Diane Gardner Makeover Specialist

DIane is the real deal. I went to her for a total makeover and could not be more pleased. She has studied under professional cut, color and makeup artists and has managed to specialize in all three disciplines, which is very rare to find. She has saved me tons of money by streamlining my products and giving me an easy, yet beautiful look. Instead of going to 3 different people — for hair, color and makeup — which would be much more expensive, she offers the entire package in a holistic way.
I waited several weeks to write this review to make sure my look is easy to maintain outside the salon — I couldn’t be happier. I look like myself, just more radiant and beautiful and am receiving tons of compliments.
What I love about her is she brought out the best color and cut for my face shape and how to care for it outside of the salon. I’m surprised that this is the easiest hair style I’ve ever had to maintain. She showed me how to apply my makeup (brands, colors etc) and recommended a range of makeup products from low end (like Burts Bees) to Chanel. All the products she has tested herself and many are natural ingredient based. She also gave me clothing tips!
I couldn’t be happier with my experience, and won’t go anywhere else. Highly highly recommend.

Diane gets fantastic reviews on Unilocal and I totally understand why.
it’s been 20 years since I consulted with someone about make up. I need someone who can tell me what’s out there, what’s going to look good on me, and I need a no fuss routine that’s healthy for my skin and makes me look as good as I can.
Diane is totally dazzling. She’s really sensible about products and costs. Shes smart and she’s fun and I feel incredibly lucky having found her. Who knew I could look so good!

Diane Gardner is an amazing makeover specialist! I was looking for someone to give me a makeover that would show my creative personality (I work in film/​video production) while soften my image since people say I often look too tough or intense. Someone even thought I was a lawyer! Originally, I was searching for a good hair stylist, but then remembered the makeover sessions in «What Not To Wear,» and realized that I actually need a makeover specialist. So I googled for one in the area and found Diane’s website and her positive Unilocal reviews. I like how on her website she has before/​after pictures (check them out), which proved how good she is.
So I emailed Diane what I was looking for, told her my problem, and sent her a picture. She was very nice and very helpful. I came in with a certain idea in my head of how I wanted to look, and Diane gave me her suggestions that were different from what I expected. I was hesitant and rather nervous when she described the type of bangs she would be giving me (I have never had anyone who successfully gave me the type of bangs she described). But Diane, who is very down to earth, put me at ease and I was shocked when I saw the final result. I looked like a different person — actually, I felt like for the first time, I could actually see the real me.
At work, I got TONS of compliments on my haircut. It was awesome, lol. I even had 3 people who wanted to cut their bangs like mine now.
I went back a second time to have my hair tinted/​highlighted (once again nervous, but by then I trust Diane), and got some awesome red color that showed my creative side. I was shocked when I looked in the mirror, and literally cried out, «WHOA» in the salon because I didn’t expect that color, which I absolutely love. Again, at work, I got a lot of compliments, and some of my coworkers repeated to me how they liked the red highlights and that it looks pretty.
Besides hair, I’ve done the makeup session with Diane as well, and she is so knowledgeable, informative, and patient! I took 3 pages of notes. I didn’t realize that my black eyeliner and black eyebrow pencil was making me look even more serious and intense! So she advised me to use some fun colors I would’ve never chosen originally (purple, gold, bluejean) — surprise, it actually works! I don’t look so monochromatic anymore, I look more lively, and my personality shows through more. And don’t worry, the colors actually are more subtle than you’d expect, having the right balance.
I do believe you can see a person’s personality on the outside, and I’ve been trying to do that by improving my appearance to show the real me. And Diane helped me achieve that.
If you’re looking for an amazing makeover specialist (or even just a hair stylist), go to Diane.

Sometimes all the stars align… and you end up with a fantastic makeover!
Several weeks ago, I was researching makeover specialists in NYC (where I live) hoping to change my hair color, haircut, and makeup styling — all three of which I haven’t changed for nearly 10 years (a mouse-​y brown layered cut). There are plenty of hair stylists and makeup artists, but I wanted to find someone who was skilled in ALL areas.
During my search I found several stylists in NYC who claimed to be makeover or hair color experts, but their websites offered no before/​after photos and very vague credentials. I was willing to put myself in someone’s expert hands. I wasn’t, however, willing to trust a stylist who couldn’t show consistent evidence of their results. In this day in age, if you can’t upload a picture of your work there’s something wrong.
As I would search, Diane’s name and website came up several times on Unilocal and Google. I was impressed with her work and reviews (and her career experience at Louis Licari and with Trish McAvoy) — but I was in New York! So I kept looking…
Then, as luck would have it, I needed to travel to the Los Angeles area for work the following month. I decided to make an appointment with Diane herself.
I contacted Diane by email and booked the ‘full chameleon’ experience. She was very responsive, explaining how long the process would take and how to prep for it.
On the day of the makeover I was nervous, but Diane put me at ease because I could see her mind was already buzzing with ideas about color and styling. I was ready for a change — so when Diane suggested a warm, deep brown — I was in. While the color processed, Diane took time to review my current skin care and makeup routine and made some INCREDIBLE recommendations. She’s cut my skin care routine in half — in both time and $$ — and my skin looks clearer with less breakouts already. That was worth the trip to Santa Monica in and of itself.
Once finished with my hair, she explained makeup color choices to compliment my eye and hair color. She took her time about each application step and product. I am not going to go into detail about this — this is what she gets paid for! — but this woman knows what she’s talking about. She has thoroughly researched products/​ingredients and puts a great deal of care into her clients. I loved my new look — AND felt confident I could recreate it when I got home.
In the weeks since I have received DOZENS of compliments on my new look. Some people I’ve known for years said they never realized I had green eyes! What a difference a change of color can make.
Diane is TALENTED. She’s an expert. Beyond her styling skills, she is warm, approachable and takes a genuine interest in her clients. If I lived closer I’d make her my regular stylist, but I look forward to coming back again in a couple years when I want a new change.

Diane is truly a makeover specialist. Her knowledge and expertise with make up and hair is exceptional. She is extremely knowledgeable in non-​harming environmental hair products and make up. If you are looking to change or update your look, she is the person to go to. She is professional and dedicated to making sure you are happy with your results!

I had a last minute photo shoot arranged for head shots and I was in a panic to find a decent makeup artist. Luckily, I found Diane on Unilocal.I gave her a call and she was very helpful from the start, she understood the urgency of my situation and pencilled me in right away and for a very reasonable price. Diane was thorough in asking me important questions to clarify exactly the look that I was going for and that made a world of difference for the shoot — the make up was PERFECT and the pictures looked fantastic. I was very pleased. I would recommend Diane for photoshoots, weddings, a big date night — anything! she’s great.

I am a stylist snob. In my opinion no one is good enough, until now. Diane rocks. Cut colored and styled my hair like no one has ever before. It was perfect. Suited my lifestyle and my personality. I love love love her. Five stars is not enough.

I have had Diane doing my hair for 4 years now. I first saw her when I received a makeup lesson as a gift. (Great gift idea, BTW!) I loved what she had to say (and I learned a lot too.)
She is always professional and concerned about your needs. She is not a hard sell either, just a consummate pro. Give her a try!

I am a mid-​age professional and it matters in my job how I look. I am also very active and don’t like futzing with hair and make-​up. Diane took control of both my hair and make-​up and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve been seeing her now for 6 years and she has made my appearance stylish and simple to maintain. She says it is her job to make sure her clients never look «dated» and she regularly visits shows in Europe and on the east coast to keep up with the latest. Recently she spent time in Japan to check out some new products developed there.
You walk in, tell her a little about yourself and she creates a hairstyle that looks great on you and you can easily maintain. It grows out evenly so you don’t need frequent touch-​ups. My husband who has white hair goes to her and she has slowly added tint so he isn’t quite as snow white, subtle enough that none of his collegues have ever noticed. I have referred 4or 5 friends to Diane, one man with very difficult hair, and they have all LOVED her work.
She’s easy to talk to, fast working, and a lot of education and skill with cuts, color, make-​up and trends. You won’t find better. Oh, and she does work for several celebrities if that matters to you.

Diane is the only regular hair dresser I’ve had besides my mom (also a hair dresser)…to earn my trust, she had to be special. She’s always led me down the right path, and all my friends I’ve recommended her to feel the same. Period. Also, just a great mind behind all the makeover talent, and trustworthy soul.