Career Center - Famous Hair Stylists

How These Famous Hair Stylists Got Their Start

Everybody has to start somewhere. Even the most famous and successful hair stylists in the world had to figure out what they wanted to do with their lives. They had to choose a school and work their way up just like you. Read on to find out how some of the hairdressers you know and love found their passion and broke into the professional world.

Ken Paves

Celebrity hair stylist Ken Paves earned his fame creating glamorous looks for Hollywood superstars, including Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Lopez. His beauty tips have appeared in InStyle, Allure and Marie Claire. And when he opened Pave Salon & Spa in Clinton Township, Michigan - Oprah herself mentioned it on her show.

Ken Paves grew up in the Midwest with a large and loving family. His mother was his first client. He started doing her hair at the ripe age of 14 and was forgiven for more than one home perm disaster. Although he went to college and studied to teach deaf children, he found himself apathetic about his future after graduation. His father encouraged him to find a career he could love – not just one that pays the bills.

Ken knew that he loved doing hair but was still unsure if he could make a living as a hair stylist. A friend convinced him to try beauty school, and it was love from the very first class. After earning his license, he pursued advanced studies at Vidal Sassoon in Toronto. He learned famous techniques, like advanced cutting from Toni & Guy as well as Martin Parsons.

When it was time to land a job, Ken was turned down by the first place he applied. The high-end Detroit salon told him "you don't look like a hairdresser." But he soon landed a job as the owner's assistant at The Queue Salon. He learned to "look like a hairdresser" and from there it was a rapid ascent – first to a position as assistant to the renowned Oribe at his newest salon in Florida, and then to the big time in New York City. Now he's come full circle, opening a salon in the Midwest with Dena Collinger, the lifelong friend who convinced him to go to beauty school in the first place.

Mary Ann Valdes

It's all about making connections. Mary Ann Valdes was already living her dream in the 1980s with her own Miami, Florida hair design studio and cosmetology institute. Now she's an Emmy-nominated Hollywood hair stylist with credits ranging from The Birdcage and Spiderman 2 to the ABC hit series Ugly Betty.

It all started with one Hollywood contact. She invited a California hairdresser to teach a class for her salon staff. Later he called her about a television commercial job that was shooting in Miami. They needed a hairstylist who could do cornrows. She took the job, had a great time and joined the union so she could take other local jobs if they came up.

She ended up working on NBC's Miami Vice. Actors she met on that set got cast in Chicago Hope and encouraged her to move out to Los Angeles and work with them. She left Miami behind and has been doing hair in Hollywood ever since. She was nominated for an Emmy for her work on American Dreams and now does hair on the Ugly Betty set for America Ferrera, Vanessa Williams, Eric Mabius and Rebecca Romijn.

In an interview for Hairdressersus.com, Mary Ann said she decided to become a hairstylist when she was 13 years old. She told her father she wanted to go to the best cosmetology school in Miami and ended up at the original La France Cosmetology Institute. She advises future stylists to "find the best school you can, pay attention, listen and ask questions." Since the field is always changing, she continues to take classes to learn the latest styles, products and methods.

Rita Hazan

Only 32 years old, Brooklyn native Rita Hazan is perhaps the most famous colorist in the country. She's known for transformation, for changing a client's image with hair color. She has appeared on Oprah makeover shows and worked her magic on Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Carmen Electra and many others.

After high school, Rita saw a commercial on television for Wilford Beauty Academy. She says it was as simple as saying to herself, "I can do that." She completed beauty school 14 years ago and knew exactly where she wanted to work. She spent 10 years at the prestigious Oribe salon in Manhattan, assisting celebrity colorist Brad Johns for five of those years. In 2002, she went out on her own, opening the Rita Hazan Salon in New York.

Rita says the secret to her success is listening and simply paying attention to what women want. She also advises future hairdressers and entrepreneurs never to take "no" for an answer. Keep going. If you get scared, don't turn away. You may make mistakes, but you'll learn how to fix them.

Robert Hallowell

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Robert started out as a model in LA and New York. He decided to change careers and attended the prestigious Vidal Sassoon Academy. He landed his first hair design job for a music video in 1984 and has been working in the entertainment industry ever since.

Robert did hair on a lot of not-so-successful television shows before he met Geena Davis on the set of Angie in 1994. He quickly became her stylist of choice, creating most of her off-screen looks and coiffing her for The Geena Davis Show and Commander in Chief. He is also the preferred hairstylist of Brendan Fraser and has worked with Lucy Liu, Sarah Jessica Parker, George Clooney and many other movie and television stars.

Robert built his career on relationships. He makes his clients feel as good as they look and often becomes a friend or even part of the family. In fact, he named his company The Kitchen Beautician because he so often ends up working in the kitchens of his celebrity clients' homes, sometimes using ingredients out of their cabinets.

George Caroll

A legend in the hair design industry, George Caroll has been styling celebrities and consulting with corporate giants such as Redken, Clairol and Revlon since the 1970s. He's known for styling Farrah Fawcett, Cybill Shepherd and Andy Garcia – just to name a few.

George launched his career by working for a "master." His first job was as an apprentice to George Master, the Hollywood hairstylist and make-up artist credited with creating Marilyn Monroe's glamorous look. When he was ready to go out on his own, he opened Hollywood Hair Styling Studio in Toluca Lake.

George's success has largely been a result of spotting trends early. His studio was one of the first salons to cater to both men and women, introducing men to hair care, coloring and blow-dry styling concepts. His "wash and wear" approach for active, carefree lifestyles was revolutionary 30 years ago.

He enhanced his fame with a great sense of performance and presentation, especially on television. He gave entertaining, quick-style haircut makeovers on Live with Regis and Kelly in Los Angeles and was one of the first hairstylists to sell beauty products on the Home Shopping Network. He even created the unique sideburn look of the male crewmembers on the original Star Trek television series.

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