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sammit. Fashion/Style ~ Fashion, beauty and shopping ideas from former Tribune style editor Sam Mittelsteadt.

Hold me, baby!

July 27th, 2007, 10:18 am · Post a Comment · posted by Sam Mittelsteadt

It helped make stars of The B-52s, ’80s hair-metal rockers, Amy Winehouse and to a great degree, Donald Trump. And starting last weekend, it might just add that much more volume to the careers of John Travolta and Michelle Pfeiffer, stars of the recently released "Hairspray."In honor of the movie inspired by the Broadway musical, inspired by the 1988 John Waters film, I asked experts at East Valley stores to discuss their best-selling brands of hair spray.(Note 1: After this article ran July 22, I got a lot of calls from women excited that the Kenra line was sold here. Click here to find which stores carry it.)(Note 2: I actually saw the movie and loved Amanda Bynes as best friend Penny Pingleton and Elijah Kelly as Seaweed. Did you recognize Jerry Stiller — who played Tracy’s dad in the original movie — as Mr. Pinkie? And I think Mink Stole — Corny Collins’ assistant in the original — was the first teacher who sends Tracy to detention.)SEBASTIAN SHAPER AND SHAPER PLUS: In a happy coincidence, bottles of Shaper and Shaper Plus were used during filming of the movie "Hairspray" — labeled as Ultra Clutch on set, sprayed on stars’ styles backstage — so Sebastian created look-alike versions now in stores. "A lot of clients spray their brush with it, then run the brush through their hair," says Patti Shoffman, manager of BeautyFirst at Scottsdale 101 shopping center, Scottsdale Road and Mayo Boulevard. When Shoffman pulled the store’s 100 top-selling SKUs, Shaper ($13.50) was "way up there," she says."Everyone seems to like it the best," says Jane Brooks, manager of Beauty Brands at Fulton Ranch Towne Center, Arizona Avenue and Ocotillo Road, Chandler. "It’s got good hold in the heat or humidity, plus it’s a really big can.""It flies off the shelf like crazy here," agrees Feliciano Abad, salon manager at Ulta at Superstition Gateway, Signal Butte Road and U.S. 60, Mesa.Customers who need more hold head toward Shaper Plus ($13.95). "It just gives them a little more oomph," Shoffman says, "and keeps the frizz at bay, which is great for people with curly hair."

KENRA VOLUME SPRAY: "Kenra is beginning to move up and become well-known," says Shoffman.Salon professionals who voted at Behindthechair.com awarded Kenra Volume Spray 25 ($13 for 10.1 ounces) the Stylist Choice Award for favorite hair spray in 2007 — and in 2006, and 2005. In fact, Kenra sells more than 4 million bottles a year in the U.S. and Canada."It’s the No. 1 pick of stylists," Abad says, and customers like it because it has "a pleasing smell, not alcohol-y. It’s very popular with our fine-haired clients."BIG SEXY HAIR SPRAY AND PLAY:

"This is particularly good for our long-haired clients, since it gives a good hold at the root area," Abad says. "When you think of the name, it conjures up images of sex-kitten hair." Sexy Hair’s spray sells for $15.95.FEKKAI SHEER HOLD HAIRSPRAY: "Back in the day, hair that had been sprayed would look crunchy," says Rachel Basilo, skin care expert at Sephora in Chandler Fashion Center. But thanks to Fekkai’s flexible hold, hair remains "brushable and movable," she says. And avocado oil adds shine, so many customers consider it a two-in-one product.Another bonus: The 1.5-ounce trial size ($9) falls under aviation travel guidelines for carry-on bags. "We have a little beauty-to-go section in the store, and we’re stocking (the hair spray) daily," Basilo says. A 5.8-ounce bottle sells for $23 and an 11.6-ounce bottle, which Basilo says should last for about two years, is $35.

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