| It’s a debutante’s duty to practice being | | | | enough. Helmet hair in a French roll simply looked too |
| prim and perfect on her big day. Part of that | | | | antiquated. Enter Misha Belfer, stylist known for his |
| perfection is her tireless search to pick out the | | | | exceptional up-dos. |
| perfect princess white gown—elaborate enough to | | | | Belfer, who owns a salon called Salon Misha at One |
| make a bride jealous. Besides the dress, a deb’s | | | | Broadway in the heart of Denver, Colorado knows |
| hairstyle is a big decision. | | | | debs. He has wowed debs and their mothers with |
| Historically, debutants were considered to be of a | | | | up-dos over the last six debutante balls. |
| marriageable age. The debutante ball held in cities | | | | Given his background, it makes huge sense that |
| across this country and Europe were to introduce | | | | he’d own a knack for up-dos that’s more |
| young women to eligible young men. Denver, | | | | honed than other stylists. Belfer’s background |
| Colorado’s premier debutante ball is held the | | | | was in ballroom dancing and hairstyling for the |
| Friday prior to Christmas each year. For more than 50 | | | | ballroom dancers. Up-dos for brides and fashion |
| years, eligible young women across Denver waited | | | | shows are his specialty. He’s also expert in color, |
| anxiously to be named to the deb roles. Not | | | | cuts and everyday styling. |
| everyone was so lucky. The choice depended on a | | | | The hair style a deb chooses for her big event is |
| number of factors that made the family as a whole | | | | very personal and is often the piece de resistance of |
| “socially acceptable.” | | | | a deb’s overall look. In order to achieve the |
| The pressure was on the young debs to ready | | | | perfect up-do for the celebrated social introduction, |
| themselves to curtsey in the spotlight under the | | | | Belfer meets with a deb to do a hair styling |
| atrium at the historic Brown Palace in Denver. Each | | | | run-through before the big night. He makes |
| deb then and now in 2008 is expected to display an | | | | recommendations regarding the most appropriate |
| air of sophistication and elegance. In recent years, | | | | style based on the shape of one’s face, the |
| most debs refused to completely forego their fresh, | | | | texture and thickness of one’s hair, and, yes, |
| youthful style even when it came to their hair. | | | | even the style of the dress the deb has chosen to |
| The pin curls of junior prom were not sophisticated | | | | wear for her introduction to society. |
