Mom Wears French Twist Hairdo For 37 Years But Makeover Makes Her Look Decades Younger

Dec 11, 2020 by apost team

For the past 37 years, Joan Irvine has dedicated herself to her exquisite French twist hairstyle. Her daughters, Christine and Cindy, told The Oprah Winfrey Show that their mother's twist is part and parcel of her very being. As children, Christine and Cindy recalled how their mother once canceled a family trip for fear of setting off the airport's metal detector with her hairpins. 

Well, after decades of the same hairstyle, Joan Irvine surrendered herself to Oprah's professional makeover team and the results are simply stunning.

Growing up near Lake Adirondack, NY, Joan Irvine's two grown daughters reminisced how uncommon it was for their mother to join them in the water as it would mean taking apart her twist. The two women begged Oprah to give their mother a new hairdo. Christine and Cindy felt that the French twist belongs in the 1950s and makes their 63-year-old mother look much older than her actual age. They also asked Oprah to update Joan’s wardrobe, which mainly consists of denim and khaki clothes.

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While Joan was more than willing to accept Oprah’s help, she also wanted to share her weekly haircare routine with the megastar’s audience. Joan told producers with the talk show that each Wednesday, she gets up at around 5:30 in the morning to begin the arduous process. Pulling out the hairpins from the week before, Joan shampoos her hair before putting a vast array of rollers in it. Next, Joan sits under a hairdryer for as long as an hour. To finish, Joan sculpts her hair into her magnificent French twist with tons of hairspray and countless hairpins. The process takes Joan about four hours.

The French twist is a hairstyle that was the height of fashion from the late 1950s through to the 1970s. The popular "updo" style is created by gathering the hair together and then twisting it upwards until it begins to turn in on itself close to the head. It's then secured with various accessories including hairpins, combs, or barrettes. The beauty of a French twist is its simplicity and ability to be dressed up or down, which is why it's just as popular for casual daytime looks as it is for formal occasions such as proms and weddings. It's not uncommon to still see women sporting a French twist in 2020, however, the style has been updated to have a modern feel. And the problem Joan Irvine's daughters had with her hairstyle is that it hadn't changed in 37 years!

To makeover Joan, Oprah turned to three of the country’s top stylists and makeup artists, including Ken Pavés, Rita Hazan, and Cathy Highland. Hairstylist to such celebrities as Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Simpson, Ken Pavés is internationally renowned and known for creating gorgeous styles that women feel and look great wearing. Rita Hazan is a celebrity hair colorist who has also worked with the likes of Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, and Katy Perry. Meanwhile Cathy Highland has worked as a makeup artist in Hollywood, including on the movie Ocean's Eight.

When the three discussed her style, Joan said that while Christine and Cindy might think her twist makes her look old, she doesn’t feel a day over 50. With the help of the three beauty gurus, Joan adopted a younger, more modern look.

When it came time for the big reveal, Joan confidently strutted onto Oprah’s stage to the applause of the audience. Barely recognizing their mother, Christine and Cindy brought Joan into a big embrace as Oprah looked stunned at the amazing transformation. In the closing moments of the segment, style guru Victoria Principal declared that Joan resembled Christine and Cindy’s sister rather than their mother.

Now sporting a modern short hairdo, Joan Irvine looked like a million dollars. The professionals chopped off the long locks that were literally dragging down her look, and instead gave her a stylish jaw-length bob with feminine short bangs, while her hair color had been lightened into a stunning golden blond. Soft and pretty makeup accentuated her hair transformation, while her neutral-toned clothing also completed the look, proving that Joan Irvine is indeed a modern woman. Her joy and confidence after the makeover was clearly evident.

Then in 2016, thirteen years following her incredible transformation, The Oprah Winfrey Show caught up with Joan Irvine to see if she'd kept up her makeover and how she was doing. Joan looked absolutely beaming as she spoke to the camera still bearing her shorter hairdo. She recalled how she gained confidence from the transformation, and how going from long to short not only changed her outlook but also saved her a lot of time! Reflecting on how the makeover changed her life when she went back home, she said, "It was just a part of me, people just didn't know me when I came back from the show because it seemed to be like a trademark."

It's incredible what a physical change can do for one's sense of self. Discussing the impact it's had on her life, Joan said: "I can't believe I went through that without falling on my face or something, you know. I'll say that it was a moment in time for me, definitely, definitely." She appeared happy and stated that she's enjoying her retirement and that she still does her swimming and walking. 

A makeover can truly be life-changing. We're often told that how we look on the outside is just vanity and what's on the inside is what counts, and while this is true, how we feel on the inside can also be strongly influenced by what's on the outside. If you feel stuck in your ways with regards to your appearance and that's reflected in how you feel about yourself or carry yourself, then a makeover with the help of professionals could be just the thing to give you a new lease on life. The many makeovers that appear on the internet and in magazines are proof of how changing your looks can bring about a newfound confidence in your life.

What do you think of Joan’s incredible makeover on Oprah? Did you or a friend of yours ever have an extreme makeover? Pass this along to see your friends' reactions!