The lifestyle magazine - Clients Thisisthenortheast

May, 2003 Online: www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk15beautyCelebrity stylist AllisonMcKay has abandonedthe bright lights ofLondon to return to hernative North-East. Shetalks to CHRISTEN PEARSOPEN a glossy magazine and,although you’re probably notaware of it, chances are you’llfind yourself looking at AllisonMcKay’s work. A leading hairand make-up artist, she has worked with allthe big names, including Cosmopolitan,Elle, FHM, Marie Claire Cosmopolitan andMaxim, as well as a host of celebrity clients.Geri Halliwell, Caprice, David Jason andJamie Oliver have all succumbed to herstyling tongs and make-up brush.It’s a long way from Newton Aycliffewhere Allison was brought up. She trainedas a hairdresser in Darlington beforesuccumbing to the bright lights of London.“It was only meant to be for a few weeksbut I ended up staying for 16 years,” shelaughs. “Luckily, I found a job in a top WestEnd salon straight away. The manager wasMalaysian and I had a strong North-Eastaccent so we didn’t really understand eachother but he used to call me his countrybumpkin, which I suppose was quite true.”She started out as a cutter and colourtechnician, but quickly moved up to the postof art director, where she organisededitorial shoots, hair shows and seminars.From there, she joined Burlingtons, whereshe did a lot of session styling on theirbehalf for fashion shows and magazineshoots.While doing a shoot for VivienneWestwood, she was approached by an agent.It was the start of a successful freelancecareer that has taken her across the globe.The part of her job she enjoys most isworking with different people.“When I first started session work, myagent was pushing me towards magazineslike The Face and ID but that wasn’t for me.Making someone up to look as if they’re oncocaine doesn’t do anything for me.“Then I started working with magazineslike New Woman and Marie Claire andsomething just clicked. I liked the peopleand the travelling has been brilliant. Youget a ticket for somewhere like Mexico andyou don’t know anything about it other thanyou’ve got to do a shoot.”She moved to Darlington with herhusband and daughter last year andalthough she still travels to Londonregularly for session work, she wants todevelop a new career in the North-East.She’s teamed up with Newcastle-basedphotographer Eric Murphy, and the pairhave set up a production company calledAMC Creative Productions, where Allisonwill do all the styling and Eric will take thephotographs.She says: “I was becoming tired of life inLondon. You constantly feel like you’re ahamster running round a wheel and notgetting anywhere. We wanted to get off thattreadmill. At first, I didn’t really know whatI wanted to do. I did a bit of freelancehairstyling but I’m now really keen on theproduction side of things. I have a lot ofexperience and there seems to be a gap inthe market up here.”Despite enjoying life at a slower pace,she’s not ready to give up session work yet.She still gets a buzz from it.“It’s so fascinating. Generally, you won’tIN ASSOCIATION WITHCover girl: Allison has worked as a stylist on the country’s top glossy magazinesStylist to the starsknow a good model. They walk into thestudio as scruffy as anything and you thinkthey’re the stylist or the photographer’sassistant. But then you do their hair andmake-up and they get into the clothes andthey’re like a completely different person. Itisn’t necessarily the way they look, it’s justthat the camera is able to catch somethingabout them.”Her career has brought her into contactwith a number of actors and celebrities andshe finds it very different working withthem rather than professional models.“Actors are used to working in front of amoving camera but get them in front of astill camera and a lot of them feel reallyawkward. It’s quite surprising. Most ofthem are very nice, though, although thereare few who have a bit of an attitude. JulieGoodyear came in with a huge entourage,smoking a cigarette, and expected everyoneto stop what they were doing.”One of her favourites was the Fast Show’sPaul Whitehouse. “He was lovely, reallydown-to-earth. He even gave me a lift homeafter the shoot.”She’s also worked with the outspokenWhat Not to Wear presenters, Trinny andSusannah. “Because of what they’re like onthe show, people assume they’re going to bereally rude in real life but they’re reallygreat fun. You would think they’d be so vainabout their appearance, but they’re not likethat at all. Once Susannah was about to goout in front of the camera and she had a bitof hair sticking out. I went to straighten itfor her and she said: ‘For God’s sake, itdoesn’t matter,’ and went straight off tofilm. That’s what they’re like.”Here are a few top tips Allison haspicked up from top session artistsand models over the years1After applying fake tan, rub over lightly withan old bobbly sock. It works as a greatexfoliator and removes any built-up lotion thatcould result in smears2Prevent eye shadow collecting by dustingthe eye area with a translucent powderfirst.3To prevent golden toned highlightsturning a brassy yellow, tryShwarzkopf’s Bonacure Silver ReflexShampoo4Bright colours for the eyes are very“in” this season, but be careful notto overdo it with “statement lips”. Asheer gloss with a hint of colour isenough.5And lastly, if the spring weather isstill leaving you feeling a bit down,eat a chilli – it has been scientificallyproven to help depression.Allison will be writing a monthlycolumn for NE Magazine, givingreaders the benefit of her tips onmake-up, hair and styling.How to bebeautifulThe truth abouttreatments from Botox tomake-up miraclesaccording to Tatler’sresident health andbeauty expert, KathleenBaird-Murray, is revealedin her new book.ON BOTOXDespite assurances that Botox, Baird-Murray believes the possible effects onhealth are far from being welldocumented.‘‘Personally I wouldn’t takethe risk. No wrinkle is worth it,’’ she says.ON FACELIFTSA small amount of surgery can make a bigdifference. ‘‘One well-done, careful faceliftwill not make you look like a freak.Becoming unrecognisable is usually theresult of multiple aggressive proceduresvia surgery, injections and implants to theskin itself, performed frequently over along period of time…’’ However, Baird-Murray warns that, before evenconsidering surgery, your state of mindhas to be rock solid and your expectationsentirely realistic. ‘‘You need to consider,somewhere along the line, whether it isreally the way you look that makes youunhappy, as opposed to your miserablejob, your weight, your health, yourhusband, your childhood...’’ON MAKE-UPLearn to use ablusher. You canput it on yourcheeks, lips and eyesfor a monochromaticbrowny-pink look, thenfinish with a bit of gloss,face powder and mascara.This is a modern look thatlooks great if you’re 16 or60● How To Be Beautiful,The Thinking Woman’sGuide (Vermilion, £12.99)BLUSHER:Enhancefacecollection,£12, fromM&SNatural stylesSTYLE queen Sarah Jessica Parker,pictured, has used it, so why notentrust your locks to the Joico range,Four new styling and finishing productssmell great as well as protectingagainst sun and heat damage. For thisseason’s tousled natural styles, go forConversion Texture Spray, while shorterand layered styles will love VariationPliable Paste. For definition and shinepick up Orientation Light Wax, orTransformation Moulding Putty formedium hold. All priced £9.95. Call01282 683 100 for stockists andmail order.THE latest skin peel to arrive in the UKis now available at Saks Hair & Beautynationwide. The Cold Link Gel Peel isthe only peel that offers four differentoptions to clients. Careful assessmentenables the specialist to choose abespoke treatment for each individualskin type, targeting specific problemareas.1. Base peel: to resurface and boosttired skin; 2. Macula peel: lifts hyperpigmentation,repairs sun damageand sun spots; 3. Acne peel: toimprove acne scarring and live acne;4. Plus peel: for lines and sundamaged skinAvailable at Collagenics clinics atSaks salons nationwide, whichalso offer treatments such asBotox and Collagen. From £290.