Nanci Farruggio

Before: Ben Goldstein. After: Sergio Kurhajec

6 of 6

NEXT

SLIDESHOW

Nanci Farruggio, 46
Real life: Suburban mom of two
Secret alter ego: Femme fatale

Her cropped cut works well with her conservative style, but unfortunately keeps her tied to just one look.

How her hair is like cotton candy:
"It gets fuzzy at the ends and then just breaks off at a certain point, above shoulder-length."

Why she went pixie-short six years ago:
"I wanted to commit to a style. If I couldn't have long hair, I didn't want it to be in-between."

Why she likes her cut:
"It looks great—with no styling effort."

Why she doesn't:
"It's the same all the time, and I happen to like versatility. Even with fragrances, I'm always changing it up whenever I can."

The Hair

Nanci's cut is so short that extensions would look obvious; Ken's team fitted her with a full wig instead. If your hair falls below your chin, you can get a similar look with a row of clip-in extensions.

The Makeup

Nanci's long blonde hair is enough of a statement, so Rebecca kept her makeup clean and simple. She defined Nanci's eyes with different shades of brown shadow (taupe all over the lids and chocolate in the crease) and lined her upper lashline with a cobalt blue liquid eyeliner (Yves Saint Laurent Eyeliner Moiré in #8). "A deep blue liner brightens anyone's eyes, but it's especially stunning on women with light blue or green eyes," says Rebecca. A warm pink blush keeps Nanci's complexion from looking washed-out against all that blonde.

The Clothes

The body-conscious BCBG Max Azria dress and the strappy metallic platforms (Christian Louboutin) Adam selected for Nanci fit the femme fatale bill. But the dress's cap sleeves, crew neckline, and sophisticated color palette keep the look from straying into Real Housewives territory.

Your Inner Femme Fatale

Whatever the length of your hair, emphasizing your mouth adds instant allure. Look for a nude gloss with a bit of iridescence to make lips appear fuller.

When you're feeling seductive, choose dark colors and jewel tones (as opposed to neons and pastels) and play up your legs or your décolletage, though not both. Also, consider a fitted, sexy le smoking–style pantsuit—the sharp, menswear-inspired look emphasizes the soft femininity of Rapunzel-like hair.

Dress, BCBG Max Azria, $278, Bloomingdales.com . Shoes, Christian Louboutin, $1,795, ChristianLouboutin.com. Bangles, Ben-Amun, $198 each, Henri Bendel, 800-423-6335.