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Hair > Articles > Phillip Wilson
In His Shoes |
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He was one of eight children born to parents who struggled to make ends meet in the English village of Dorset. Thanks to his mum's determination to save enough money for his tuition, he went to college to study hairdressing. He has worked with royalty- icons in the hair business and true blue bloods. He was part of the hair industry's legendary revolution, led by Vidal Sassoon in the sixties in London. He owned successful salons in the U.S. and Canada, spearheaded the creative processes at international hair care companies, and inspired countless professionals with his photo work and classes.
What's the secret behind this action-packed and high-powered career? Phillip Wilson says it has always been about the shoes.
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First Steps
Today, Wilson reckons that he owns more than 30 pairs of shoes. As a kid, he owned one-and he stuffed newspaper in the holes until he was able to save up enough money to take them to the cobbler. "The guy put on steel tips and nails around the soles," he chuckles. "They called me 'The Ripper' because I ripped up the floors with those boots." After completing the | | |
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three years of college required of all hairdressers in England, Wilson set his sights on a fashionable salon called Raymond's in Bournemouth for his requisite, two-year apprenticeship. Raymond, or "Teazy Weazy" as he was known by his devoted female clients, ran the toughest shop in town. Wilson returned to the salon five times before Teazy agreed to give him a position. "I was a scruff," Wilson remembers. "And every morning, Raymond lined up everyone in the salon and inspected their nails and their shoes. If he couldn't see himself in your shoes, you were sent home. I learned that what is on your feet is who you are."
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Wilson spent "two years, two months and two days" at Raymond's, shampooing and setting hair, cleaning rollers bins and perm rods. Then word reached the imperious Teazy that his apprentice was secretly studying the work and style of a young artist named Vidal Sassoon, who had tossed out backcombing and roller sets in favor of un-lacquered, geometric haircuts. Wilson was dismissed.
No matter. "It was the best training I had in my life," Wilson remembers, and he was off. His next job was with Paul Garrett, one of Sassoon's proteges, who went on to coach the British | |
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hairdressing team. He worked on films and commercials, with folks like Andy Warhol and the lads in "The Who." He spent 18 months tending to wealthy private clients-actors, authors, royals-on the tax-sheltered island of Guernsey off the British coast. "There were no cars on the island," Wilson notes. "Each day I went down to the dock with my tools and my case and someone would send over a yacht to pick me up."
Ultimately, his dream came true and he landed a position at Sassoon's salon, where he worked with the team that would lead the creative hairdressing community for decades to come-Russell Williams, Roger Thompson, Annie Humphreys, Terry Smith. | |
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In 1978, Wilson packed up his shears and headed west. He landed in Vancouver in 1978 and went to work for a fun and fashionable salon called Crimpers. In 1981 he and a partner opened a salon which "became the hang-out downtown," Wilson remembers. "Once a week, we even did a makeover show on TV. We built a phenomenal place." | | |
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Giant Steps
In 1985, Wilson's career shifted dramatically, when a young company called L'Anza approached him and invited him to move to L.A. as their creative director. At first Wilson declined, but the owners persisted and he headed to California. He spent seven years building the company's image, product portfolio and educational programs, creating photo collections and touring the world. "It was a phenomenal opportunity," he says, "and that's where I met Mary (his wife)." | |
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Ultimately, his work came to the attention of Jim Morrison, an executive at Redken at the time, who offered him a consulting position with the company just after the couple moved to New York. Phillip and Mary joined as a team. They helped establish the Redken Exchange, then Mary was tapped to head up the education department for Matrix and Phillip became International Creative Consultant for L'Oreal. | | |
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Eventually, thinking it would be a better place to raise their young son, the Wilson family decided to return to California. Today, in partnership with his good friend Richard Ouellette, he functions as the creative half of HAIclassic, HAIelite, Collections Salons and Day Spas and Angles Salons and Day Spas. A typical week might involve a photo or video shoot, meetings with Ouellette and the management team, testing a new thermal iron, fine tuning the concept for a photo collection, visiting the salons, and then jumping on a plane and heading to a show. | |
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Walking Tall
Dividing his time between the salons and the company that produces fine ceramic styling irons, tourmaline hair dryers and ionic brushes, he often stops and looks at his life with wonder and gratitude. "What a journey," he sighs. "I just returned from the Global Salon Business Awards in Barcelona, with a stop to see my family in England I played golf with Luis Llongueras. Mary and I got to spend time with Vidal and his wife Ronni. Even though I left his employ 30 years ago, he remembered me and told me he thought my work was brilliant. I had tears in my eyes. These guys were my idols when I was 15 years old!"
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Always mindful of the profound impact that his professional mentors made on his career, Wilson frequently carves time out of his busy schedule for a mission which ignites his passion. He visits cosmetology schools and academies and devotes time to working with tomorrow's professionals. His sessions are about "the whole picture," he explains. "The creative process: style, design, line. I talk about the opportunities the industry has to offer. Mindset, self-confidence.
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I walk them through my life and I try to be an example. Because it's fine to inspire the people of today, but we also need to inspire the people of tomorrow." So what is the main message that Wilson shares with these budding professionals? "Tell the truth," he declares. "For years I didn't see the wisdom of being honest-with myself and with the people around me. I told people what I thought they wanted to hear. And that was because my self-respect was low. Today I tell the truth and I live with the consequences. And now I like the person looking back at me in the mirror."
Oh, and one more thing. "It's all about the shoes. They reflect your image and your self-pride. People notice. My shoes," declares Wilson, "put me where I am today." | |
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