"Models aren't snobby" and other myths revealed
By Becky Castle

"Hello…and what can we do with your hair?"

"You can G.I. Jane it!" I replied, delighting the hair show directors and ushering in my weekend-long modeling career.

Several wingmates and I had decided to respond to the Matrix model call on that Friday night. I was as delighted to be chosen for the show as they were to have a model who would let them do anything they wanted with her hair.

Before my evening in the Matrix room at the downtown Doubletree Hotel, my only exposure to the modeling world had been from a magazine reader's standpoint. Forty-five hours later I walked away from the Tulsa Convention Center exhausted, looking completely different and carrying a new view of the modeling world along with my bag of free hair products.

Hundreds of suspicions, rumors and preconceived notions about models and the fashion world constantly circulate. Let me try to shatter a few of those myths by answering several common questions. Understand that these are simply one person's experiences with one show, but also keep your mind open.

1. Don't they do horrible things to your hair at those shows?

I'll let Sarah Chaboya explain that one. She used to live in Tulsa and has participated in the Tulsa Matrix show for years. Even though she now lives in California, she flew back to Tulsa to take part this year. She raved about the way Matrix has always treated her. She said some other companies have done terrible things to participants' hair. They lie about what they're going to do with it, and the products can ruin hair. She said it can take months to get it back to normal. In all of her experiences with Matrix, she said they have never done anything like that to her. Their products are wonderful, she said, and they have always asked what she would let them do.

I did not have the opportunity to work with any of the other companies myself, but I was impressed with the way Matrix treated me. My hair was softer and healthier after the show than before. Sandra Carr, host of the Matrix runway show, chose a red that complemented my natural coloring and discussed the cut with me beforehand to make sure I was okay with the idea. She was careful to ask each participant about her personal cry zone-how short would be too short?

Carr gave me more than a haircut; she gave me a makeover. It's not often that you receive a makeover from a nationally renowned artist (Carr has won many national awards, including Hair Colorist of the Year, Most Inspirational Hairdresser and Makeover Artist of the Year). When she cut my hair onstage during one of the presentations, she stood me up and showed the audience of hair stylists how to choose a cut based on body type and dimensions. In analyzing my facial structure she decided that she wanted to emphasize my jaw-line. She was obviously successful: You wouldn't believe the number of compliments I received afterward about the style doing just that.

I was especially impressed with the work that went on after the show. If any of the models didn't like the cut or color they recieved, the Matrix technicians stayed and changed the styles for free to make sure all the models left happy.

2. Isn't modeling a hurry-up-and-wait situation?

This is so true! You wait for wardrobe, then rush to change. You wait for your turn to get your hair dyed…or "colored," which I learned is the correct term, then you become the focal point as technicians furiously paint and foil your flowing locks. Finally, you wait and wait for your turn to strut the runway, and then sprint to the wings to catch your music in time for your entrance.

Most of my three days in the Convention Center I spent behind the towering black curtains, sitting in uncomfortable chairs, talking, trying to read or just zoning out-and eating (salad, of course).

3. Aren't models stuck up?

This I found to be entirely inaccurate. The Matrix models were some of the nicest people I've met. A few of them were professional models but most were completely new to modeling like I was. The experienced models never looked down on us or laughed at us. In fact, they went out of their way to help us and teach us. Emily Mock and Samantha Higgins, who along with Chaboya have done the Tulsa show many times and enjoy seeing each other again every year, taught me how to walk a runway. Chaboya even offered me her tomato juice one morning when I was feeling sick because I hadn't eaten breakfast yet.

Quite a few of the models were Christians-their Christ-like attitudes shone through their words and actions. I heard Todd Berman, one of the male models, talking about his experiences with an organization called Models for Christ and also caught part of his conversation with Higgins about mission trips they've been on. Peace and laughter permeated the backstage area and made the long days more enjoyable and encouraging.

4. Walking that runway is easy, right?

Although it may look like runway models just walk wherever they please, this is not the case! Each section of the show had to be precisely choreographed and timed to get each model exactly where he or she needed to be at the perfect time without running into anyone else.

Walking a runway takes a certain amount of acting. I love acting, so I enjoyed my three sessions as a presentation model. Even if you're uncomfortable in your outfit (and here's something I bet you didn't expect: Even many of the experienced models were uncomfortable in the fashions they sported!), or think that your haircut is "not you," or you're freezing cold and getting goose bumps, you have to "walk like you're the most beautiful woman in the world and you're the only thing that matters at that moment," Chaboya told me.

5. Runway fashions are outrageous-they're not applicable to ordinary people, are they?

I would agree that they're outrageous-look at Higgins' updo! However, some were more practical. And even the outrageous ones could be toned down slightly for use by the average salon patron. One reason Carr and Derek Rutherford, the co-host of the show, created such noticeable styles was to show off the abilities of the new Trix products.

6. Isn't it all about the models?

Nope. Even though the audience only sees the models, the show could never take place without the army of stylists, colorists, makeup artists and wardrobe assistants who start their days before the models and stay afterwards to pick up the pieces. There were some fun, talented and kind women backstage who did whatever it took to make us presentable in the first place. And one can't forget the artists who offer the creative vision for the show and put everything into motion. Carr and Rutherford are clearly masters of their trade-they even taught me (the farthest thing from a hair stylist!) a thing or two about cutting and styling! They were as down-to-earth as anyone and did much of the grunt work themselves, jumping in and helping while still keeping everything under control.

I entered the Matrix backstage area on a Saturday morning with long, straight brown hair. I left on Monday evening with my worldview expanded and my hair short and orange with crimps and waves. I love my new hair and I loved my experience. Everyone should be a model for a day.

For more information, you can check out Carr's salon and makeovers at www.sheerprofessionals.com.
The Matrix website is www. matrixbeautiful.com.

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