A Tribute to Vidal Sassoon

“If you don’t look good, we don’t look good.” – Vidal Sassoon

Vidal Sassoon, (17 January 1928 – May 9, 2012) was a British hairdresser, credited with revolutionizing the hair industry.

In 1954 Vidal Sassoon opened his first Salon and for the next nine years he experimented with new cuts and techniques… always searching for elegance and simple styles.

Vidal Sassoon had a strong desire to move beyond the times. With a love of  architecture and a  fascination with hair, by 1963 he had pioneered the Bob and the Five-Point cut.  This combination of desire and creativity is what made him famous, giving him the title ‘Founder of Modern Hairdressing’. His growing number of Salons in London became a hub of fashion and a destination for pop stars. This explosion of style and evolving culture allowed Vidal to think even bigger. He went International and by the mid- 1970’s he launched his first Hairdressing School and line of hair-care products.

Many stylists around the world have been influenced by Vidal Sassoon’s work, including our very own here at Changes.

Here is a what some of them had to say…

“I believe he was a genius and very creative. Over the years I have attended twenty different Sassoon training’s, including one in London. Nearly everything I’ve learned about hair cutting comes from him. I recommend his technique to all levels of stylists if they want to be successful.” -Shireen

“The Sassoon cutting techniques are the foundation of all modern cuts. They are the “rules” you need to know before you can “break the rules”.  – Caron

“He changed the craft of cutting hair and taught the systems and disciplines to create stunning hair cuts . His legacy will always live on.” – Miriam

“He elevated our industry to a place no one else had dreamed of.”   – Ashley

“He created ‘wash-and-wear’  hair through  precision geometric cutting. It’s the foundation of everything we do today.” – Lauren

Vidal later went on to sell his name to a number of hair care product manufacturers, which continue to enjoy massive sales worldwide.  Former colleagues also bought the right to use his name, expanding his UK Salon empire into the United States. He eventually sold his businesses, but continued to promote his products. His slogan “If you don’t look good, we don’t look good” became a catchphrase all over the world.

Vidal Sassoon died in May of 2012 at the age of 84. His accomplishments as a stylist and businessman will live on. A True Legend.