Vidal Sassoon
British hairstylist who repopularised geometric cuts and built a global salon chain.
He opened the first worldwide chain of hairstyling salons and created a line of hair-treatment products.
- field
- Hairstylist, businessman
- nationality
- British
- known_for
- Repopularising the five-point cut; founding a global chain of salons and a hair-
Lore & Background
Sassoon was born to Jewish parents in Hammersmith, West London. His father abandoned the family when Vidal was three, and the family fell into poverty. He and his younger brother spent seven years in a Jewish orphanage. He left school at 14 and worked as a messenger during World War II, sleeping in underground shelters. His mother insisted he become a hairdresser; after an initial rejection, a salon owner offered him an apprenticeship for free. At 17, he joined the 43 Group, a Jewish veterans' organisation that broke up fascist meetings.
Reader's Guide
Sassoon's significance lies in transforming hairstyling from a labour-intensive, lacquer-dependent craft into a modern, geometric art form. His five-point cut and other low-maintenance styles, worn by celebrities and fashion icons, influenced decades of hair fashion. He expanded his impact by opening the first worldwide chain of salons and launching a line of hair-care products, making his name a global brand. After selling his business in the early 1980s, he funded Israeli think tanks. In 2009, he was appointed CBE by Queen Elizabeth II.
Did You Know?
- Sassoon's father abandoned the family when Vidal was three, and he and his younger brother spent seven years in a Jewish orphanage.
- At 17, he joined the 43 Group, a Jewish veterans' organisation that broke up fascist meetings.
- In 2009, he was appointed CBE by Queen Elizabeth II.
- In 2012, he was selected by artist Sir Peter Blake to appear in a new version of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Vidal Sassoon?
Vidal Sassoon was a British hairstylist and entrepreneur born on 17 January 1928 who reshaped the modern hair industry through bold geometric styling and ambitious business expansion.
What was Vidal Sassoon's major business achievement?
He established the first worldwide chain of hairstyling salons, turning a single London shop into a global brand that brought consistent, high-end cutting to clients around the world.
What is the five-point cut and why did it matter?
The five-point cut is a simple, close-cropped geometric style that Sassoon repopularised in the 1960s, and it became iconic enough to be worn by fashion designers like Mary Quant and film stars including Mia Farrow and Goldie Hawn.
How did Vidal Sassoon expand his brand beyond the salon chair?
In addition to his global salon network, he launched a dedicated line of hair-treatment products, creating a full consumer brand that extended his influence into everyday home care.
When did Vidal Sassoon pass away?
Sassoon died on 9 May 2012, ending a life that spanned from his 1928 birth to a career that permanently altered how the world thought about professional hairstyling.
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