV: Can you talk a little bit about your own product line, Ellen LaVar Textures?
EL: I'm really proud of my line and looking to expand it. That was my big motivation in doing the show. My products are very light. The Scalp RX and Nourish Oil have nozzle like Elmer's Glue and the consistency of water. It's really important to moisturize your scalp to prevent hair loss. I love these products because they aren't oily.

BV: Hair extensions have traditionally been viewed as a black trend, but lately a lot of young white stars are wearing them. Why is that?
EL: Actually that's not true. White women have always worn extensions, it just wasn't widely known. I've done Farrah Fawcett's hair before and others. And they've been wearing them a long time. But the younger generation is talking about it more and making it known.

BV: Black hair care companies are owned, less and less these days, it seems, by blacks. What do you think about that?
EL: It is true that there aren't enough black companies. When I started my own product line I went to 10 of the top black investors and couldn't get help. I think as a community we don’t support each other. I had a client tell me that she made her own wealth so, it was like, I have to go out on my own and do it. We don’t help each other out enough.

BV: So where have you found support throughout your career?
EL: Thank god for Oprah. She's been such an inspiration. She has supported me throughout my career. I went on her show in 1988 and I've been on like five times since. I mean, I'm not Gayle, but I can call her and she will counsel me. She's been a big inspiration.

To learn more about Ellin LaVar please visit her website. http://www.ellinlavar.com/index.jsp

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