The Hairstylists and Barbers who Changed the Face of Fashion

The fashion industry is known for its creativity, glamour, and innovation, and the most influential people in fashion are those who push the boundaries of style and set the trends for the rest of the world to follow. These fashion icons are often known for their bold, daring, and avant-garde designs, and they rely on a team of talented hairstylists, makeup artists, and other professionals to help them execute their vision.

One of the key players in this team is the barber or hairstylist. A good hairdresser can help a fashion designer create the perfect look for their models, whether it's a sleek, chic bob, a daring, avant-garde cut, or something in between. The barber's skills and expertise are essential to creating the right look for each design, and they play a crucial role in bringing a designer's vision to life on the runway.

One of the most influential fashion designers of all time was Coco Chanel. Chanel revolutionized the fashion world with her simple, elegant designs, and she relied heavily on her personal barber, Antoine de Paris, to help her create the perfect looks for her models. De Paris was known for his expert cutting and styling skills, and he helped Chanel create some of her most iconic looks, including the classic bob and the iconic "little black dress."

Iconic Hairdresser: Antoine de Paris 

Antoine de Paris was a French hairdresser who is widely considered to be one of the most influential figures in the history of fashion. Born in the early 19th century, de Paris began his career as a wigmaker before eventually becoming a hairdresser to the wealthy and fashionable elite of Paris.

De Paris's most famous contribution to fashion was the creation of the "coiffure à la Victorienne," a hairdo that became wildly popular among fashionable women in the mid-19th century. The coiffure à la Victorienne, also known as the "Victorian pompadour," involved piling the hair high on the head and securing it with a series of combs and pins. This hairdo became so popular that it became known simply as "à la Parisienne," and it was copied by women all over the world.

In addition to his work as a hairdresser, de Paris was also known for his innovations in hair care. He is credited with inventing a number of hair care products, including a hair tonic that was widely used to treat dandruff and other scalp conditions. He also developed a hair straightening iron that was used to create smooth, sleek hairstyles that were fashionable at the time.

De Paris's work as a hairdresser and innovator in hair care made him an important figure in the fashion world. His creations were widely imitated and his influence can still be seen in modern hairstyles. Although he may not be as well-known as some of the other fashion icons of his time, de Paris's contributions to the world of fashion are undeniable and continue to be celebrated by fashion enthusiasts today.

Another influential fashion designer who relied on a talented barber was Christian Dior. Dior was known for his love of beauty and glamour, and his hairstyles often featured soft, loose curls and intricate braids. To create these looks, Dior relied on the skills of his personal barber, Johnny Johnson. Johnson was known for his ability to create elegant, feminine updos that perfectly complemented Dior's designs, and he helped Dior create some of the most iconic looks in fashion history.

Celebrity Hairdresser/Barber: Johnny Johnson

Johnny Johnson was a British hairdresser who is best known for his work as Christian Dior's personal barber. Born in the early 20th century, Johnson began his career as a hairdresser in London before eventually moving to Paris to work at Dior's salon.

Johnson's most significant contribution to the world of fashion came in the form of the "Dior cut," a hairstyle that he created for Dior's models. The Dior cut was a short, sleek hairstyle that became wildly popular among fashionable women in the 1950s. It was characterized by its precision and sharp lines, and it helped to define the look of the era.

Yves Saint Laurent was another influential fashion designer who relied on a skilled barber to help him execute his vision. Saint Laurent was known for his avant-garde designs and his love of the unconventional, and his hairstyles often featured bold shapes, bright colors, and exaggerated textures. To create these looks, Saint Laurent relied on the skills of his personal barber, Julien d'Ys. D'Ys was known for his ability to create edgy, avant-garde hairstyles that pushed the boundaries of conventional beauty, and he helped Saint Laurent create some of the most daring and innovative looks in fashion history.

Yves Saint Laurent Hairdresser: Julien d'Ys 

Julien d'Ys was a French hairdresser who is best known for his work as Yves Saint Laurent's personal barber. Born in the early 20th century, d'Ys began his career as a hairdresser in Paris before eventually being recruited to work at Saint Laurent's salon.

d'Ys's most significant contribution to the world of fashion came in the form of the "Saint Laurent bob," a hairstyle that he created for Saint Laurent's models. The Saint Laurent bob was a short, sleek hairstyle that became wildly popular among fashionable women in the 1960s. It was characterized by its precision and sharp lines, and it helped to define the look of the era.

Alexander McQueen was yet another influential fashion designer who relied on a talented barber to help him create his iconic looks. McQueen was known for his avant-garde designs and his love of the unconventional, and his hairstyles often featured bold shapes, intricate braids, and daring colors. To create these looks, McQueen relied on the skills of his personal barber, Guido Palau. Palau was known for his ability to create bold, edgy hairstyles that perfectly complemented McQueen's designs, and he helped McQueen create some of the most iconic looks in fashion history.

Guido Palau the Famous British Hairdresser

Guido Palau was a British hairdresser who is best known for his work with fashion designer Alexander McQueen. Born in the 1960s, Palau began his career as a hairdresser in London before eventually being recruited to work on McQueen's runway shows.

Palau's most significant contribution to the world of fashion came in the form of the hairstyles he created for McQueen's runway shows. Palau worked closely with McQueen to develop a series of bold, avant-garde hairstyles that helped to define the look of McQueen's collections. Some of Palau's most iconic creations for McQueen include the "bumblebee" hairstyle from the "Bumster" collection, the "spider" hairstyle from the "Voss" collection, and the "butterfly" hairstyle from the "Plato's Atlantis" collection.

In addition to his work with McQueen, Palau has also collaborated with a number of other fashion designers, including Marc Jacobs, Prada, and Chanel. He has also worked on numerous editorial shoots for fashion magazines, and he has been the creative director for a number of hair care brands.

Palau's work as a hairdresser and collaborator with fashion designers has made him an important figure in the fashion world. His bold, avant-garde hairstyles continue to inspire and influence other hairdressers, and his work has helped to push the boundaries of what is possible with hair. Although he may not be as well-known as some of the other fashion icons of his time, Guido Palau's contributions to the world of fashion are undeniable and continue to be celebrated by fashion enthusiasts today.

In conclusion, barbers play a crucial role in the fashion industry by helping designers create the perfect looks for their models. From Coco Chanel to Alexander McQueen, many of the most influential fashion designers in history have relied on the skills and expertise of talented barbers to bring their vision to life on the runway.