DeanBanowetz.com : Shameless Self Promoter

DeWitt native is hairstylist to the stars

—Charlene Bielema, Herald EditorApril 26, 2003

LOS ANGELES - It wasn't too long ago that Dean Banowetz found himself riding in a vehicle that was forced to come to halt on a busy California street. But it wasn't a mechanical problem or something in the road. Instead it was the need to touch up TV star Ryan Seacrest's hair as he filmed a pilot for a new TV show. As Banowetz bounded out of his vehicle and ran toward the intersection to touch up the current "American Idol" host's hair, it hit him.

"I'm like, what am I doing here - I can't believe it. It was one of those Iowa moments," said Banowetz, a DeWitt native who grew up on a farm with 14 siblings, moved into Hollywood and, after three years, is still overwhelmingly awed to be a hairstylist to the stars.

It's a path that Banowetz, who styles Leeza Gibbons hair for her TV show Extra" and oversees the hair of all "American Idol" contestants and its host never imagined when he graduated from Central High School in 1985. After high school he joined the active duty Army where, in 1987, he was selected as soldier of the year. He continued his government career for seven years. He attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City and obtained his art degree. Reaching a crossroads in his life, it was when his brother mentioned that he thought Banowetz would be good at doing hair that he knew he was onto something. He attended cosmetology school at Bill Hill's College of Cosmetology in Davenport. After cosmetology school, he worked in regional dinner theater throughout the Midwest creating wigs for the actors. He also acted.

He became an educator for a major hair care product company and started his own salon in Bettendorf. But it was when he decided to take a course in January 2000 at the "On Set Motion Picture Hair Academy" in Santa Monica that his life really began to change.

Susan Lipson, the owner of the school dedicated to teaching the tricks of the trade for doing hair in Hollywood, saw something special in Banowetz. She wanted him to trade his rural roots for life in the big city. He was reluctant, even though he knew he had reached the top of his game back home. "I had no interest in going out west," he said. "But she said, 'Listen, just apply for one job.'"

So he sent his resume to "Extra," and was called out to interview. He made the cut, beating out hundreds of other stylists who were seeking the spot. It all went so fast: He flew out to attend the hair classes at the academy on Jan.1, 2000; by Valentine's Day that same year he was on the job at Extra." He also had the chance to style Seacrest's hair when he was a guest on "Extra." Seacrest told Banowetz to do whatever he wanted, so grabbing a flat iron, he set to work to change Seacrest's look.

It was like magic. The two became good friends and Banowetz became Seacrest's stylist. That relationship was further cemented when Banowetz was hired in the summer of 2002 to style Seacrest's hair for the new show "American Idol Search for a Superstar" on FOX, which now in its second season is a ratings phenomenon.

Along with styling the host's hair, Banowetz also does all of the performers whom he helps to develop as they sing their way through the competition from week to week.

It all leads to busy days for the stylist, whose popularity has made him the hit of the radio show circuit. He is often a guest on radio shows around the country, getting up before 4 a.m. to be part of telephone interviews until 7 or 8 a.m. At 9 a.m. he is on the job at "Extra," where he works until about 1 p.m. He then heads over to CBS studios to the "American Idol" set, mainly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

In between, he styles, cuts and works his magic on a star roster that includes inspirational speaker Tony Robbins, Linda Blair and Billy Warlock. He also continues friendships with some of the "Idol" stars from last year. Similarly strong relationships are being forged with this year's "Idol" competitors as well.

For Banowetz, to be so heavily relied upon by those whom he styles is a role he relishes.

"They get paid for how they look and how they perform," he said. "I protect them. I make sure they are always together."

And they don't forget him. Not only will Seacrest only let Banowetz do his hair, Gibbons also calls on him to make her look good for publicity shots and for the walk down the red carpet.

It is for those events that he really has his work cut out for him. At Oscar time, he grabs four or five mannequin heads, styles them up and lets Gibbons pick which she likes. She usually likes a certain feature on each one so he mixes and matches until the right look is created.

Those mannequins are becoming what he calls his arsenal of styles. It's a collection of his work in a profession that he hopes will propel him into becoming a household name with a hair care collection of his own, a book series and a deal with a TV shopping network.

Through it all, he remains grounded by remembering where he comes from - the Midwest.

"I have a strong belief system in who and what I am. I'm just a big hairy guy from Iowa," he said, noting that his role will always be to help others look their best. "I always say that I'm not the one who will be sitting in the cart. I'm the one who will be pulling it."