Profile: Leanne Citrone

Leanne Citrone is an amazing hair stylist and co-owner of the Andy LeCompte Salon in West Hollywood, right behind my Almont store. Leanne was born in England and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two adorable children – Luca and Willow. I met her when I was 14 – I was her first client and she was my first fancy haircut. She still cuts my hair, and has become one of my close friends. She has great, effortless taste that I wanted to share with Rip+Tan. XXJKE

Kids

R+T: Are there any kids’ finds that you want to share with Rip+Tan?

LC: I love shopping at Makie, Smallable, Eggy, and Poppy when I’m on the West Side. Also, Pallumba.com is one of my favorite places to shop for kids online. And oddly enough, Lego.com has been very popular in my house – for boys and girls. It’s the only thing they want to play with right now. Everything else I buy toy wise is because it looks chic! They’re also really into Magna-Tiles. It’s plastic and it drives me nuts but it keeps them happy.

R+T: What is your favorite restaurant to eat at with the whole family?

LC: We love Osteria Mamma – the tomato sauce is our favorite. Café Gratitude is also amazing and healthy. Cecconi’s for brunch is one of the kids’ favorites and they love sitting outside. For after school, I like to take them to M Café. They die for the kids’ bento box and Willow thinks that if she eats pink fish (salmon), that she’ll turn pink, which is her favorite color.

Beauty

R+T: What are your go-to beauty products?

LC: Stem Cell Moisturizer by Terri Lawton is my go-to. Anything and everything that Terri recommends, I use. She changes my products when my skin needs it. I like her because she has a natural approach to skin care. Right now, the five that I can’t live without are Dr. Bronner’s Hemp Almond Soap, Phylia Connect , Rene Furterer Okara Shampoo and Okara Conditioner, and CosMedix Clear Clarifying Mask.

R+T: Is there anything special you’d like to share about your beauty routine?

LC: I love my Clarisonic. I’ve been really into the Dr. Bronner’s soaps – I know that sounds insane. But I’ve been really into going back to basics. I use it in the shower and I’ve stopped putting moisturizer on my body. I got so used to needing to put on all of this stuff all the time and it feels nice to get out of the shower and just feel really clean.

R+T: Bath or shower?

LC: Shower. I have a beautiful bathtub but I really need to wash the day off of me. The shower is like coffee for me – I can’t wake up unless I’ve taken one.

Health

R+T: Do you have any health tricks?

LC: My homeopath – Nkem Ndefo (323.254.7775). I’m obsessed with her for mental, physical and life-long well being. A friend recommended her to me and I thought, why not? I felt like I was having a hard time just balancing everything. She has helped me so much and I just feel better.

R+T: What do you do to stay healthy and balanced?

LC: I love Moksha Yoga, Ballet Bodies, and Tracy Anderson. I get something different from each of them and I like the variation. It’s also about my schedule so I try to have options when I have free time. I love Tracy Anderson but I can’t always get there, but I can do yoga at 6am and it’s near my house. All about timing!

Décor

R+T: What is your design philosophy for your home?

LC: Function is the most important and I have never felt like I’ve has to sacrifice function for taste. My kids have learned the meaning of “breakable” at a young age! We have a lot of art at home and they really respect what they can and cannot touch.

R+T: What are your favorite pieces in your house?

LC: I love my elephant table by my front door. It’s so special. I love anything that Doug McCollough makes. And I know this is random but the Salt Rock Light in our bedroom is one of my favorite things. I put it on at night and when I come up to bed, there is a beautiful glow coming from our room and I love it. We also have great art and we alternate it. I like our Alison Van Pelt pieces too.

R+T: What are your favorite home stores?

LC: I like Eskandar, which is a store in New York, and it’s opening on Melrose right by the salon – I’m so happy. Heath is another one of my favorites. And of course I love Jenni Kayne – she has the best things and it’s right next-door! It’s my go-to if I ever need a gift and the wrapping is always so beautiful.

Entertaining

R+T: Do you entertain at home?

LC: Yes, but we’re daytime entertainers over nighttime entertainers.

R+T: What are your tricks for entertaining?

LC: I always make sure I have something that I’ve baked myself. I love baking vegan and I like that there’s always a treat waiting when people come over. I love Sprouted Kitchen. Lately I’ve been into the Roasted Strawberry Coconut Ice Cream and Date and Pecan Scones.

R+T: What’s on your playlist when people come over?

LC: Michael and I argue about this constantly! He loves for the music to be loud. Think Eminem, Reggae etc. I’m more of a Coldplay and Adele person – something quieter! So we just take turns owning the iPod.

R+T: What are your favorite objects in your kitchen?

LC: My Shun knives and my English kettle are my prized possessions. I’ve started to collect these vintage serving dishes over the years that I also really cherish.

Fashion

R+T: How would you describe your style?

LC: Simple – I’m a totally uniform girl. Once I know a piece works for me, I stick with it. I’ll wear my white Monrow shirt and white J Brand jeans 50 times this summer. I like the idea of accessorizing but the reality for me is that comfort is key. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started shopping for what I actually wear rather than what I wish I wore. Although…I do have relapses sometimes! I love flat, chic sandals since I’m standing all day at the salon and I also want to start using my Birkins. I keep not wanting to ruin them but then they’ll just sit in boxes.

R+T: Who are your favorite designers?

LC: Celine, Jenni Kayne, MiH Jeans, J. Brand and for heels I also love Bottega and Balenciaga.

Food

R+T: Do you cook?

LC: Yes, all the time. We also have a garden in the backyard that we use a lot.

R+T: What is your favorite recipe?

LC: I tweaked the Babycakes brownie recipe. I add extra coconut oil and keep them in the fridge.

R+T: What’s your kids’ favorite recipe?

LC: Luca really loves Gwyneth Paltrow’s fried rice with kale – he’s really committed to it! He also loves when we pick whatever veggies we have in the garden and sauté them with salt and pepper. And Willow…well…she loves the brownies, any pasta, and cheese.

Art

R+T: Who are your favorite artists?

LC: Chuck Close and Helmut Newton are two of my favorites.

R+T: What is your favorite piece that you own?

LC: Our Patrick Lee drawing is my absolute favorite.

Marriage

R+T: How do you balance work, motherhood, and marriage?

LC: I have no idea. I’m still trying to answer that question myself.

R+T: What is the secret to your marriage?

LC: It’s been 10 years now and you know what? I think we’ve been through some ups and downs and life has just happened in our time together. But we love each other completely unconditionally and accept one another. And at this point, after being together for 14 years, we’ve realized we can’t change the other person.

R+T: Is there something you do with your husband on a regular basis?

LC: We have date night every Saturday.