If you grew up in the ‘80s, chances are the glitzy-good pop song countdown show,“Solid Gold,” ruled your Saturday nights. The music was fabulous, but the real magic of “Solid Gold” (aside from the sax-heavy, Dionne Warwick-sung theme song) was the jazz-tastic Solid Gold dancers. Each week, from 1980 to 1988, they performed slinky choreographed numbers to the top ten songs of the week—and principal dancer Darcel Wynn was their fearless leader. For five seasons, this Pittsburgh native turned America out with her gold-lame awesomeness, fierce unitard collection, fearsome nails and that glorious ’80’s weave (the style of which varied from ankle-length braids to a waterfall of huge, pre-Jody Watley waves). Her look was major, but her dancing was everything—you haven’t seen anything until you’ve witnessed Wynn writhing around on the floor in a gilded full-body catsuit to the Pointer Sisters’ “Slow Hand.” Darcel, we are not worthy.
Add a touch of “Solid Gold”-glitz to your ’do with Frederic Fekkai Golden Shimmer Gelee Mist ($10). This limited edition shine spray contains golden micro-diamond particles that leave your hair looking glossy and luminous.
Capitalizing off the ’80s fitness craze, in 1983, Darcel appeared in the enormously popularSolid Gold 5 Day Workout tape. Somehow, the dancer managed to keep her hair looking fabulous despite the sweaty, hardcore entire workout.
One of Darcel Wynn’s trademarks was a gold lame headband. Update the look with a skinny metallic headband, like Forever 21 Metallic Sparkle Head Wrap ($1.99). So delicate, and the price is fab.
In Darcel Wynn’s interview with Auntie Fashion, she explained that her pre-show beauty regimen was a lot of work. “It was a lot of hours…braids and nails every week,” she said. “One time we were trying to get my hair to look like Crystal Gayle’s hair. The braids were down to my ankles. I tucked (them) in my belt and used that hair like a whip. The dancers next to me had to duck.”
Jazz up dull hair with Redken All Soft Gold Glimmer Perfecting Shine Treatment ($19). This strand-softening serum nourishes dry hair and gives it a shimmering sheen.
Before there were Fly Girls, there were “Solid Gold” dancers, ruling our Saturday nights in silver lycra, sparkly nude hose, and big hair.
Darcel big, bodacious hair on “Solid Gold” called for tons of heat styling. Before using a curling iron or flatiron, always spritz your hair with a heat protector like ghd Thermal Protector for Dry, Coarse Hair ($19). That way, the iron will burn the spray, not your strands.
To create Darcel’s wild woman waves, wind small sections of hair around Hot Tools Professional 3 Gold Barrel Waver ($36.95), a fancy styling tool that creates sexy waves in seconds.
Before dancing her way into America’s living rooms as “Solid Gold’s” principal dancer, Darcel Wynn appeared as a dancer in films like “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Mame,” and “Xanadu.”
