So you want to know about me, Dean Banowetz, the Hollywood Hair Guy. The locks wizard behind celebrity staples like Leeza Gibbons, Simon Cowell, Ryan Seacrest, Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, Tony Robbins and Shark Tank's Lori Greiner. A self-proclaimed Jamie Oliver of hairstyling who throws awe-inducing house parties. That’s me!

After owning and operating a full-service salon in Bettendorf, IA, I made the big move to sunny and sparkly Los Angeles, where I landed a gig on the nationally syndicated series Extra. I attended the On Set Motion Picture Hair Academy in Santa Monica to specialize in Hollywood hair tricks of the trade and refined my practice big-time.

In the summer of 2002, I took a job on the little-known American Idol Search for a Superstar on FOX, where I was mainly responsible for styling the golden mane of Mr. Ryan Seacrest, as well as all of the contestants. Since then, I’ve worked on many projects in Hollywood, including:

Growing up on a farm in rural Iowa, I am the thirteenth of 15 children! Not lying: Judy, Alice, Dee, Lloyd, Steve, Alan, Mary, Marv, Dick, Deb, Annette, Leon, Randy, Patti and me. Oh, and my parents Paul and Sally! RIGHT?! It gets even crazier.

In my first career, I was enlisted in the US Army where I earned Soldier of the Year in Fort Hood with the Second Armored Division. I received my first Army Achievement medal within the first 6 months of enlisting, then 3 more followed after. Another life highlight was creating wigs for regional dinner theatre shows all across the Midwest, and traveling to many US salons after being selected as a North American Educator for a major haircare manufacturer.

Coming from a huge family, I'm shameless in the self-promotion department – I am starving for attention, of course. It’s also because I love to give advice and make people feel good. To say my life has been a little quirky and a lot of crazy is understating it.

Here are a few throwback gems for your enjoyment: