First Look Fridays: Celebrity Colorist Marie Robinson

Do you know who made both Jennifer Connelly and Emma Stone blonde? Well, I'll give you a hint -- it was celebrity colorist Marie Robinson. Plus, she has her own salon in NYC! (Check out marierobinsonsalon.com for more info.) Read on to find out how she first got into the hairstyling industry, her favorite product for color touchups and so much more!

Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
I'm from Queens, New York. I grew up with my grandparents and worked after school to help them with their confectionery business. I did all my schooling in Queens, and soon after graduating high school from the Garden School, began an apprenticeship at the Pierre Michel Salon in Manhattan.

How did you first become interested in beauty, and what led you to become a colorist?
I was always playing with my own hair and had an interest in fashion and beauty. Since my family was very conservative, I made my own clothes when I wanted something a bit more trendy! I love art and would draw and paint constantly. It was my grandmother's idea to marry hair and color together and focus on that.

You have quite an impressive celebrity clientele! What are some of the favorite looks you've created?
I love the challenge of making someone a blonde that isn't typically blonde. I made Jennifer Connelly and Emma Stone platinum for movies. They both took me several days to finish but the results were beautiful, and I’m very proud of them both.


What are your top 5 hair essentials (products)?
1) ColoristCure -- an amazing treatment for hair that we use in the salon, but it is also sold as an at-home treatment at osyrium.com.

2) NiceN'Easy Root Touch Up –- this is the best single process at-home hair color for in-between professional touchups.

3) Pink Cricket Tail Comb -- my signature comb.

4) REF Dry Shampoo –- this gives my hair tons of body!

5) Hair ties -- because I never wear my hair down!

What are your top 3 hair tips?
1) Condition and do a treatment every 2 weeks to keep hair healthy.

2) Don't change your hair color too often as it can be extremely damaging if you do drastic changes too much.

3) Don't over wash your hair! Three times per week is good for most hair types.

Being a colorist must be fun -- but what do you do in your spare time?
Because the salon is still in its first year of operation, I don't do much other than work! I love owning a salon and coloring clients’ hair, so I don't see it slowing down anytime soon. But when it does, I hope to learn watercolor and take some drawing classes again ... one day!