Vidal: The Autobiography

by Vidal Sassoon

The most famous hairdresser in the world tells his fascinating life story  Vidal Sassoon's extraordinary life has taken him from an impoverished childhood to global fame as the father of modern hairdressing, whose slick sharp cutting took the fashion world by storm. His memoir begins with surprising and often moving stories of his early life—his time at the Spanish & Portuguese Jewish Orphanage in Maida Vale, fighting fascists in London's East End, and fighting in the army of the fledgling state of Israel in the late 1940s. He then discusses his extraordinary career, during which he cut the hair of everyone who was anyone—including Mary Quant, Grace Coddington, Twiggy, Rita Hayworth, and Mia Farrow; launched salons all over the world; founded the hairdressing school that still bears his name; and became a global brand. He also shares the passions that drive him—architecture and beautiful women, Israel and anti-Semitism, family ties and season tickets at Chelsea. The compelling memoir of a genuine fashion icon who reinvented the art of hairdressing.

Genres: Autobiography, History

360 pages, Hardcover

First published August 20, 2010

Reviews

[Jordan Phizacklea-Cullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

There aren't many who can say they genuinely helped shape the 'look' of the 1960s, but Vidal Sassoon was one of them. In this charming memoir, he goes over his impoverished childhood in the Depression-hit Jewish East End and post-WW2 involvement in the anti-fascist streetfighting 43 Group and getting his first footing as a ladies hairdresser's apprentice, gradually developing his own distinctive styles based on Bauhaus geometric shapes to fit the 'architecture' of the head, and how this perfectly chimed in with the mod explosion of the early 1960s and propelled him to an international multimullionaire businessman and household name. For all the charm and gloss of his story though, it finally becomes a story of someone who was concerned overly with surface and presentation - perhaps to be expected for someone who spent so long in the fashion world - and whose early left-leaning principles and social conscience that led him to enlist with the forces that helped the setting up of Israel (an endeavour which was well-intentioned but perhaps gave him a bit of a blind spot to that country's later actions) was forgotten the more and more he mixed with high society. Structurally, it would have been more readable to have the 'Acknowledgements' section at the book's end rather than the beginning. As a snapshot of Swinging Carnaby Street however, indispensable.

[Diane Vallere · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a love letter about Vidal Sassoon's journey to changing the way we think about hair. I love reading about when people find their passion, and that comes through here. An overall entertaining read!

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy read with some interesting history of hairdressing and the evolution of the hairdressing business. Sassoon includes important world events and personal events from his life and weaves them into his story nicely to give you a sense of what was going on at the time. However, I found a large part of the book to be about name dropping of what celebrity he dined with, who he met at a party or hung around with, and for me this was the least interesting part of the book. At times this seemed to go on and on, but at other times the book was really interesting. There is no doubt that the man has had an extraordinary life and has had his fingers in 'many pies', which he shares with us in this book.

[Megan Straziuso · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. And while I definitely did not hate it, I did not love it. I found some parts riveting and other parts so very boring.

Vidal Sassoon is a brilliant man, incredible stylist and a pioneer in the world of hairstylist and I am glad I was able to read his story. It was a struggle at some points but I made it through.

[Annie BW · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book up till about half way but I found the constant name dropping abit unnecessary to the story. A few would have been fine and some were integral to the story but most felt superfluous

[One Box of Fudge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read. Very inspiring and jam packed full of stars.

[Lila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vidal Sassoon has always been an inspiration to me as both an architectural hairdresser and a business man with keen instincts. After seeing Michael Gordon's documentary about his life and work I decided to read this autobiography to learn a bit more about the man behind the hair, in his own words. This book takes you from his childhood spent in a Jewish orphanage to his first gig as a reluctant shampoo boy. It focuses on the swinging 60's when he made his mark on London's Bond Street by liberating women from their weekly set and continues through the 1980's when his revolutionary product line became the focus as he built his international business.

Sure, the book is quite self-centered and name droppy, but it's meant to be about the experiences that stand out to him as he reflects on an extraordinary self-made career. I can't see anyone who isn't particularly interested in the history of hairdressing or 60's fashion diving into this book, but for those who are it's a solid read.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very consumed with himself but if you skim over all the celebrity stuff, pretty interesting rags to riches story. It was interesting how hair industry that we take so for granted these days evolved from the 1940's on.

[Maria del Pilar · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little more about hairdressing and the 5 point cut discovered.

[Fiona Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

fascinating life

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book!!! I love his motivation!!! He was such a charming person. Hard work truly pays off.

[Pamela Hamilton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first half but got a bit bored after he stopped cutting hair and started creating an empire of franchises and hair products. Loved his tales of the Sixties.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book, He really worked his way to fame and fortune, so many salons and products.