Man Made: Tips from Top Hollywood Groomer on Styling, Travel, Life

Seth Macfarlane, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Rob Pattinson, Chris Hemsworth, George Clooney, Liam Hemsworth, Jon Hamm, Matt Damon, Lin Manuel Miranda…we could go on because this is only a partial list of the lucky guys who’ve come under the expert care of Diana Schmidtke. Diana was a men’s groomer before the industry used the term and she has styled many of Hollywood’s most handsome.

An Illinois native, Schmidtke trained at Pivot Point in Chicago, worked hard at area salons, and came to Los Angeles to explore the industry there. She was not thinking about building a career doing just men because no one, at the time, was doing it. It sort-of, well, happened. “One day, I was working on a shoot and in the studio next to us was a friend of mine who said their groomer was a no-show and I was asked to help out. They were shooting with David Boreanaz (of “Bones” fame) and while I told the editor on my job that they would be my priority, I stepped in to help. The publicist said, ‘I’m going to make it up to you,’ something I had heard a lot at that point, but this time, it came through.”She started to get calls to style men and the rest is hair history.

We asked this celebrity stylist and all-around beauty master to open-up about her process and some of her tips for grooming, travel, and life.

Favorite thing to wear when working: My wedding ring. That is my proudest achievement. I also make sure I am wearing some gold hoop earrings.

Top tip you give to the men you groom? Even though I’m a hairdresser, I always tell my men to wear sunscreen every day. Doesn’t matter if the sun is out or not out, the most important anti-aging secret is to wear sunscreen. Also, look for zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as the active ingredients. Toxic chemicals wash off our bodies into the oceans and seas.

The guy you haven’t groomed, yet, but would like to? Keanu Reeves. I grew up watching him. He has always given back and just seems to have his heart in the right place.

Do you have any travel tips to share? I’m not trying to sound boogie, but Bose headphones are completely worth the investment. They cancel noise better than any other headphones. Other things I always bring when I travel are…

A horseshoe pillow
A tiny, very thin blanket from Korean Airlines that I received when I flew there with Vin Diesel for Fast and Furious. I love it.
Always, a refillable water bottle.
Hand sanitizer, because I wipe down my whole area.
And I always travel with Afrin for those emergencies—you should never fly congested and stuffed-up.

If I hadn’t become a hairdresser, I would be… A chef. Not in a restaurant but I’d love to cook for private guests. I’m so interested in foods, nutrition, health, and I would absolutely love to get paid to go shopping at Whole Foods.

Today, Schmidtke continues to travel the world, making gorgeous men gorgeous-er (!). She is also talking about a brand she started with her husband that combines her passion for skincare, sun protection, and preserving the beauty of nature. Sombra Sunscreen, made and manufactured in her second home, Costa Rica:www.sombrasunscreen.com

Here’s how Diana consults with clients who are experiencing thinning hair.

A great interview with Diana and one of her best friends and fellow men’s groomers.