BY BARCLAY FRYERY - During the most memorable model era - the '80s - Oribe helped to create the supermodel. His hands molded the manes of Christy, Naomi, Linda, and Cindy, while Fransois Nars made up their unforgettable features, and Steven Meisel captured these gorgeous creatures on film. They became one-name wonders - and so did Oribe.

"Magic happened there," says Oribe, of those days in Meisel's studio. "[The supermodels] were the movie stars of that era: walking down the street with Linda or Christy was like walking down the street with Marilyn Monroe." Today, the movie stars are the supermodels - taking the places of the models on magazine covers - and Oribe is still the man working their manes.

BF: With Cindy, Christy, Amber, Naomi, Salma, Elizabeth, Sharon, Vendela, Linda, Lauren, Whitney, Donatella, Sylvester, Demi, Frank, Cher, Calvin, Isabella, Shalom, Kate, Halle, Barbra, Wynonna, Hugh, Tyra, Terry, Sting, Catherine Zeta, Jennifer, Heather, Gwyneth, and Ashley as clients, how do you get it all done?

O: I concentrate on what I'm doing at the time and I don't let things overwhelm me.

BF: Who inspired or inspires your creations?

O: Lillian Gish, Jean Harlow, Rita Hayworth, Ava Gardner, Ara Galant, Alexander of Paris, Richard Avedon, Steven Meisel.

BF: What inspires you to be the best you can be?

O: My father taught me to be confident and real about my work.

BF: How did you get started as a hairdresser?

O: I got a job - first as a cashier - at a salon in New York in the '70s and I went on to work with Garren at the Plaza in the early '80s.

BF: Why do you do what you do?

O: It's a great way to be artistic and make people feel great.

BF: How did you break into working on shoots and how can other hairdressers try to do the same?

O: I started doing men for GQ. When the opportunity arrives, go for it, and when you get your first break, do a good job. Try to get in with photographers; find out who shoots the catalogs and advertising in your area and try to get tear sheets. Test photos are not so important. Wait to get tear sheets - even a newspaper tear is better than a test photo.

BF: Is training important?

O: It's important to know the basics. You can find a basic beauty school program for $1500 or less. You need to know how to do a French twist or at least know what it is! Then you can invent your own way of doing it. You have to constantly work at your craft and be patient. It takes five or six years to build your confidence. I'm still as insecure as I was on day one!

BF: What products do you use?

O: L'Oreal, Studio Line, and my own color pomades. In five or six months, I may do a new line.

BF: I hear you're opening a new salon in South Beach?

O: Yes, we're opening up at the Shore Club.

BF: What are you working on right now that sets you ahead of the pack?

O: Celine Dion's new video, Jennifer Lopez's special from Puerto Rico, Jennifer Lopez's wedding, Christy Turlington's wedding, my L'Oréal contract, the Elle covers and fashion stories for the fall, Kim Cattral for the Emmys, Jennifer Lopez for the MTV Video Awards, and my New York and Miami Beach and Club salons.

BF: You sure are a busy guy! Tell me, will you be the one who finally creates and patents the Jane Jetson hair and clothing machine? You know the one where she wants a change, a new look, so she steps in the machine and - poof! - she's a new woman. I've always thought that is a cool futuristic concept.

O: The Jane Jetson thing is a cool idea but I don't think that I'll be the one to come up with it. My work is so tailored to each client that it would be impossible to make a mold.

BF: What city on this planet has captured the essence of style and the ultimate coifed woman?

O: The idea of Rome.

BF: Who do you think are the most beautiful models today?

O: Ana Claudia, Rhea, and of course Gisele - she's like one of the old supermodels.

BF: If you could choose one person to work on, who would it be?

O: Jennifer Lopez because she's glamorous and she's a movie star, she's adventurous, and she's a terrific role model for all girls.

BF: What are the trends in hairstyles right now?

O: Lots of layers. The hip-hop influence from Mary J. Blige, Destiny's Child, and Jennifer Lopez. Styles are constantly changing. Shorter hair is trendy, but the androgenous look is out.

BF: What look would you never want to see reappear?

O: Grunge.

BF: What do you do when you can't possibly see or touch another head of hair?

O: STOP!

BF: You favorite music?

O: Spanish ballads. Or any ballads, for that matter.

BF: Your favorite getaway?

O: Miami.

BF: Your favorite meal and where?

O: Rice and beans at my mother's house.

BF: How many tattoos do you have and where?

O: My arms are completely covered like sleeves.

BF: What's your sign?

O: Virgo.

BF: Your favorite word?

O: Genius!

BF: Your least favorite word?

O: No.

BF: If you could be anything else, what would it be?

O: Elvis.