CORA PEARL SUITE AT THE GROSVENOR HOTEL IN LONDON : KATIE HICKMAN, BIOGRAPHER, ON CORA

Katie Hickman says Cora Pearl reinvented herself and was "good at the theatre of life." Cora dyed her hair blue and dyed her dog's hair blue too. (Think Madonna!) Linking to an article by Kickman, Cora's biographer, says "Sexiness and availability were never enough to succeed as a courtesan. Cora was also an extremely good business woman. At the height of her success she was said to have earned over 50,000 francs a month (£90,000). She owned several houses in Paris, a chateau, a world-famous stable; her jewels alone were worth over a million francs. Cora was one of the first women in Paris to wear couture (she was an early patron of Worth); make-up; lingerie. Best of all - and I speak as an Englishwoman - she bested the French at their own game."

DECLARATION FOR MISTRESSES - Maintenance

"If I dye my hair I will not allow roots to show - ever!"  

Let's face it. Maybe Drew Barrymore or Madonna have allowed themselves to be photographed as a cover-girl or in magazine spreads - by famous photographers no less! - with their roots showing, but nothing is cheaper looking. Nothing announces bad grooming to the world more. (Even chipped nail polish is a little more understandable!)

There is nothing worse than letting those roots show the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

Mistresses should strive to keep their hair shiny, healthy, and clean. If the sun lightens it - fine! If the natural gray is coming in, usually that's fine too - just use some blue shampoo to keep your gray from yellowing. But if you're going to play Blonde when you're really a Brunette, play it well!