06/04/12 - 0 Comments
Brand Spotlight: Frederic Fekkai
It’s not every day that you come across a successful, charming hair guru who has coiffured and styled some of the most famous celebrities in the world…oh, and did we mention that he is somewhat of a sex symbol as well?
Welcome to the world of Frederic Fekkai, the unlikely founder of his namesake salons, which have now become somewhat of a cult in the world of hair and beauty. And it seems that fate has dealt Fekkai a truly lucky card.
Born in 1958 in France, the would-be hair stylist couldn’t be further from his future calling. Torn between his love of architecture and his father’s wish for him to become a businessman, Fekkai ended up studying law for two years as a diplomatic compromise. However, the world had different plans and in 1979 he moved to Paris in order to apprentice for the globally famous hair master Jacques Dessange.
The rest of the story, one that continues to this day, is somewhat of a whirlwind, which saw Fekkai go from being a relative nobody to opening up his own in-store salon at New York City’s Bergdorf Goodman. From here, the accolades amassed. Milestones such as reworking Hillary Clinton’s look in 1993, or the opening of his first stand-alone New York salon with Chanel in 1996 seemed to be taken in stride as Fekkai slowly and steadily built his empire to world-renowned fame and publicity.
Even as early as 1991, a mere twelve years after he had been taken on as Dessange’s apprentice, Fekkai was already in high demand, and not only for his hair styling expertise. In his now infamous 1991 interview with The New York Times, the then 32-year old was already aware of his sex appeal and charming good looks: “It helps that I’m a man and that I love to flirt with women. It’s about excitement and showing people that you’re attracted to them.” It was exactly this mixture of French “je ne sais quoi” that made Fekkai such a successful businessman who could easily mix with his ordinary customers, as well as with his star-studded clientele (which now includes the likes of Claudia Schiffer and Scarlett Johansson).
The Fekkai philosophy is simple – to give clients a tailored, all-encompassing pampering service, something that was largely unheard of when Fekkai started in the ’80s, and was largely the unique selling point that made him such a success. Fekkai would take note of each and every client and then style them in such a way as to maximize their look and potential. What woman can say no to that?
Today, the brand is still going strong and has benefited from an increased mass market appeal thanks to its purchase by Proctor & Gamble in 2008. Frederic Fekkai has also gone beyond simple hair styling and products, offering treatments and body care items, as well as useful tips on their website regarding different hair cuts and bone structure. In addition, the website offers tidbits on how to feel good in the comfort of your own home, extending from Fekkai’s appreciation of the importance of atmosphere and ambience, all of which combine to create the perfect setting for a relaxing pamper. And this is definitely one philosophy we ourselves can’t wait to try!
Image credits: Frederic Fekkai and Flaunt Me
