GEORGE WAYNE Q & A

Louis Licari: king of color, long-distance runner

Countless Hollywood stars and Upper East Side socialites wouldn't dream of going out in public with. . out their Louis Licari highlights in perfect streaking order. The Tribune of the Tinfoil, who this summer began a side stint as NBC's beauty editor, wears out the airspace between New York and Los Angeles caring for his charges. In his spare time he thwarts foot gashes, takes headfirst tumbles over bicycle handlebars, and has faced near paralysis in a quest for triathlon glory. As he prepares for the fall launch of his new haircare line, Louis Licari Ionic Hair Care, Licari bares all, weighing in on PowerBars, lawsuits, and, crucially, to Speedo or not to Speedo.

George Wayne:So Lou-Lou, darling, tell G. W: how many triathlons have you competed in?

Louis Licari: Many. Last year I did the world championship.

G.W.What about the swimsuit? Is it Speedos for you, Lou-Lou? G. W.s favorite part of the triathlon is the fit men dashing about in their Speedos.

L.L. ah, it's pretty hot. It's a sexy sport. But I'm not the Speedo type of guy. I have a one-piece thing.

G.W.A lot of people don't realize the rigor involved.

First you swim for 2.4 miles, then hop on a bike for another 112 miles, and then do a marathon jog of 26.2 miles.

L.L. I get up around 4:30 A.M., and I train until around 9.

G.W.Where did this idea, this quest, begin, Lou-Lou?

and being a painter, besides being good, requires the ability to selfpromote. I had none of those things. G.W.You are probably the most famous haircolorist ever. L.L. It was a lot of luck. I thought hair would be a great way to make money while I painted, but all of a sudden I was working with people like Eileen Ford and Robert De Niro. G.W.Is this an art? L.L. No, it's a skill.

G.W.Thank God—at least you're honest about it. What do you and Sharon Stone or Susan Sarandon tcdk about? L.L. Susan Sarandon is my very dear friend, and we talk about

things that any friends talk about: what are we doing this week-

end? With Sharon, we talk about her career.

G.W.There is not a whole lot for you and Jennifer Jason Leigh to talk about, is there? Didn't she sue you for $4 million? L.L. That's ancient history; that happened almost 14 years ago.

G.W.Yeah, but what happened with the lawsuit? L.L. It disappeared. G.W.Which means you settled. L.L. And I'm not allowed to talk about it.

G.W.Does Lou-Lou have a significant other?

L.L. No, I don't. G.W.Are you bi-lingual? L.L. No.

G.W.What about your favorite Power Bar?

L.L. I like the Ironman because they send them to me.

G.W.I hear Lou-Lou has the most amazing abs—let G. W. see? L.L. Should we take off my clothes here?

G.W.Why not? L.L. After we're finished talking I'll take off my clothes for you. I just ate, so they might not be so fabulous.

G.W.One of the keys to the roaring success of your salons is the lack of attitude. There is

always room for the celebrity and the Saturday girl.

L.L. That's true. We have

a V.I.P. room, but

the people

who want it are

pretentious women

from Long Island

who wear too much

jewelry. The V.I.P.'s

would rather see

what's going on. Kim Basinger said, "My

God, Louis, this is a

movie in the making. We just have to write it."

G.W.Kudos to you, LouLou! G. W. thanks you very " much! 2 ERIC OGDEN

L.L. Like everyone else, I used to go to the gym, trying to look good, but then I found that

boring. I knew I was a runner and could bike, so all I had to do was get the swimming down and I could become a triathlete. I found this coach to help me, threetime Olympian Mike Gostigian. styled by Jane Herships; suit and shirt by Prada, from Prada stores nationwide, or call 877-977-1900. G.W.Didn't you have a horrendous injury a few years ago, preparing for the Ironman? You popped your C7 neck vertebra. L.L. I broke my neck. I thought I was going to die. But a year later I competed in the Ironman. G.W.You grew up in Syracuse, went to the university there, and moved to Manhattan hoping to be the next