English
hairstylist Vidal Sassoon was born in London in 1928. Mr. Sassoon was the child of
poor parents. He began his working with hair apprenticing under Raymond Bessone
in a salon in Mayfair when he was just 14 years old.
Vidal Sassoon revolutionized hairstyling and created an international fashion empire. Sassoon’s geometric sculptural hair designs like the Nancy Kwan bob and the five-point cut were inspired by Bauhaus architecture. He developed a sleek tight helmet like look with a cut at the nape of the neck with a pointed spike descending just in front of each ear. Sometimes dubbed “the wash-and-wear look” the geometric styled cuts liberated women from the hassle of going to bed with hair curlers and making frequent trips to the salon.
Sassoon opened his first salon in 1954. He opened salons on Bond Street in London, Madison Avenue in New York and, Beverly Hills thereafter. Ultimately, Mr. Sassoon's would be the first hairstylist to develop a worldwide chain of hair salons with more than 20 other establishments.
Vidal Sassoon revolutionized hairstyling and created an international fashion empire. Sassoon’s geometric sculptural hair designs like the Nancy Kwan bob and the five-point cut were inspired by Bauhaus architecture. He developed a sleek tight helmet like look with a cut at the nape of the neck with a pointed spike descending just in front of each ear. Sometimes dubbed “the wash-and-wear look” the geometric styled cuts liberated women from the hassle of going to bed with hair curlers and making frequent trips to the salon.
Sassoon opened his first salon in 1954. He opened salons on Bond Street in London, Madison Avenue in New York and, Beverly Hills thereafter. Ultimately, Mr. Sassoon's would be the first hairstylist to develop a worldwide chain of hair salons with more than 20 other establishments.
Sassoon also
created the well known hair products, shampoos, and conditioners famous today
and was one of the first to have his company purchased by a major corporation
(Proctor & Gamble).
In 1982, Sassoon
founded the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of
Anti-semitism, (SICSA). He
also authored several books, including “A Year of Beauty and Health”. He also created a 1980’s TV series
called “Your New Day with Vidal Sassoon”. A lesser known fact, is that Sassoon was appointed “Commander of the Order of the British Empire” (CBE) in a 2009 Birthday Honours.
Most recently, a major motion picture documentary about his life was filmed.
Most recently, a major motion picture documentary about his life was filmed.
See Trailer below
Sassoon died in
his LA home of natural causes. He was 84. He is survived by his wife,
Rhonda, and three children.
