Getting Red-carpet-ready with the Stars

In Part 5 of TVGuide.com's new Body Talk series, we look at how celebrities prep for the red carpet. It's the moment most actors and actresses dream of - waking up one morning to learn that they've been nominated for an Emmy, Oscar or Golden Globe. What runs through their minds first? Is it, "I have to call my mom!" More likely, it's, "How the heck am I going to get myself ready in one month!?" Stars may look effortlessly flawless (or like fashion-police victims) on the big day, but don't kid yourself - it isn't easy. Here are the first five steps celebs take toward the red carpet. 1) Accessories Erika Christensen told TVGuide.com all about her frantic prep. "It's like two days leading up to it of 'What am I going to wear? Who's doing my hair? My makeup? Do the shoes match the purse? Who made the earrings?' The amount of logistics that go into putting all that together is just insane." When the red carpet beckons, professional partygoer Lauren Conrad ( The Hills) told People that she makes sure to bring her best accessories: good friends. "A good night out for me is not about where you go but about having a really good group of friends with you." Friends are nice and all, but they can't make those little bulges disappear - celebs have other tricks for looking flawless on big-event days. 2) Undergarments Stars aren't the only ones who know that Spanx are a girl's best friend: They not only suck in your stomach, but they can tone and firm your thighs, hips and calves. And for those plunging necklines, celebs stock up on double-sided tape. (Remember what happened to Tara Reid at P. Diddy's birthday bash back in 2004? No one needs that kind of slippage.) Feeling secure that everything is going to stay where it's supposed to, stars can flash those pearly whites with a winning smile. 3) Super-white Teeth Zoom and BriteSmile tooth-whitening sessions can run into the $1,000 range and can make teeth look several shades whiter, but even that's not enough for some stars, like Hilary Duff, whose rep admitted to Star that the singer had gotten porcelain veneers to perfect several chipped teeth. And nothing makes teeth look even whiter than having a fabulous tan. Sun is out, spray is in. When Julia Louis-Dreyfus was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2006, she told Access Hollywood, "Now all I need is the gown, a spray tan and some Botox, and I'll be gold!" 4) Hair and Makeup With tummy, teeth and tan taken care of, stars can turn their attention to the all-important hair and makeup sessions. Hairstylist Sam Leonardi, who has worked on red-carpet beauties like Lindsay Lohan and Anne Hathaway, can charge $2,000 to $4,000 per day, depending on the do-you-know-who-I-am factor. Some celebs, like Yunjin Kim from Lost, go the extra mile with hair extensions, adding volume and length to their own locks. When it comes to red-carpet makeup, "I just want to look hot all the time," Nelly Furtado told People. So for the Grammys last year, makeup artist Colleen Creighton made Furtado's eyes pop by using a Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler and Giorgio Armani mascara. 5) Diet and Exercise Some stars subject themselves to crazy crash diets in preparation for the big day, but others, like natural beauty Hilary Swank, go a more responsible route by hiring a nutritionist instead (it's certainly safer than downing lemon juice with cayenne pepper for weeks). As for exercise, trainer Rob Parr told MSNBC that Naomi Watts, for one, ditches the gym bags for some fresh air. "We hit the road running for four to six miles," Parr said, "or take to the hills for an hour-and-a-half-long mountain-bike ride." TV Guide Network's queen of the red carpet, Lisa Rinna, tells TVGuide.com that her prep "takes a village." But it's nothing new for the former sudser star. "I work out really hard - but I always work out hard. To be honest, I don't do a lot of special things, because it's just how I live my life regularly. I call it 'the year-round prom.' You're always getting ready for prom, and that way you don't have to drop 10 pounds. So luckily I don't have to flick into the 'Uh-oh, I'm going into award-show season' mode, because I like to keep it like that all the time." - Erin Fox What's your take? How would you get ready for a red-carpet close-up? Are you with Lisa Rinna - should looking camera-ready be a year-round endeavor? Are details like super-white teeth, tanned skin and hair extensions going too far, or do they make all the difference? More in the Body Talk series: " Photo gallery: Getting Red-carpet-ready " 50ish (and Up) and Fabulous! " Photo gallery: Is 50 the New 30? " Photo gallery: Nip/Tuck Is Not Just a TV Show " The Skinny on Hollywood's Unreal Ideal " Photo gallery: The Skinny on Hollywood's Unreal Ideal " TVGuide.com's Top 20 Beauty Scandals and Stories of 2007 " Photo gallery: Top 10 Hollywood Beauty Scandals & Stories of 2007 " Photo gallery: Top 10 TV Beauty Scandals & Stories of 2007 " Special Preview and Polls Check out pictures of red-carpet stars past and present in Red Carpet: 20 Years of Fame and Fashion from Amazon.com.