MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Ruth Roche, Award-Winning Hairstylist to the Stars and Founder of RARE by Ruth Roche/Pureology Salon
Ruth has worked with celebrities including Anne Hathaway, Lindsay Lohan, Molly Sims, Claire Danes, Jessica Szohr, Kelly Ripa, Geena Davis, Pink, Milla Jovoich, Mariah Carey, Mariska Hargitay, Laura Linney, Sharon Stone, Sheryl Crowe and Mischa Barton. She has worked with renowned photographers such as Annie Liebovitz, Gilles Bensimon, Stuart Shining, Troy Word, Raphael Mazuco, Phillipe Solomon and Ondrea Barbe. Her creations have also appeared on the runways during New York’s famed Fashion Week. You can see her work on Peachy Deegan right now and we highly recommend her:
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2010/02/salon-peachy-quite-literally-locates.html
In 2003 Ruth opened RARE by Ruth Roche/Pureology Salon in NYC’s downtown hotspot Tribeca, marking another milestone in her career. She and the RARE by Ruth Roche team are among the most sought after stylists in NYC. Also home to the RARE by Ruth Roche Academy, the space is the perfect place for fellow stylists from around the world to learn, grow and fuel their creative fire. There is nothing Ruth Roche loves more than learning from and sharing knowledge with her fellow hairdressers.
Ruth has been honored multiple times by the North American Hairstyling Awards, including Master Stylist of the Year, and raised the bar at Redken as Global Artistic Director of Design until 2001. Now she travels the world for RARE by Ruth Roche/Pureology Salon, sharing her experience and new techniques with fellow professionals, and keeps everyone up-to-date her refreshing, inspiring and (of course) humorous blog. Ruth’s dynamite personality and innovation keeps stylists falling in love with what they do and to help them all realize their full potential. We are SO pleased to present her as our latest Mover and Shaker.
Peachy Deegan interviewed Ruth Roche for Whom You Know.
Peachy Deegan: What is your first hairstyling memory?
Ruth Roche: I had a big doll head that had shoulders, and you could curl her hair because it had wire in it. It came with a pink plastic ‘curling iron’ that you could wind the hair up with!
Tell us about some of the styles your Barbies sported please!
I was pretty careful not to cut my doll’s hair because I had seen what happened to my friend’s barbies!
Who have you enjoyed working with the most and why?
My top 2 are Jessica Szohr … just a doll and so gorgeous and gracious! The other is Joan Cusack. I got to work with her for 3 weeks in Europe and I laughed my head off the entire time!
What is the biggest mistake women in Manhattan make with their hair?
Coloring their own hair …. Especially if they are trying to ‘fix’ something they had done at a salon. It’s not worth it in most cases. The cost and time involved in corrective haircolor to ‘fix’ your ‘fix’ is much more expensive than having it done professionally in the first place.
What is the biggest mistake men in Manhattan make with thier hair?
Getting boring or cheap haircuts because they don’t think it makes a difference. If you look at business men in Europe, as a whole they have much more style in both their attire and their hair. It seems to be ‘safer’ there for men to be fashionable.
How do you identify talent when you hire other stylists?
I usually only hire people fresh out of school. They haven’t developed habits yet and are moldable. I prefer to train people in the technique and culture that represents my brand and my name. I can usually tell if someone has a natural gift right away by how they touch and look at hair. Sometimes people surprise me and seem to struggle for awhile, and then all of a sudden it just clicks!
What is the funniest thing that has happened to you during your career?
I was at the View doing the hair of a very famous actress who was appearing on the show, and I heard Ceasar Milan (The Dog Whisperer) was there. I left the dressing room to see if I could find him. I found him backstage waiting to go on, and looking back I think he was trying to have some personal space. I was so excited and star struck that I had this big grin on my face, introduced myself as Ruth and said I was a hairdresser. I told him I didn't have dogs but had used his techniques on my cats. He asked how that was working for me. I said it wasn't really working, then realized I was a complete idiot and walked away. By the way, while I was hunting him down, I missed meeting Barbara Walters when she came into the dressing room to meet the guest I was working with.
What or who has had the most influence on your pursuit of excellence?
There are 2 hairdressers who instilled the discipline and craft in me: Trevor Sorbie and Vivienne Mackinder.
What are you proudest of and why?
That I have achieved some of my wildest dreams! I have traveled the world teaching other hairdressers, worked with many celebrities and famous photographers, I live in New York City AND I have a successful salon here too!
What would you like to do professionally that you have not yet had the opportunity to do?
I want to work with Julianne Moore and Meryl Streep.
What honors and awards have you received in your profession?
North American Hairstyling Awards (the academy award of the hair industry) Avant Garde stylist of the year, twice. Stylist of the Year. Master Stylist of the Year. I have also been a finalist at least 5 other times. I have receives the Art of Business Award and Multi-Textural ambassador award.
What is your favorite place to be in Manhattan?
From union square to the west village!
What is your favorite shop in Manhattan?
H & M
What is your favorite drink?
Diet Pepsi
What is your favorite restaurant in Manhattan?
The Harrison
What is your favorite Manhattan book?
Don’t have one
If you could have anything in Manhattan named after you what would it be and why?
A cosmetology school
What has been your best Manhattan athletic experience?
Working out with a personal trainer and completely changing my body.
What is your favorite thing to do in Manhattan that you can do nowhere else?
Walk down the street talking to yourself and no one even blinks!
What has been your best Manhattan art or music experience?
Watching and listening to Sheryl Crow play for a studio recording. There were only about 5 of us there. I styled her hair that day.
What do you think is most underrated and overrated here? Overated?
Times Square. It used to be really cool and old school. It has become so commercialized and it’s like one big TV commercial. Underated? The vitality that is here. People don't realize if they don't live here that although it can be crazy with so many people in a condensed space, but the energy you get from simply walking down a street is phenomenal.
Other than Movers and Shakers of course, what is your favorite Whom You Know column and what do you like about it?
Gotham gadgets. It's like toys for grown ups. even if I don't buy them, I love to see what's new and why.
What else should Whom You Know readers know about you?
I played the organ at Church for several years in High School. I do watercolors.
How would you like to be contacted by Whom You Know readers?
ruth@rarenyc.com
