

I ask about her skill with a brush and a blow dryer and we decide together how to proceed.īogonia considers Vartali her second home. Is she a mom who’s constantly on the go? Is she a high-powered business executive who needs a polished look? Does she travel? Is she daring does she like to experiment with fashion? I look at the texture of her hair and the shape of her face. I still try to get a sense of where she is right now and how she wants to look when she leaves the salon. Even if it’s a client I’ve known for years. I might have a vision in my mind about what I want to create and how I want the finished style to look, but the client’s participation in the process is essential.Įvery cut is a co-creation and starts with a consultation. Balance, proportion and versatility are the key elements to a great look.

“Cutting and shaping hair is a very personal experience. He also likes to add rollers in combination with blow drying to lend some extra height and volume to a finished look.

A big believer in body waves and loose perms, Ruben likes to use milder lotion and larger rods to give straight or fine hair some texture. Here, he has built his reputation on precision cuts that hold their shape and support soft, loose, natural-looking styles. His tenure at Vartali harks back to the 80’s.

He styled the hair of Park Avenue doyennes, power moms and working women on the move.
#Visual changes hair salon movie
At Kenneth’s, Ruben’s clients ran the gamut from movie stars to socialites. Ruben, who hails from South America, began his career with three of the world’s most legendary stylists: Clive Summers from England, Suga from Japan and Madison Avenue’s very own Mr.
#Visual changes hair salon skin
Whether it’s their eyes, their skin or the texture of their hair, the right haircut and style can accentuate their best feature and enhance their overall look.” “I’ve always enjoyed helping women find what works best for them and bringing it out for the world to see. “This is not just a job for me, this is a personal passion,” says Ruben. “The artwork inspires our team and our clients, and it’s a great way to support up-and-coming artists.” Ruben Gaitan Every month, he chooses one young artist and showcases his or her work on the walls of the salon. His keen visual sense is evident in his work as a hairdresser and in artworks he displays at the salon. Vartan trained as an artist and studied at the Art’s Student League in Manhattan. You’ve got to keep it fresh and exciting, so the client leaves feeling confident and happy.” Like a good marriage, a long-term relationship with a client requires trust, understanding and creativity. “I have many clients who have been coming here for 30 years. I like a cut that swirls, twists and falls into place and doesn’t fight the hair’s natural texture or growth pattern.” My clients want hair that’s easy to maintain and offers a number of styling options. “Today, no one wants a cookie-cutter look. Many of my clients came once a week for a wash and blow dry,” he explains. Everyone wanted layers and highlights, no matter what type of hair they had. The rest is history.Īccording to Vartan: “When I first started in the business, the Farah Fawcett look was in vogue. In 1979, Vartan struck out on his own and 10 years later, he opened the shop on the corner of 57th and Park Avenue. Vartan came to the United States in 1976 and worked with Xavier at Cinandre and John Sahag at his namesake salon. Trained in France by the acclaimed Alexandre de Paris, He sculpts and carves it to flatter the contours and angles of the face.
