When I began blogging about 5 years ago now I wanted to interview Ted Gibson of the Ted Gibson Salon. For some reason it never happened. However, to my luck, years later I managed to meet Mr Ted Gibson at his hair care product launch & Vanity Fair party in New York City. Sweet destiny. Moreover, over these years during my visits to New York Fashion Week I got to know his partner, Celebrity Colorist, and co-owner of Ted Gibson Salon Jason Backe. This duo is the Rock Stars of hair styling, coloring, and hair salon business. Few weeks ago Jason and I met in Phoenix at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa one of my favorite places in the world where we got to catch up on life and business. I would like to share with you my Q&A slash interview with the fabulous Mr Backe.

L to R: Celebrity Colorist and Ted Gibson Salon New York City Co-Owner Jason Backe with TalkingMakeup’s founder & North Scottsdale REALTOR Marta Walsh at the Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa Paradise Valley Arizona

Marta Walsh: Where do you call home?
Jason Backe: I am a native Minnesotan – a good Midwestern boy – but now I call New York City home. When did your fascination with hair and hair styling begin? I have loved it my whole life, my mom recently gave me a picture of me giving my younger sister a perm when I was about 7 years old. I didn’t make it a career until about 15 years ago.

L to R: Jason Backe and Marta Walsh

MW: At one point did you realize that you are no longer just any hair colorist but a top colorist?
JB: Hmmm, that’s a good question. I think I started realizing it when I started getting recognized by the top magazines.

MW: What do you attribute to your success?
JB: I love what I do, I say yes to just about everything and Im not afraid of hard work.

MW: How did your partnership with Ted Gibson come about and what makes it work?
JB: Ted was my teacher in beauty school – trust me I have now heard every “hot for teacher” joke in the world. We work well together because he is a visionary and great at coming up with concepts and ideas and I learn from him every day. I balance that out by loving the routine of day to day business. He comes up with the ideas and I come up with systems to help implement them.

MW: What was your experience like having a part in the hit Bravo realty series Real Housewives of DC?
JB: It was a lot of fun. I made some wonderful friends and got the opportunity to see first hand how those things are made. It was a pretty outrageous experience.

MW: Who would be your dream housewife to style hair?
JB: My mom and sister – although they are both career women too

MW: What makes Ted Gibson Salon in New York City stand out from the rest?

JB: We have a few things that are our business code –

1. we only work with nice people we like

2. we know that beauty is individual – that there isn’t one standard of beauty. We know if you feel pretty, you are pretty and our job is to make the girls feel pretty

3. It’s not about the hair, it’s about the experience. People come into our salon EXPECTING beautiful hair, they aren’t necessarily expecting to be treated nicely – high end salons have a reputation for being snobby. In order to be successful in NYC the women have to love being at our salon and want to come back.

Jason Backe at his element backsatge with model

MW: What are your 3 most important hair coloring tips?
JB: Find a hair dresser you love and be loyal, through that relationship you can have someone who encourages you to try new things and see your beauty in a way you didn’t think was possible. Visit the salon regularly so your hair always looks amazing (letting it go too long can make you look cheap – hehe). Change it up – try new colors and new styles, your hair is your biggest accessory not a tattoo – its fun to try new thing.

MW: And what 3 hair care products or tools you just can’t leave without?

JB: 1. INOA – the new ammonia free permanent hair color from L’Oreal Professionnel. It is the most revolutionary hair color to come out since hair color was invented 100 years ago.

2. Bleach – it is the most versatile tool as a colorist (if I was trapped on a deserted island with 100 pageant queens and could have one product this would be it!) – Unfortunately it is also the most misused product so it gets a bad reputation.

3. Fibersutics – an incredible new in salon deep conditioning treatment. It only takes a few minutes and literally REBUILDS the hair that has become damaged.

MW: What and who inspires you?
JB: I am inspired by so many different things – I was at a meeting the other day and was thinking about Dr Seuss and Whoville and how that would work in hair color! I also love the city I live in and it feeds me energetically, spiritually and creatively every day. I also have to get away, going to my house in the Catskills of Upstate New York really inspires me. My staff inspires me – their eagerness to be the best in the business inspires me every day to be the best I can be.

MW: Brad Pitt or George Clooney?
JB: Ted Gibson

MW: What beauty means to you?
JB: For me, beauty is all encompassing – a well balanced lifestyle, staying fit, eating good food, playing outside – hiking, camping, travel, etc. All of those things make me feel beautiful. When I feel beautiful I know I am beautiful.

MW: What one or two things some people may not know about Jason Backe?
JB: I love to go to the barber for a shave and my skin always looks its best when I use the shower gel at the gym.

MW: What is your favorite drink?
JB: A Hendricks Gin martini with a slice of cucumber to garnish.

MW: What new and next with Jason Backe?
JB: We are opening a salon at the W Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale Florida – that’s new… Next? I’m open….we’ll see.

I would like to thank Jason Backe for a brilliant interview. We love you and it’s major <3

It’s no secret that the Daily Makeover editorial staff love an award show red carpet moment. Is there a better opportunity for a makeover? Celebrating the talent of the entertainment industry in all its Hollywood glory is a glamorous break from our regularly scheduled, quick-paced, freezing cold New Yorker weekend activities. Patience, however, is not our best virtue, so we checked in with some of our favorite hairstylists to get the scoop on what kind of hairstyles we can expect to see on some of the Golden Globes gals.

Ashley Greene

Credit: © Jordan Strauss/Getty

Mane man Ted Gibson will be telling a very sexy, deliberate and Hollywood hair story via The Twilight Saga’s Ashley Greene for the Golden Globes. Predicts Gibson, “You will see effortless chic with a modern twist this year.” Gibson says that because people are feeling a lot better about the economy, the mood will be more optimistic as well as a little extravagant. 2010 hair will be all about length and a return to romance, according Gibson. “We’re finished with the asymmetrical 80s, harshness. Hair is going to be a lot softer. Women felt like they needed to be stronger in 2009 and even in fashion, we’re going to see a lot more softness in the clothes and hair in 2010.”

Read full article by Rachel Hayes in dailymakeover.com

Kate Gosselin revealed a new hairdo on the cover of People Magazine last week! To help achieve Kate Gosselin’s new look, Ted Gibson – celebrity hairstylist to the stars such as Angelina Jolie and Anne Hathaway – turned to Great Lengths 100% Human Hair Extensions. Transforming Kate’s shorter infamous do to long locks was no easy endeavor, taking many hours and hundreds of keratin bonded Great Lengths Extensions. However, once Kate revealed her new longer do, she loved it. Ted reveals, “using Great Lengths Extensions you are able to take hair from being ordinary to extraordinary!” Marta Walsh says: “Unbelievable!”

Credit: Melanie Dunea for People Magazine

Watch Kate Gosselin’s 20-Hour Hair Makeover!

Great Lengths Extensions is the extension system of Hollywood. In addition to the superior quality of the human hair used by Great Lengths, the other reason it’s favored among the famous is because of how safe and gentle it is on one’s real hair. Unlike other hair extension systems, Great Lengths Extensions integrity of one’s natural strands is never compromised, so the only risk one tales by having them is looking better than before.

Great Lengths hair extensions are available in over 45 shades in all hues of blonde, red, brown, black as well as rich jewel toned colors and soft pastels. The hair is 100% natural and gathered from Sacred Temples in India. It is considered “virgin” hair as it has never been salon treated. As a result of this purity and integrity, Great Lengths hair can be colored, permed, straightened, combed, brushed, and shampooed. In other words, anything you can do with your own hair, you can do to Great Lengths extensions.

WHAT THEY COST: $750-$4,000 depending on the amount of hair used and the desired result

WHERE TO FIND THEM: To find a salon near you visit www.greatlengthsusa.com

This is what I call a wow factor: Kate Gosselin’s new long hairdo on the cover of People Magazine. Love, love, love. Kate looks so much younger, hipper, and happier. I hear it took 20 hours to get Kate’s locks long and gorgeous with hair extensions. The talented man behind Kate’s new hair is celebrity hairstylist Ted Gibson. Ted is fabulous. I met him back in July 2009 during a Vanity Fair party in New York City for the launch of  TV series: What Not To Wear and the celebration of his role in it. I even chatted with Mr Gibson and he is the coolest!

What do you think guys, do you love Kate Gosselin’s hair makeover? Do you love Kate’s hairstyle before (left image below) or after (right image below)?

Do the Twist: Forget prim and proper—think loose and sexy. Ted Gibson, Celebrity Hair Stylist and MSN Style Studio style expert, shows us a twisted updo inspired by Taylor Swift Grammy Awards 2009 look. Perfect way to get your hair off your neck on a hot summer day.

Check out more tips from Style Studio’s Glam Squad at MSN Style Studio Don’t forget to dress like you mean it!

Image via fabsugar.com

MSN Style Studio’s Glam Squad is back to share the latest summer trends in fashion and beauty!

The MSN Style Studio’s Glam Squad includes: Ted Gibson,Troy Jensen, Nick Verreos, Stefani Greenfield, and Laura Bennett.

Boho Beauty: Bohemian beauty couldn’t be hotter this summer. Celebrity hair stylist, Ted Gibson, gives us tips on how to get a boho hair look worthy of today’s hottest stars.

Summer Glow: Want that sun-kissed look? Celebrity makeup artist, Troy Jensen, shows us how to apply makeup that will give you a long-lasting summer glow. Bonus tip: Learn how to make it last through a day of fun in the sun.

Neon Brights: Day glow is back in a major way! Project Runway favorite Nick Verreos takes us on shopping trip to Los Angeles Boutique Intermix.

Recycle-ista: Founder of Scoop NYC and Curations, Stefani Greenfield, shows us that with a little accessorizing, you can wear a single dress three different ways.

Mrs. Cruise: Mom, actress and style icon—Katie Holmes certainly has a look to match every mood. Project Runway alum, Laura Bennett, teaches us some easy ways to channel our inner Katie.

Check out these segments and keep up with the Glam Squad’s updates at http://lifestyle.msn.com/stylestudio

And remember to Dress like you mean it!

Nick Verreos interview with Marta Walsh
Rami Kashou interview with Marta Walsh

On Sunday September 21st, which is TODAY, Ted Gibson Salon will be hosting its 3rd annual cut-a-thon to benefit Carbon Zero, and offset the company’s carbon dioxide emissions.

With prices in NYC getting higher everyday, this is a chance for you to get a great discounted hair cut from top quality New York City stylists for a worthy cause. Finally, a New York luxury that’s affordable to average New Yorkers, not just their friends visiting from Europe!

WHERE: Ted Gibson Salon
184 Fifth Avenue, 2nd Floor, NYC

WHEN: September 21st from 10am – 5pm

Call Ted Gibson Salon, 212.633.633 to schedule an appointment with Ted TODAY!

Hairdressers from NYC’s ted Gibson salon will be volunteering their time for $50 cuts, normally $95. No appointments necessary, unless you’d like to book a $300 cut with Ted Gibson – his haircuts usually cost $950! Looking for color? Single process and partials highlights only: $75-$100, normally $100-$400.

100% of the money raised from the event will be donated to Carbon Zero to plant trees. ted gibson salon has already raised approximately $10,000 for the cause since it began its annual cut-a-thon two years ago in its quest to negate the salon’s carbon emissions.

Ted Gibson Built It Blow Drying Agent is a lightweight volumizing and shine enhancing spray for heat styling.  The Ted Gibson haircare line was created by Ted Gibson, a celebrity hairdresser, famous for working with Angelina Jolie and owner of The Ted Gibson Salon in New York City. 

Ted Gibson Built It Blow Drying Agent is made with two of Ted Gibson’s signature natural ingredients: Merlot Complex and wild orchid extract both known for protecting hair environmental damage, boosting shine, and setting hair with a light hold.  Ted Gibson Built It Blow Drying Agent also adds healthy texture, lifts, and controls frizz and humidity.  Perfect if you like to blow dry or use flat iron often. Cost: $28.

Ted Gibson haircare was founded by Ted Gibson who is also the owner of Ted Gibson Salon on Fifth avenue New York City.  The Ted Gibson full service salon is also run by Ted Gibson’s partner, Jason Backe.  The two are very familiar names in the the fashion world, top style magazines, and celebrities. 

Ted Gibson and his team worked with Dolce and Gabbana, Prada, and Chanel models.  Celebrities, such as:  Jessica Alba, Jessica Simpson, Angelina Jolie, Keira knightley,  Anne Hathaway, Claire Danes, Diane Sawyer, and Renee Zellweger.  And top magazines, such as:  Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Allure, Marie Claire, and Cosmopolitan. 

Ted Gibson is famous for products like Ted Gibson Hair Sheet Treatment Sheets which are packets containing one 8 by 8 single treatment sheet infused with a unique amino acid complex, wild orchid extract and natural plant aroma.  These fabulous Hair Sheet treatment sheets by Ted Gibson will add moisture, strength, elasticity, and silkiness to your dry or damaged hair.  How to use:  simply apply to dry hair over night or during the day.  Cost:  $35 for 5 packets.

Also check out Ted Gibson Goodnite Hair Replenish Repair Serum which is a concentrated treatment for malnourished, depleted, and un balanced scalps. Ingredients include wheat proteins, extracts, and vitamins.  Simply apply to dry hair before going to sleep and comb through.  Ted Gibson haircare products are available at Saks Fifth avenue, and Henry Bendel.  Cost:  $200.