10 Highlights From the Life of Vidal Sassoon

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Legendary celebrity hairstylist Vidal Sassoon died in his Los Angeles home Wednesday after a long battle with leukemia. Here are 10 highlights from the life of the man famous for “liberating ladies’ hair.”

  1. Wash and Wear Hair: Sassoon revolutionized the woman’s hairstyling industry when he pioneered the concept of “wash and wear” hairdos that were easy to maintain. Before that time, the trend was for a woman’s hair to be stiff and teased.
  2. The Classic Bob: Versions of the “bob” have been around since the 1920’s but Sassoon added his classic geometric signature to revitalize the look. The hairstyle has been wildly popular for more than four decades.
  3. Chop It Off: When Sassoon traveled from London to Los Angeles to transform Mia Farrow’s long locks, the world was introduced to the “pixie cut.” The short do reaffirmed that women can look stunning in even the shortest of hairstyles.
  4. Blow It Dry: The hand-held electric hair dryer, which is a household staple today, was a novelty item until the last half of the 20th century. Sassoon popularized the beauty appliance that allowed women more control over their hair.
  5. Image Is Everything: Sassoon took customer service to a new level when he coined a phrase that became a company slogan — “If you don’t look good, we don’t look good.”
  6. Humble Beginnings: Hardship and not glamor surrounded Sassoon’s early years. After his father abandoned the family, Sassoon’s mother was forced to send her two son’s to live in an orphanage.
  7. Elocution Lessons: Early in his career, Sassoon discovered that his thick cockney accent was a hindrance. To shed the dialect, he took elocution lessons.
  8. Fitness Buff: Sassoon kept his body in excellent shape. He began playing soccer as a young boy and became skilled at the sport.
  9. Creating an Empire: As his fame skyrocketed, so did the number of his hair salons. Sassoon owned numerous salons throughout Europe and the U.S.
  10. Procter & Gamble: In 1985, consumer products giant Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) purchased Sassoon’s business. The stylist served as a spokesperson and consultant for the company until 2004. At one time, he sued P&G because they did not meet his promotion standards.

Story sources include The Los Angeles Times and The Associated Press.


Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2012/05/10-highlights-from-the-life-of-vidal-sassoon/.

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