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| Vidal Sassoon. |
Vidal was born 17 January 1928 Hammersmith London of Jewish parents. His father was Greek and his mother was Ukrainian. His father walked out and left the 3 year old and his brother to live a life of poverty. He ended up in an orphanage for 11 years until his mother remarried and took him back. He famously said he loved his Mum even though she left him in an orphanage for 11 years. He left school at 14 and worked as a hairdressers apprentice under Raymond Bessone in his salon in Mayfair. At 20 he fought in the Arab-Israeli War in 1948.
In the 60's times were changing, Music, Fashion, attitudes. Vidal was at the forefront of this revolution. At that time the hair was backcombed and full of lacquer and artificial looking. The Beehive was the popular do at the time. He opened his Bond Street Salon in 1958.
In 1963 he liberated women when he created the " Bauhaus inspired" 5 point cut or the "bob" as we know it even today. A severely geometric cut which was lacquer free. He famously gave Mary Quant the cut, she was launching her clothing line and wanted something new and hip. Mary invented the mini skirt and had a Boutique, Bazaar in Chelsea. Every woman wanted the cut. In 1964 Cilla Black had a number one hit with "Anyone who had a heart" wore the Vidal Bob. In 1968 Mia Farrow had hers done for her role in the Movie Rosemary's Baby. Famous model Twiggy wore it in Vogue causing a stir and shooting her to fame. He put London hairdressing on the map.
The Vidal "bob" revolutionised the hair industry and catapulted him to fame which allowed him to open the first chain of worldwide salons, a product line and schools. His slogan was " if you don't look good, we don't look good"
He was married 4 times and has 2 girls and 2 boys from those marriages from 1956 to 1992 his present marriage to Ronnie.
In 2011 Sassoon was diagnosed with Leukaemia. He washed the hair of Princess Diana and met Nelson Mandela. He completely changed the way the industry looked at hair. He gave women the freedom from curlers, sets, lacquer, time consuming hair styles and lengthly visits to salons. He gave us hair that you could run your fingers through, low maintenance, shiny beautiful hair, that has evolved into the styles of today. His cut the "bob" has not been bettered by anyone since he created it. He was the first to have a product line and have it bought by a major corporation.
He wrote three books. His Autobiography "Sorry i kept you waiting Madam (1968), A ear of Beauty and Health (1979) with his second wife Beverley and Cutting the Vidal Sassoon Way (1984).
Sadly Vidal has passed but his legacy will continue. RIP Vidal XX.
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| Vidals Vision, the "bob" or the 5 point cut. |
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| Model Twiggy and Mia Farrow sporting the look for Rosemary's Baby. |
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| Mary Quant, the lady that started it all. |
Bglammie : -( xx
