Celebrity hairstylist and entrepeneur Aldo Coppola who died Wednesday, November 20, 2013, in Milan at the age of 73 after a long illness. Entrepeneur and artist, Coppola brought flair to italian hair.
Coppolas empire which today is worth millions began when he was just 12 years old, when he entered into a business that was all about artigianality, and rigour, with little flair and creativity.
Coppola, unlike many of his colleagues and contemporaries is not known for a particular style or cut, but more for having changed the way hair is worn, and the way haistylists are perceived.
Possibly the first celebrity stylist, after having gained fame styling the hair for Bikis Pitti fashion show in 1961, he built a relationship with the fashion world, working with designers like Valentino and Armani, with photographers like Gian Paolo Barbieri, Horst P. Horst, Carlo Orsi and actresses of the likes of Sophia Loren.
Aldo Coppolas legacy goes beyond his fame and status, having revolutionized hair styling through inventions and inspiration. Here are key dates and events in an extraordinary worldwind existence of fame, fortune and genius.
1966 Banished the beehive. With his dry hair cut, thanks to the layering he revolutionized the look of coiffed hair, eliminating curlers and that stiff effect.
1970 The new hair curler. The invention of the spiral curler changed the way women would style their hair, making it possible to achieve a perfect look at home too.
1983 Wild and free. With his invention of a waved cut and brushless styling fashionable hair becomes more wild, relaxed and less formal.
1990 Crouchet is the new black. With this highly geometric style he created volume and proportions never achieved before.
1990 Colour and cut. He was the first to conceive a cut and colour technique that would complement eachother perfectly, the tourchion and sombrero.
1990 Nature is best. The precursor of natural hair dying and care, he developed new colouring techniques which did away with chemicals and started a new philosophy in hair care which included henna, olive oil and yogurt.
2001 The big time. His biggest achievement is probably the shatush, a revolutionary hair dying technique that was a step forward from classic high and low lights, creating a three shade combination just on the lenghts for a nautal look. Today it is still the most popular way of hair colouring amongst a listers and common mortals alike.
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