COMPUTER IMAGING CAN BE BEAUTIFUL

Laurie Anderson of Jackson hasn't been to a hairdresser in years. Her husband occasionally trims a little off the ends of her long, curly, blond hair.

"I'm scared to get it cut," she said. "No one ever knows what to do with my hair."

Instead of ordering up a new hair style at a salon, Anderson and more than 60 other people took advantage of a high-tech alternative last week.

Using an assortment of digital equipment, John Nemchik of Modern Concepts from Seattle gave customers a peek at what they might look like in different hair styles and different hair colors.

The make-over sessions were sponsored by Color Me Beautiful cosmetics sold at JCPenney's. Similar computerized make overs are also available through Style Stop Impact salon in Jackson. The Jackson salon sends a Polaroid portrait to a company that provides a similar service. In the past, the service had been offered at the salon.

Aleda Phillips, co-owner of Style Stop Impact, said she has recently received several requests for a return of the computerized make overs.

"We're looking into attaching it to our existing computer system," she said.

Computers in the beauty business are used for everything from inventory to scheduling to billing.

"Technology is always changing," Phillips said. "You have to stay on top of it. You just never know what will come out next."

At JCPenney's, a makeup artist gave each client's face a new look. Then Nemchik took over. "Hi. I'm the computer geek," he introduced himself. He is also a trained cosmetologist.

A video camera connected to Nemchik's computer captured the client's face on screen. Using an electronic pen and touch pad, he drew an outline of the face. Then the computer took over. It replaced the client's hair style with 25 to 30 of 1,000 alternates.

Each of the choices was recorded on a videotape, along with "some cheesy background music," Nemchik said. "You can sit on your couch and enjoy the movie."

A CD player and VCR were networked into the computer system.

But Anderson wasn't much interested in how the make over took place. She and the line of others waiting their turn contemplated the various styles.

Short hair, she decided after viewing a few different choices, was definitely out. Anderson didn't think dark hair was a good alternative, but strawberry blond had potential.

The straight styles looked a little unusual for a woman used to natural curls.

"I don't know what I'm going to do now," she said, videotape in hand. "I guess I will go home and sit on the couch and watch the video with my husband."

Nemchik recommended that clients pick a style and then take the videotape to their hair stylist for a new do.

Dana Newell of Scott City stood patiently in line behind Anderson, feeling a little uncomfortable about her new shade of lipstick. It was brighter than she was used to.

"I just felt like I needed a make over," she said. Her second child is 7 months old. "It's time for something different."

The computer replaced Newell's dark, shoulder-length hair with long, curly red hair. "I look like a Spice Girl," she gasped. "That's not good."

A different curly, but not quite so dramatic, hair style popped on screen. "Hey, I used to have my hair like that," she said. "That looks pretty good. Why did I ever change it?"

Newell considered styles that ranged from short and spiky to long and straight. The style similar to the one from her past stood out as a favorite. "I'll still have to think about it," she said.