Laurent D Gives Kaptur Brides Hair and Marriage Advice
Today’s guest blogger and interviewer is Deborah Meijer.
Sharon Stone, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jewel…these are only a few of the stars who let übermaestro Laurent Dufourg, owner of the international Privé Salons, fashion their red-carpet hairstyles. And yet, Laurent D, as he is known, or any of his talented Privé stylists, are available to add an haute look to any bride’s wedding day.
Today, Kaptur sits down at the Soho Grand Hotel (next door to Privé), with Laurent and Martine Blanchet, the New York Privé Salon’s manager, for advice on hairstyles for today’s modern bride-to-be.
- Laurent D.
Regarding the bride’s big day, says Laurent, the most important thing that the bride to be needs to keep in mind is that “less is more.”
“The big problem with brides,” says Laurent, “is that they try to do too much at their wedding. The hair is too big, the make-up is too heavy. Brides need to remember that the wedding photo is going to be displayed on the piano for years to come—make it something that looks like you.”
Laurent recommends that the bride do a consultation with her hairdresser with plenty of time before the wedding. “People have the tendency to never wear their hair up or in a chignon, never meet with a stylist–and then do some crazy up-do for the wedding. The bride is going to have those wedding shots for the rest of her life, and she won’t look like herself.”
What is the solution, according to Laurent?
“I recommend that the bride do the stylist consultation first. We get brides who are clients of the [Soho Grand] Hotel, strangers to us, for the wedding hairdo. It’s different if we do the daughter of a client…we know her. But when we get someone we don’t know to do their bridal ‘do, it is not ideal, especially when 80% of them have never touched their hair before. They’re often from out of town, and often times, have spent every last penny on their wedding.”
Laurent stresses advance planning. “Consult with the stylist. Definitely try out the hairstyle one—or three—times before the wedding. Bring your veil. Try it one time without a veil, then come back with a veil.”
Veiled brides have different requirements, according to Laurent. “What I like to do with a veiled bride is to create a hairdo with not too much hair exposed. I do a small bun, or a ponytail. Most brides do a ceremony and an after-ceremony, so we have to keep the next hairdo in mind when creating the wedding ‘do.”
How do most brides manage more than one hairstyle and dress change on her big day?
“In the case of a bride staying here at the Soho Grand,” says New York Privé Salon Manager Martine Blanchet, “the bride comes down from upstairs to do her hair, goes back to put on her dress, and then she comes back to the salon after the church or ceremony for her next dress and hairdo.”
Most brides do two dress changes, according to Laurent, some do three, and some change even more. “I did a wedding for my client Jolie Fisher, who did five changes.”
In the case of dress and hair changes, Laurent preps the hair before the wedding hair. “We don’t want to spend another hour on a re-do so I prep it before the wedding hairdo, so we can do two different do’s. After the wedding, we replace the veil with an accessory such as a flower, or a headband or jewel: something that will look beautiful in photos. And don’t wash your hair the day of your wedding. Wash it the day before,” Laurent adds.
Another bit of advice from this master hairdresser whose talented associates in six international salons have created thousands of creations for brides over the years:
“Keep your stylist for yourself,” says Laurent. “Don’t share. And be alone with your stylist. Mothers of the bride can be a nightmare. ‘Why do this? Why not do that? Dad won’t like that.’ These are just a few of the comments our people hear over the years when the MOB is in the room. And the bridesmaids…put them in a different room as well. The bridesmaid might want to upstage the bride. This is your day. Insist on privacy and insist on exclusivity.”
And also remember that it is the stylist’s job to make you happy. “Don’t be scared if you don’t like your hairdo. Tell your stylist. It is the stylist’s job to please you, to make you feel and look great.”
Laurent follows his own advice. “I make sure to stay calm with the bride. She has to look fabulous. It’s my job to make it happen the way the bride wants it to.”
Today, Privé Salons are found in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando and even in recently-opened Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia. Biarritz-born Laurent began his career in Los Angeles, where celeb clients flocked to his salon, enabling him to eventually expand internationally. And eight years ago, Laurent created the salon’s exclusive Privé Hair Product line, carried by 500 salons worldwide.
“From last year, twenty-four countries just started internet distribution. I spent three days in Russia recently. This week we just met with potential Japanese distributors, and we are already distributing in Hong Kong and Singapore.”
What is the secret of the salon product success? According to Laurent, success came when the products went ‘green.’ Three years ago, Privé introduced ‘Concept Vert,’ or ‘Green Concept.’ To see Privé’s Eco-Friendly Socially Responsible Corporate Statement, click here.
“We got great press with our green products. At the time we went green, no one else was doing it. Now everyone is doing it, but some of our competitors’ products aren’t really green. Three years ago, we created green shampoo, green conditioner and green mousse.”
“Mousse was huge,” adds Martine, “because our Privé Mousse is non-aerosal.”
The Privé Green products contain no sulfates, parabens, phthalates, gluten, PABA, mineral oil, paraffin, DEA, TEA or artificial colors. In addition, says Laurent, shipping boxes are recyclable, aerosols are 55% V.O.C. (volatile organic compounds), and Privé has a can-re-use program, among many other Eco-Friendly practices. Privé is also philanthropic, supporting such causes as Breast Cancer Awareness and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
“I am just trying to do something for the planet,” says Laurent. “I don’t know if I can help, but I do my best.” Laurent has an idea for a “Big Project in our 500 salons.” He would like to “one day have everyone cut their hair with no electricity—not blow dry, no curling iron—and no water.”
“We would use dry shampoo,” says Martine. “We are coming out with one soon.”
“It is not easy to find products that perform well and are green,” says Laurent. “Not ‘pretend-to-be-green,’ but really green. If you really want to be green, you cannot use dye. Dye right now cannot be green. But we are trying to do as much research as possible to help the planet.”
Laurent and his talented staff prepare the bride as best they can for the bride’s wedding day. But after that? Regarding the ensuing marriage, Laurent still has words of advice–regarding hair. The first?
“Don’t wear extensions to bed.”
And the second key to a successful relationship?
“Don’t wear curlers to bed. No man likes that.”
