When women first recognize stylist Brandon Martinez they usually say, “You’re the bad boy from ‘Blowout,'” referring not only to the Bravo reality series that made the LA hairstylist famous but also to his pimp-daddy ways. After all, he does have a preference for shiny motorcycles, tattoos and girls, girls, girls.
And like most bad boys, the blue-eyed Mexican-Italian is also completely irresistible.
After being fired from the Beverly Hills salon where “Blowout” was set, the 33-year-old was quickly recruited to do a string of other shows, including Bravo’s “Salon Diaries.” Last week, VH1’s “Beauty School Dropouts,” a “Project Runway” for hairdressers that begins shooting at the end of the month, was picked up. Martinez will be the “Tim Gunn” type of mentor for contestants for the show, which promises to be scandalous and over the top.
“I stayed a good sport,” says Martinez about his success, “and didn’t become a nightmare like Jonathan Antin,” his former reality TV boss. (Meow)
It helps that the 33-year-old is a natural in front of the camera, which is ironic considering that he enrolled in beauty school after years of struggling as an actor.
He’s also a master at cutting, coloring and styling in a field that doesn’t attract many straight men. “I stand out like a sore thumb,” he says, “women can have a crush on me.” Yet Martinez, who recently got engaged, lives by a simple rule: “You just don’t have sex with your clients or you’ll go broke.”
Keeping it platonic has paid off. Boldface names like Rosario Dawson and Michelle Rodriguez have him on speed-dial and he’s a favorite of New York’s elite.
“I do Rupert and Wendi,” he says nonchalantly, referring to the powerhouse owners of the New York Post. “I have about 10 hedge fund wives,” he adds.
Last year, socialites Kelly Sugarman, Natasha Ziff and Wendi Murdoch threw him a party to celebrate the launch of his new hair-care line, B. the Product.
The line’s styling aids are made from natural extracts to clean the hair and chemicals to make it effective. “I wanted that natural California vibe and that solid New York way of working,” says the hairstylist, who wields his scissors at the Plaza’s Warren Tricomi salon when he’s in Manhattan.
This spring, he’ll do piece-y soft bangs and layers to emphasize movement. If you can’t afford his $250 haircut fee, Martinez has a recession tip: “Using dry shampoo is a huge thing for the economy: You don’t use as much shampoo and your hair color doesn’t slip as much.” Words to live by.