Ricci’s Academy Hosts Sassoon Master Class

By John Voket

When the word “couture” is mentioned, it may conjure up images of willowy models trundling the latest clothes, shoes, and accessories up and down the runways at fashion shows from Paris to Milan to New York. But a key component that can make or break the look of any fashion on display was in sharp focus as dozens of students, stylists, and salon owners flocked to Ricci’s Academy recently for a master class in cutting-edge hair fashion by Vidal Sassoon Academy.

Ricci’s owner Daniel Riccio recently hosted his annual master class and seminar to help educate not only his own students and stylists, but other area salon owners and staff on some of the high fashion cuts and color treatments expected to filter down to the general salon client population in another 12– 18 months.

Sassoon’s National Artistic Director Martyn Duff brought the urban chic of New York City, while assistant and colorist Kenny Reed talked about what is all the rage at his home-base salon in Beverly Hills, Calif.

For two full days the pair snipped, brushed, blew, and colored their way through more than a dozen student models, several of whom were designated as the high fashion “after” models.

While these individuals displayed the high fashion versions of what Mr Riccio called the “couture” of hair fashion, others served as works in progress while the Sassoon experts shaped and softened the cuts into what stylists will be expected to deliver to their local clients.

“We’re taking the couture styles that we’re just seeing today on the runways, and then teaching how to adjust these cuts and colors for our clients that will be wearing them every day around the house or in the workplace,” Mr Riccio explained. “But we don’t expect these softened styles to be on our typical client’s radar for up to a year-and-a-half from now.”

According to Mr Riccio, every one of his salon staff members and students who attends Ricci’s Academy is required to attend at least one of the annual Sassoon master classes in Newtown, which also brought salon operators from across the region because it is the only class of its kind offered in Connecticut.