Hair is made of dead cells, but it can still respond to anti-aging products. This is what Julien Farel—official stylist of the U.S. Open and founder of the eponymous anti-aging haircare line—tells me when I ask how he delivers on his promise of “making hair young.”
Farel is the stylist of choice when it comes to creating power coifs for Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams. Later this month, he’ll bring his pop-up salon courtside, as he’s done every year since 2007. His team brainstorms the looks months in advance, settling on three final contenders that must appear both sporty and chic while holding up on-court. They refer to his cuts as the “Julien Farel tournament trim.”
For now, he’s focused on his products, so we talk about how his professional background led him to create his own line, “I first discovered my love for styling hair while working under Jacques Dessange,” he reminisces, “When I first arrived to the United States to run the training and education program under stylist Frédéric Fekkai, I had only $2,000 to my name. After 10 years at Jacques Dessange and almost eight years at Fekkai, I was finally ready to launch the Julien Farel Group in 2001. I wanted to offer a brand that exudes luxury and wellness.”
Read on for his thoughts on keeping hair youthful.
What made you decide to create a haircare line that only focuses on anti-aging?
Julien Farel: “Very early on in my career, I noticed that many consumers worry about how to prevent their skin from aging, but never realize that taking care of their hair and scalp is just as essential. I wanted to apply the science of skincare to hair. I had a clear understanding that effective products need key ingredients that combine the science of anti-aging skincare with the science of haircare, and a delivery system that effectively distributes those ingredients into the follicle, scalp and hair shaft. I also realized how inundated consumers are with products that claim to be innovative breakthroughs but aren’t, and I wanted to create a product that truly distinguishes itself—not just soap in a bottle.”
What happens to hair as we get older?
Julien Farel: “What most people don’t realize is that hair, just like skin, ages. Our follicles produce less hair as we age, which means hair grows thinner over time. The aging process can also be affected by a number of other factors that you can’t necessarily control. This includes changing hormones, diet or even how often you color your hair and the styling tools and products you use.”
Why does it turn gray?
Julien Farel: “Each hair follicle contains pigment cells that produce a chemical called melanin. This is what gives the shaft of our hair its color—the amount of melanin in hair determines how light or dark someone’s hair will be. As we start to age, the pigment cells in our hair follicles gradually die, causing the amount of melanin to decrease. Our hair then takes on a more transparent color like gray or white as it continues to grow.”
Is scalp health impacted as well?
Julien Farel: “Yes, it’s important to always remember that scalp and hair go hand-in-hand. This is why hydration is key! Lack of hydration causes strands to become weak, brittle and malnourished. My objective was to find the specific technology to combat this problem and to rebalance and hydrate the scalp. My hero product, Julien Farel Restore, imparts moisture and shine and creates an optimum environment for healthy hair growth.”
How can Restore create youthful hair?
Julien Farel: “It’s designed to push regenerating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and resveratrol deep into the follicle, scalp and hair. The A2B technology found in Restore delivers benefits to these three targeted areas. It stimulates cell renewal and nourishes the follicle for a longer growth phase. It also balances scalp pH for continual hydration and cleanses without stripping natural oils. Finally, it replenishes moisture and improves elasticity. We offer it in three different versions: Vitamin for color-treated hair, Hydrate for normal and fine hair (great for men), and De-Frizz, for frizzy hair. When applying, thoroughly massage the scalp because it doesn’t lather. This will not only ensure proper application, but also help with microcirculation and the delivery of those key ingredients.”
Can you tell me a little bit more about the benefits of A2B and hyaluronic acid?
Julien Farel: “The A2B Anti-Aging Balance technology is essentially a molecule that chemically bonds to bioactives, hyaluronic acid and water. This formula is carried deep into the follicle and scalp, attracting and absorbing more water. As for hyaluronic acid, it can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Without this step, ingredients would be easily washed away. Furthermore, because we produce it naturally within our scalp, the delivery of this ingredient in is especially effective for healthy hair.”
I heard you have some new products in the works! What can we expect to see?
Julien Farel: “In the coming weeks, I’ll be offering a new version of Restore that’s enriched with Echinacea Stem Cells. I’m also launching a scalp product called Magnifique Fortifying Serum. It contains hyaluronic acid, Echinacea Stem Cells, peptides and antioxidants formulated to nourish the scalp and slow the graying of hair.”
Looking even further ahead, do you think anti-aging haircare is set to become a bigger trend?
Julien Farel: “From what I see and hear every day from clients, I believe it’s set to become the next preventative beauty trend. The paradigm of looking at hair as something that ages along with your skin is finally starting to evolve. Stylists and dermatologists are now realizing just how important hair health is to the aging process. Consumers are also much more aware than they were, even 20 years ago, of the ingredients found in the products they use each day. There’s always the desire to look as young as you feel. Hair can offer that game-changing appeal. As a stylist, I understand this psychology on an intimate level.”
