Aldo Coppola

Hair stylist. The definition fits him perfectly. Aldo Coppola “dresses” people through their hair. New trends and tendencies, innovative techniques, revolutionary methods are what has brought Aldo Coppola to became a leader name among the hair styling sector. The Italian coiffeur represents the made-in-Italy all over the world through its particular haircuts and combings, appreciated by the most popular celebrities as well as the common people who are now getting used to go to his salons.

Born in Milan in 1940, he was the son of a barber, Aldo Coppola began to work with his father at twelve, at fifteen he gained the title of Master of Arts at the Unasas Hair Stylist Academy, after studying and training there. He was a child prodigy in the hair-dressing sector, he even won the Italian Championship for Female Hairstyling in spite of its young age.

The turning point came in 1961, when the Italian hair stylist invented the first layered cut in an era when square bobs where a must among celebrities. Elvira Leonardi Boyeure, the famous Italian women hairdresser best known as Biki, noticed the talent of the young Aldo Coppola and introduced him to the magic world of catwalks and models. He debuted on the runways of Florence, during a fashion show at Palazzo Pitti, and his haircuts and style caught the eye of the international public, whose focus went from the dresses to the combings.

In 1965, after having started a successful collaboration with the magazine Vogue, just one of the many agreements he had signed for international fashion magazines, Aldo Coppola, in partnership with his brother, opened his first salon in Milan. Being always a step ahead of the contemporary fashion and trends, the Italian hair stylist soon understood find the way to leave his mark on Italian fashion and hair styling history. Noticing how his clients’ cuts were always perfect besides being under particular conditions, he started to work with the only help of his hands and scissors, leaving aside driers and classic curlers.

Aldo was taking a big risk, but it was that same risk that brought him to success. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, was his motto. He undoubtedly liked to risk, and like to win too. This revolutionary method brought to his salon more and more clients, so that he was almost obligated to open new salons, first in Milan than Rome, Parma, and many towns all over the country, and soon to spread its creative flair all over the world. In 1986, thanks to the help of his son Aldo Jr., Aldo Coppola became a franchising brand, with boutiques and Beauty Ateliers (the new conceptual salon developed in collaboration with the famous interior designer Philippe Starck) present all over the globe, from Montecarlo to Moscow, from Japan to Korea.

During his career, the international famous brand L’Oreal has held an important role. The collaboration between the Italian creative hairstylist and the French beauty care firm started in the 80’s, and brought to big results such as the show that Aldo Coppola still holds for L’Oreal, the calendars or the books published under their names, a real icon and example of style. Apart from the French brand, Aldo Coppola worked side by side with the most important names of the Italian, and international, fashion system. From Moschino to Krizia, from Versace to Armani, every famous Italian maison wants Aldo Coppola’s personal touch to create real piece of arts with the hair of their models.

Inventions like the layered bob, the spiral hair curlers and many hair’s care products are just some of the marks that the Italian hairstylist has left in the worldwide panorama. Aldo Coppola has also wanted to share his abilities and professional know-how and has choose to form and train young Italian hairstylists. The Professional research academy founded in 1995 gives the possibility to young talents of the hairstyling from all over the world to learn his techniques, to train on his haircuts and to take their cues from the work of the Italian master of hair-art. Aldo Coppola’s schools can be found all over the country, and even the world, given the presence of the Professional research academy even in Moscow, for example.

The trademark of Aldo Coppola is worldwide recognized as a symbol of creativity, professionalism and young talent. It is like a signature at the bottom of a painting, every haircut born under the Aldo Coppola’s name being as beautiful, innovative and precious as a work of art.

Italian Hair Stylists and Makeup Artists

Sergio Valente

Make-up artists

In the fashion world, beauty is fundamental, and certainly even models need a little “help”. Behind their perfect skin and beautiful eyes, it lies the work of professional Italian make-up artists of worldwide fame, that use eye shadow, lipstick and blusher as a painter uses his palette. Colored and bright lip glosses, black eye pencil to obtain the smoky effect, rouges that make your face look more warm and soft, professional Italian make-up artists know every trick to make you look (and feel) even more beautiful than you already are.

Hair stylists

A beautifully made-up face is not complete without perfectly combined hair. For that reason, famous make-up artists and hairdressers always work together to obtain their beautiful results. Italian hair stylists have become renowned all over the globe, opening corners in the five continents and spreading their name among celebrities and common people. Famous Italian hair stylists like Aldo Coppola or Roberto d'Antonio have combed the hair of many famous head of the international red carpet, from Italian actresses like Laura Chiatti to American divas like Katie Holmes in her wedding day. Besides being celebrities' favorite and personal hairdressers, they have also opened boutiques spreading their name and their professionalism all over the world through the hands of their affiliates and pupils.

How to became a make-up artist or a hair stylist

Like for painters, to become a successful make-up artist talent is not always enough. You do need to learn make-up techniques, colors' matching and all the tricks of the trade. For this kind of training there are a lot of professional schools and courses located in every region of Italy, where you can start to make your first steps into this glossy world. Italian make-up schools and make-up agencies are worldwide renowned for the expertise of the famous make-up artists that works for them and the high quality of their courses. As well as for make-up artists, many specialization courses, renowned schools offering stages and training practices allow Italian hair stylists to be always up to date and allow their clientele the possibility to look like celebrities and stars. How many times have you seen a woman entering an hairdresser boutique with a magazine in her hands, showing it off to the hair stylist saying “I want to look like this!”? Well, now it is possible.