A-LISTERS TURN OUT FOR “HAIRDRESSERS UNLOCKING HOPE”

When hair industry icon Vidal Sassoon and BTC founder Mary Rector-Gable place a call, hair biz V.I.P.s on both coasts answer pronto.   So it was no wonder that top salon owners, platform artists, session stylists and manufacturers representing the beauty A-list turned out in Los Angeles and New York recently, for the exclusive announcements of the Hairdressers Unlocking Hope campaign , an industry-wide charitable initiative in connection with Habitat for Humanity.

The first Hairdressers Unlocking Hope V.I.P. event took place at Wolfgang Puck’s gorgeous new Spago in Beverly Hills.   Among those on hand were Robert Cromeans, Robert Lobetta, Pureology’s Jim and Cheryl Markham, Sexy Hair’s Michael O’Rourke and Jim Morrison, Winn Claybaugh, BioIonic’s Fernando Romero, Kaz Amor of Warren Tricomi Salons and Redken, Sassoon’s Stephen Moody and Anthony Christiano of the Mario Tricoci Salons and Spas.  This initial gathering was designed to be the setting for the announcement, as well as a brain-storming session to fine-tune the program.  “After all, we have some of the most creative minds in the industry here in the room tonight!” noted Rector.

Several weeks later, the action shifted to Milk Studios in New York City.  Representing major manufacturers were L’Oreal honchos David Craggs, Paul Sharnsky and Pierre Lampert; Estee Lauder/Bumble & Bumble’s Karl-Heinz Pitsch; Neill Corporation’s Debra Neill Baker and Michael Baker; Brocato’s Sam Brocato; Aveda’s Antoinette Beenders and Avance/DePasquale’s Carmen DePasquale and Joe Mastalia.   A fleet of elite salon owners and stylists also made their way to Milk, including Warren-Tricomi’s Edward Tricomi; Nick Arrojo; Mary Brunetti; Richard Calcasola; Ted Gibson; Vivienne Mackinder; Beth and Carmine Minardi and Van Council.  Artist managers Brooke Wall of the Wall Group and Michael DeVellis of The Powder Group were also on hand.

At each venue, Rector-Gable and Sassoon outlined the multi-stage Hairdressers Unlocking Hope campaign, which includes a compelling photo campaign, website and fundraising program designed to help Habitat for Humanity build 18 new homes for some of the thousands of families who remain displaced after Hurricane Katrina. “Our goal,” Rector-Gable told the guests in Los Angeles, “is to create a truly actionable plan to excite the industry to work as one to accomplish this goal, and provide an opportunity for individual communities of hairdressers to work together as a team to build needed homes.”

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