Me and my hair

When Larry Hagman or Patrick Duffy are in Dallas filming, she's the lady who finds them somewhere to live. A former secretary turned estate agent, Carolyn Shamis is a real-life Dallas lady with millions to match. She looks as if she's stepped off the film set, and drives a $50,000 car that she trades in for a new model each year. But does she have problems maintaining that perfect, glossy image? How tough is it to look good when you're super-rich? Here's what she told Caroline Richards

"The women in Dallas are more 'dressy' than in other cities - we are not so casual here as in, maybe, Los Angeles or New York. Women here wear more make-up than in other cities, wear more jewelery. When we go to New York, we stand out! I don't know if that is good or bad, but you can tell the difference. It's a look you have to work quite hard at, and it is expensive to achieve - but I've never thought beauty was easy!
"My hair has been my Achilles heel all my life. I have naturally curly hair and have never been able to deal with it. I have spent ten years wearing wigs! I have gone to the best hairdressers all over, but not until recently have I ever had a good haircut. I am 44 years old and, for the very first time in my life, I am able to blow dry my hair and let the rest be natural.
"I fought the natural curl in my hair all my life. For instance, I used to dread traveling. I would have my hairdresser come to my house at six o'clock in the morning before I got an eight o'clock flight. My whole being was worried just about my hair. I didn't know how to do it. If you blow dry it straight, it turns curly in less than an hour. Or if it's not cut properly, naturally curly hair frizzes.
"It does everything wrong. I was always having people to come to my house to do my hair. I was going to a salon four times a week to have my hair blown dry. I can show you checks of $250 a month, and I did it because I think hair is your crowning glory and even if you feel you have got everything else together, you don't feel good if you have a major problem with your hair like I had.
"I had hairpieces and wigs, and scarves and hats, or I wore it pulled straight back, because I did look good with it pulled back. Whenever I went on vacation, I would seek out hairdressers everywhere, because I knew I couldn't cope with my hair. I never washed my hair at home because I just didn't know how to do it! Then I read about Toni & Guy, and I went to the salon and met my stylist, Lisa. I told her how unhappy I was with my hair. She not only gave me a good haircut, I felt I was a piece of art that she had created! I felt she paid attention to me. I can now blow dry my own hair, or I can let it stay natural because it is cut properly - it's been a life saver.
"I always wanted my hair long, for instance, but everyone else cut my hair short, because of my age, people say you should have short hair. But there is a way to have long hair, as long as you can get it to fit your face. Every time I go to the salon, I/m nervous because I'm afraid that she might cut too little or too much off, but she always does it wonderfully! Like this morning - I could get up and have a shower and wash my hair - as I said, before, I never washed my hair at home.
"I am an avid believer in health, too. I think that one must work out, in some form or another, at least five days a week, and I think one should do a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of an hour every day. It's a matter of discipline - you cannot be successful in anything if your health is not good. Health bases itself on being fit, and it gives you energy - it takes stress out. I belong to two health clubs, and I work out after work - always. It is a promise to myself, whatever my schedule. I do treadmill, uphill walk, fast treadmill, trampoline, weights and dancing classes. I am very disciplined, and I'm fearful of being fat, so I do it.
"I am 5 ft 2 ½ inches and I weigh 106 to 110 lbs - I've been this way for eight years. I don't diet - I love food and I eat anything I like, but I've learned to eat things that are more healthy, so I love salads and fruit, pies and cakes and cookies, but I don't like rich food. In the morning, I drink fresh orange juice, coffee and eat a piece of fruit. I always have a cold lunch, because when you work I think a hot lunch slows you down. I might eat vegetables, but nothing heavy. Then, at dinner, I eat whatever I like. I love Italian food, I love seafood, desserts, peanuts, cookies … I eat something sweet every day. If you are going to eat like this, you have to exercise to show you care about your body. You don't have to be a Racquel Welch, but it is important to look as good as you can, to make the most of what you have.
"As far as skin care is concerned, I don't like a complicated routine. I don't take off my make-up at night. I sleep in it, because I like waking up looking somewhat okay! I wash my face in the mornings, with a facial scrubbing brush and cold water. I use a moisturiser, but it varies. I went to the La Prairie clinic (in New York) and I use a lot of their products, which I have enjoyed trying out. I use a lot of baby oil, and also a cream that my mother has used all of her life and she is 72 years old with skin prettier than mine. It's called Dr. Berry's Freckle Cream.
"I just don't mess with my face a lot, but I do believe water makes your skin happier and healthier. Everything we have comes from the inside out, and water flushes away the toxins. So I drink a lot of mineral water - I like Evian very much, which I discovered in Europe.
"I think you must listen to your body to find things that work for you. And get expert opinions. And once you've passed the ages of 25 to 30, you have to try a bit harder. I look after my nails for instance. I have a lady who comes to take care of them. I have flowers painted on my toes, and I usually have diamonds embedded in my fingernails, but I haven't had time to do that lately. These are sculptured nails and are put on with ultra-violet light and they're harder than rock. They stay like this for three weeks or so. Nails are a part of feminity don't you think? Most women are into jewelery in a big way here, and jewelery without nails is just not pretty. So nail places have opened all over Dallas because everyone cares about their nails. You can spend up to $300 a month just on having your nails fixed.
"When it comes to clothes, it's important that they seem expensive. It's fun to have lots of real things and lots of fun things, too. Almost all of the stores that I shop in, from jewelery to clothing, have a service where someone comes to my office to leave things for me to take home to try on. Some people will let me try their jewelery for three or four days to see if I like it. They know that I am busy and I'm out a lot. I like to look a bit different. I like to look female and somewhat exotic. I don't feel like I am a leader - I don't want to be a sheep - so I look for something a little out of the ordinary.
"I grew up in the clothing industry because of my family, so I know what I'm looking for. I love Valentino's clothes, because they fit me and I like their high fashion and padded shoulders and their slenderness. I am into slimming clothes rather than full clothes, female clothes rather than male, soft rather than hard. For instance, I love high heels - I wear them all the time and I have probably 100 pairs of shoes. I love dancing, and I like shoes that don't come off, so I wear a lot or ankle straps. I am always thinking of dancing when I am buying shoes, and comfort, because I walk a lot in my business.
It's my own company named after me, and I deal with expensive residential property - starting at $250,000 and going up to $16 million for a ranch that I have to sell at the moment.
The Dallas TV series has helped our image a great deal. And you know, the look of the Dallas show does fit in with real life here. When people in Dallas watch Dallas, they don't find it unusual. There's an event here called the Cattle Barons' Ball that is identical to the Dallas show. And being a woman here is just as competitive - especially where men are concerned!"

How to be a millionairess

These points are from Carolyn Shamis' special Gold Book

· People are divided into three groups, those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder "what happened?"
· Try to make the most of all that comes - and the least of all that goes.
· If you look successful, you're going to be successful. You rarely get a second chance to make a good first impression.
· When you make a mountain out of a molehill, don't expect anyone to climb up to admire the view.
· A woman can move mountains. Her persistence and determination make up for any handicap.