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Actress 'gets real' at TV's most anticipated award show NEW YORK, Aug. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- While her Hollywood counterparts get ready to sit for hours in styling chairs and endure all kinds of pulling and prodding to prepare for the 59th Annual Primetime Emmy(R) Awards, one actress stands alone. Ali Larter, co-star of the Emmy-nominated series "Heroes," announced today that in collaboration with Dove Hair Care she is taking a stand for real beauty by "going real" on the red carpet. She is forgoing the usual pre-awards show professional hairstyling routine by creating her own hairstyle, without a team of stylists. Her mission is to inspire women to start loving the hair they have and not compare it to the unattainable images they see in the media and Hollywood. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070821/AQTU130) "There is a lot of work that goes into Hollywood hair and I want women to know that it is unrealistic for every day," said Larter. "I am going to go out on a limb by doing my own hair for the Emmys without any stylists. I am going to use Dove Hair Care products for five days, get my hair in great shape and I am going to rock the red carpet. I am doing all of this to help women realize the potential of their own hair and feel more confident every day." While working with Ali Larter, Dove Hair Care uncovered that it often takes a team of stylists, two hours or more in a styling chair with curling irons, hot rollers, flat irons, foam wedges and products to create celebrity camera-ready "Hollywood" hairstyles. Such styling processes used to create glamorous looks for award shows, red carpet events and commercial shoots, are unrealistic for women to achieve every day. However, according to a recent survey(1), nearly 60 percent of women believe that these images in the media set the standard for beautiful hair. Boosting Self-Esteem in Girls Pre-teen and teenage girls can be particularly affected by unrealistic beauty images in the media. Girls need to start embracing the hair they have at a young age, which is why Ali Larter joined Dove Hair Care today in New York at a session designed to help build self-esteem in pre-teen/teen members of the Girl Scouts of the USA. Serving as a positive role model, Larter inspired attendees to love the hair they have by sharing her personal experiences. "I believe in the Dove Hair Care message and I am excited to take a stand for real beauty," said Larter. "I have learned to love my hair and I hope girls and women of all ages do the same." Additionally, Gretchen Monahan, trendsetter, celebrity stylist and contributor to the "Rachael Ray" show, was on hand to share hair care tips and styling techniques to help the girls feel more beautiful and confident every day. Everyone can make their hair look its best with the right tools and techniques. Dove Supports Self-Esteem In conjunction with Ali Larter's involvement and to help girls start embracing their hair early on, Dove Hair Care will make a donation to help send girls from across the U.S. to self-esteem workshops through uniquely ME!, The Girl Scout/Dove Self-Esteem Fund program. The Dove Self-Esteem Fund is part of the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, a global effort designed to widen today's stereotypical view of beauty. Real Women, Get Involved! Real women can get involved with the campaign effort by telling Dove why they love the hair they have through the Dove Love Your Hair Ad Contest. At http://www.doveloveyourhair.com/, women can create personalized ads to showcase their real, beautiful hair. From these entries, six winners will be chosen to receive all-expenses-paid trips to New York and be featured in an upcoming Dove Hair Care ad. For every contest entry, a $1.00 donation will be made to support self-esteem workshops for young girls through uniquely ME!, The Girl Scout/Dove Self-Esteem Fund program. Entries will be accepted through October 19, 2007. About Campaign for Real Beauty Encouraging all women to embrace their hair is an important part of the Dove effort to build self-esteem. Since the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty was created in 2004, Dove has debunked beauty stereotypes and provoked a global discussion to help change the way society sees beauty. Dove is turning its focus to hair because it is something that plays a large role in driving a woman's self-confidence every day. In fact, according a recent survey, 94 percent of women feel more attractive, happier or confident on a day when they love their hair, but 66 percent said they are happy with their hair only one day a week. Dove Hair Care wants women to love their hair every day. About Dove Hair Care According to Unilever research and development, damaged hair is the No. 1 consumer problem and unmet need. In fact, 86 percent of women say that it is the No. 1 thing they want to change about their hair. Women are only a five-day transformation away from beautiful hair with the Dove Hair Care line of shampoos, conditioners and treatments, which work hard to protect and repair all types of hair, making hair soft and smooth. This transformation can help women feel more beautiful and confident. All Dove Hair Care products are available in food, drug, mass and club retail outlets. About Dove The Dove mission is to make women feel more beautiful every day by challenging today's stereotypical view of beauty and inspiring women to take great care of themselves. Dove, manufactured by Unilever, is the No. 1 personal wash brand nationwide. One in every three households uses a Dove product(2), which includes beauty bars, body washes, face care, anti-perspirant/deodorants, hair care and styling aids. Dove is available nationwide in food, drug and mass outlet stores. About Unilever Unilever (NYSE:ULNYSE:UN), one of the world's largest consumer products companies, aims to add vitality to life by meeting everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care. Each day, around the world, consumers make 160 million decisions to purchase Unilever products. The company has a portfolio of brands that make people feel good, look good and get more out of life. In the United States these brands include recognized names such as: Axe, "all," Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Breyers, Caress, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Hellmann's, Knorr, Lipton, Popsicle, Promise, Q-Tips, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Snuggle, Suave, Sunsilk and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies. Dedicated to serving consumers and the communities where we live, work and play, Unilever in the United States employs approximately 13,000 people in more than 60 office and manufacturing sites in 24 states and Puerto Rico -- generating nearly $10 billion in sales in 2006. For more information, visit http://www.unileverusa.com/. (1) Survey statistics are a result of the Dove Hair Care Study by Impulse Research Corp. in July 2007. The online survey was completed by 1,000 women in the U.S. between the ages of 18-54. Margin of error is +/- 3 percent at the 95 percent level of confidence. (2) ACNielsen (2004) Contact: Danielle Gray/Edelman Stacie Bright/Unilever (312) 297-7575 (203) 625-1130 http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070821/AQTU130 http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Dove Hair Care CONTACT: Danielle Gray of Edelman, +1-312-297-7575, ; or Stacie Bright of Unilever, +1-203-625-1130, , both for Dove Hair Care Web site: http://www.doveloveyourhair.com/ http://www.unileverusa.com/

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