Have you seen the new Kate? I am referring to Kate Gosselin, the reality star of Jon and Kate Plus Eight on The Learning Channel.

This is so incredibly newsworthy to us because whenever I ask a salon professional which celeb he or she would most want to "makeover," Kate Gosselin's name comes up about 90 percent of the time! There has been as much buzz about her coif as there has been about her LIFE!

Enter Ted Gibson-one of my favorite people on the planet. The lucky and wonderful Ted got to be the one to live that makeover dream.

Ted is best known for his $950 hair cuts (the most expensive in New York) and his celeb and fashion work and for his beautiful New York and Washington DC salons. He is the makeover king for TLC's What Not To Wear and regularly creates tasteful, feminine and sexy looks.

If you've seen the most recent People magazine cover, you've seen the Kate transformation. Ted hooked her up with some fancy Great Lengths extensions as she declared, "Now I get to start over." She then refers to herself as "Kate Clean Slate." That clean slate came after a cut, color and 18 bundles of 18 inch straight extensions were cut to below the collarbone, layered and face-framed for a side swept or straight bang.

The price tag for a mere mortal would hover around $7,000 (cut, color, extensions) for this 20 hour "operation."  According to one insider, about 15 of those 20 hours were spent trying to get Kate just to change her fringe!

I gave Ted a buzz to get the scoop and learned that with was his first time meeting Kate and that she endured the makeover in her hotel room, sans children.

MMM: How did you get connected to Kate for this makeover?

TG: They were looking to make Kate over for her new show that she is doing. They contacted my publicist and wanted me to do it. I was thrilled to have been able to change the iconic hair cut of the decade … like Farrah Fawcett in the '80s and Jennifer Aniston in the '90s. It needed to be updated.

MMM: Was it difficult to get her to change her signature look?

TG: She was ready for the change.

MMM: Did you have carte blanche?

TG: Yes, except for the color. She wanted to remain blonde. Jason Backe (Ted's Master Colorist) did the color and it turned out beautiful. Nancy Jiminion, my extension specialist in my New York salon, did Great Lengths extensions.

MMM: Was this spur of the moment or planned (knowing you have to pre-order the hair)?

TG: We had planned to do extensions and hoped she would go for it.

MMM: What was her reaction to the new look?

TG: She LOVED it!!! And still LOVES it!! We have been e-mailing and texting!

MMM: What was the crew and staff reaction?

TG: The same. MAJOR! Beyond the most AMAZING transformation! Kinda what I do every week on What Not To Wear.

MMM: Will you help her maintain her look?

TG: Yes, we have her already scheduled for her visits to the New York salon-about every three months.

MMM: Tell us the truth: How was she? Nice? Domineering? Bitchy? Fun?

(Ted would not respond to this one!)

MMM: How would you describe the transformation?

TG: Brilliant, timely and beautiful. I feel like the luckiest hairdresser in this business. To make over the most famous woman in America for People magazine! I have had the most amazing career as a hairdresser. I have worked for a major manufacturer, worked behind the chair, own two salons, own my own product line that is sold in prestige and "masstige" outlets, have worked on A-list celebrities and have been on every Early Morning show. And guess what? I am a beauty school graduate!

Finally, I asked Ted who HE would most like to makeover.  His answer: "I just did her!!!!"

Bravo Ted.  Another win for a great guy, and a big, long overdue win for Kate.


[ Want to see more of Ted Gibson? Watch this video interview. PREVIEW: Ted Gibson's 40's Inspired Looks ]