It was while body painting on a pair of XL boobies at the Playboy Mansion that Bettina Bourdens’ mind began to open to the teeming creative possibilities of cosmetology. That undraping of the universe started a journey in which the young Los Angeles studio painter would become Sonoma County’s foremost painter of hair—a colorist non-pareil.
And it was seated in her light pink and fern Santa Rosa hair studio that we bandied questions as I fiddled with her sample swatches, divided into pastel, neon and radioactive color series. For full disclosure, I was a client of hers, during my years-long platinum afro era.
CH: Bettina, what distinguishes you in the local scene, besides your fine arts background?
BB: Coming from my love of vintage, I have really studied hair from the past. I can cut and style old Hollywood waves, ’50s poodle cuts, ’60s Sassoon cuts, and I can modernize them. Last week, I did a Farrah Fawcett cut with big ’70s feathering.
CH: And how did you make it of the moment?
BB: (laughs) Well, we dyed her hair black and turquoise.
CH: What’s in right now?
BB: Because it’s the summer, blond and sun lightened hair.
CH: I saw your Instagram post of the infinity of blond variations. I think you have the best stories on Instagram, by the way. What do clips of kitties, flowers and raccoons joyously popping bubbles to KC and the Sunshine Band have to do with your studio?
BB: They have the same energy, the same joy.
CH: What is a look that is a testament to your artistry? A rainbow ombre or a three-flavored cotton candy swirl?
BB: Actually, doing gray transitions are harder. Going gray had a taboo. But now a lot of women who were previously coloring their gray are choosing to go gray. Going dye cold turkey looks terrible, so a new service is a gray transition that blends color and gray and can fade into a natural gray or be maintained as a mix. Many women were going as far as LA for the service, but I want them to know they can get it here!
CH: Do you still paint … canvas?
BB: (laughs) I have started a practice of doing portraits of my friend’s dogs in oil paints.
CH: Tres bien.
Contact BB. Bourdens’ Instagram lookbook is @bettina_bourdens, and her website, hairbybettina.com, is the place to look at her full range of coloring, styling, cutting and restorative treatment services.
