Metodo Rossano Ferretti :: The Passion is the reason why…
From the Beginning
Rossano Ferretti’s olive grove on his one hundred acre property which winds its way down to the sea, is situated in the Puglia region of Italy. For Ferretti, this grove represents the entire philosophy Ferretti has for hair. The idea that nature provides and nurtures and nourishing us is all important to his beliefs— Its deep rooted, going back to nature.
Most people will tell you that fifty is a pretty significant number. Especially when it comes to age. Half a century, five decades, whatever way you cut it, it’s a momentous passage of time. For Rossano Ferretti who is a softly spoken yet impassioned individual, celebrating his fiftieth came by way of the opening of his signature Metodo Rossano Ferretti Hair Spa in New York City’s historic Fuller building located at 595 Madison Avenue at 57th Street. I had an opportunity to sit down with him and talk about his new space, his philosophy on hair and why he thinks fashion and trends are old school.
“We are just Passion :: Client and Respect”
For Rossano Ferretti, the notion of forgetting where you come from is not an option. In fact, he celebrates his humble beginnings ( he’s originally from the tiny hamlet, Campegine just outside Parma, Italy, where the total inhabitants maxed out at around 300 people ) all the time. This is the place where he was captivated by the essence of hair and hair cutting, witnessed by observing his grandfather, who, as the community’s stylist would regularly cut all the villagers hair in the town square. It was he who recognized that Rossano possessed the gift in his fingers and despite the fact that he had ideas on becoming an architect, eventually embraced his legacy and entered into the family business. He traveled and trained in London during the 60‘s and 70‘s with some of the best stylists of the time, with legends like Vidal Sassoon, learning the techniques and styles that made Sassoon famous— Sharp and geometric and anything but natural looking. He went on to make his mark in the beauty industry, shedding old ideas and creating newer, more thoughtful ones. After hundreds of fashion shows and campaigns world wide, he eventually developed his own Metodo or method of hair cutting that represented his philosophy and respect for the natural movement of hair. He is one of only two hair stylists in the world, ( his mentor, Vidal Sasoon being the other ) who holds a patent on the methodology of a hair cutting technique.
He spent the next few decades refining his brand, and as each new Metodo Salon opened across the globe, he presented his finely honed ideals of what makes the perfect hair experience, to every client who stepped through his doors. For Ferretti, his utmost respect for his clientele (and their tresses) is the key to what distinguishes his cut. He does not follow the idea that you have to force the hair to conform but that one should learn to see how the natural hair moves, be intuitive while cutting the hair. Here’s a man after my own heart. There is no “formula” or cookie cutter approach to his cutting. He dos not subscribe to conformity. As he says: “ We don’t force. Anyone can do a nice blow dry, or blow out. That’s easy to do. The key point is the haircut. To give the client the day after, for her to give a nice shampoo at home and feel more beautiful than she did in the salon. Normally, my clients say they go home and wash their hair because they want to it to feel natural. In our place, this doesn’t happen” As I watched my own experience unfold, I felt totally confident that my stylist actually saw me—( Jan Spagnuolo, I love you! )and as I learned more, I understood that this is all part of the Metodo training. For each stylist, the way the body, the hands and the hair follows one another is pivotal to Ferretti’s cutting technique. Metodo aside, its the personalized approach and eye for bringing out the best in each client that sets him apart from his competitors. From his apartment-like spaces, as he calls them, whether in Paris, Rome, or New York to every level of his staff, they all echo his purist aesthetic and intimate appeal. Each hair spa, is housed in a very unique space, which was considered when creating the environment and while unique to one another, share an elegance that is both grand and inviting and due to the warm and receptive RF Metodo staff, feels grounded and relaxing.
Thoughts on fashion and trends
” I don’t believe in trends number one, and fashion number two— That is all in the past, that not in the future. People today can mix Zara with Armani , or Dior. We have to work and adapt , we need to culivate people to develop their own style—Everyone is unique. My idea is to make people feel unique because they are unique.”
On being part of the L’Oreal Professional team
” I am a world wide testimonial for L’Oreal Professional. We are all interested in waking up passion in the industry. People don’t understand why I am successful…Now we are doing a video, I hope my passion will transmit to my colleague and the next generation the reason why…. The passion is the reason why I have success”
On being in New York
“It mean to be in a place where everybody would like to be, but to me it means to be a place where I can contribute to change a bit the concept of a hair salon or cutting philospophy or hair salon experience because I like to contribute ….to more personization to the industry and to give my thinking way, which made me famous in Europe…And now its working here. People that come really find a new age, a new way and new atmosphere…. they feel we are with them, not a factory salon.”
Ferretti looks for special talents when scouting for stylists. He hand picks all candidates who will embark on the rigorous training and internship program at his hair academy in Madrid. After the Academy, they attend a “finishing school” in his home town, which is overseen by his sister and partner, Lorenza, who decides after intensive and continued education when each stylist is ready to work in one of the signature Metodo Hair Spas world wide.
“Inoa is the color made for me”
The Metodo experience does not end with a stellar haircut. The salon is also noted for its amazing color and as Rossano is a lead Spokesperson for L’Oreal Professionel, he was involved with the development of Inoa, a revolutionary process for permanent hair coloring for the brand and his salon has the only Inoa color room in the country. As he explains this revolutionary color process, Inoa is a ” Yogurt for hair” that is oil based and contains no ammonia to toxify the hair. As you continue to color the hair, it gets better and better. I was eager to try this process having heard a significant amount of buzz about it — The high gloss shine, no chemical smell, a rich color profile that lasts and hair that retains its suppleness, not chemically over dry. Kathy Galloti walked me through the process and the treatment was very easy and relaxing. The results were beautiful. My hair looked and felt amazing and after two weeks maintained that fresh from the salon feeling— Soft, shiny and incredible color. It was like my natural hair color, only much, much better. Another color process that is a key feature to this salon is hand painting or the balayage technique. Like the hair cuts, balayage coloring follows the natural movement or contours of the hair and accentuates the movement. It’s a perfect compliment to the Metodo Rossano Ferretti cutting process.
Technically speaking I would say on every level, the Rossano Ferreti team is top drawer. However, what struck me as a key element to the overall experience was the feeling that we, as clients we are given the utmost respect and care. I know every top salon will say this is an important aspect to their salon ethos but I have first hand experience of many who fell short of that commitment. At the Rossano Ferretti Hair Spa, everyone on the style team takes extra care to treat each client with grace and attention so they feel special and pampered. Listening to each client, observing and respecting the hair, this dance, is an integrative approach that makes it a truly individual and ultimately, rewarding experience. The Promise: “Clients go home and they have exactly what we promise them.You need to pay attention when you promise something: We are not marketing, we are just passion, client, respect and we embrace them.” For me, I have finally met my hair Guru. It has been a long and very winding road but I have finally have found a place where my hair will get the best attention it needs and deserves.
Rossano Ferretti Hair Spa
595 Madison Avenue, 6th floor
New York, New York 212 759 9300
www.metodorossanoferretti.com
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