Unlike Miss Universe, the presidential election isn’t a beauty pageant. Still, on a global stage where Justin Trudeau and Barack Obama set high standards for suaveness, Donald Trump’s creamsicle complexion and khaki-colored comb-over don’t instill confidence he’ll ooze cool in the Oval Office. With The Donald one step closer to the nuclear codes after Ted Cruz dropped out last week, WWD dialed up esteemed beauty advisers for counsel on how the presumptive Republican nominee should upgrade his ‘do and facial hue. Trump might be a billionaire, but Mike Concannon, vice president of marketing for spray-tanning specialist Sunless Inc., believes he’s skimping on his bronzing budget.
“He is using really low-quality self-tanner and is layering applications on top of each other without exfoliating properly,” he speculated. Concannon’s tips: An even slathering of better-quality self-tanner and bringing a professional on board the campaign staff to match Trump’s tan to his skin tone. Although he’s not known for quiet self-reflection, celebrity spray tanner Katrina Brown advocated Trump turn inward to ponder his Oompa Loompa predilection.
“If Mr. Trump is unable to see through a tan obsession it is a worry what else he may not be able to see as a potential world leader,” she warned. Mitch Stone, creator of a namesake hair-care brand, proposed a hair-shade switch to chocolate brown. “It might add a little bit of warmth,” he reasoned. Taking a cue from the popularity of “Hamilton” on Broadway, hairstylist Brandon Liberati wondered if long hair would be a good change. “Hey, it worked for George Washington,” he noted. Men’s groomer Jason Schneidman recommended Trump skew more natural by settling his hair tower down a tad. He said, “If he got a normal, handsome haircut, he would get a lot of votes from it.”