Shear madness? I think not.
By now, many media outlets have reported that for her European press junket for Marley & Me, Jennifer Aniston spent tens of thousands of dollars to have hairstylist Chris McMillan accompany her and style her hair for appearances over the course of the week. While exact figures have varied from source to source, the most commonly cited figure is the 40 thousand British Pounds reported by the UK’s Daily Mail. Many have criticized her for this, saying that such extravagance in these economic times is not called for. Now, admittedly, as a fan of the actress, I would be one to jump to her defense. However, I think that in this instance, it’s not mere fandom talking - I had three separate reactions to the outcry, and each led me to the logical conclusion that like it or not, beauty is an expensive business.
My first response: “So what? All stars do it.” And it’s true that despite the economic crunch that affects many of us, celebrities have continued to look like their polished selves on the red carpet - at the recent Oscars, they showed no signs of scrimping. I’m sure that Mr. McMillan and other Hollywood beauty experts had plenty of business that weekend. It’s just how it’s done.
My second response: “So what? The studio probably paid anyway.” While this has neither been confirmed nor denied, it would not be surprising. As the press junket is for purposes of promoting the movie, it would be in the studio’s best interest to have the stars out there looking their best, and if that means spending money for a hairdresser to travel with them, so be it. See response #1: it wouldn’t be the first time.
My third response: “So what? He’s right to charge that much.” Many have balked at the sum that was spent for Mr. McMillan’s services, but as the owner of a salon, he is justified in charging that much as compensation for being away from his salon. As one of the hairdressing elite, he commands hundreds of dollars per cut, and if he had been at home working in his salon, he’d be pulling in thousands per day. So his fee for working exclusively with Ms. Aniston is reasonable in light of the profit he’d otherwise be making. Add in airfare and accommodations, and it’s easy to see how a figure in the tens of thousands would be reached.
In conclusion, yes, beauty is an expensive business. Why single Jen out?
