“Girls Just Want To Have Fun” sang out Cyndi Lauper in 1983 as does this same era rockin’ hairstyle created by Philip Pelusi!  Philip says this abstract backdrop, clothing, photo, and hairstyle were inspired by the punk scene of that time personified by Lauper, David Bowie, Debra Harry, and early Madonna.

Local Pittsburgh fashion designer Mark Paterson commissioned Philip to create this unique look to capture the mood of the times and of his beautifully tailored, sophisticated clothing collection worn by the model.  Paterson had just won the Cody Fashion Award recognizing him as the top up and coming fashion designer and was honored with a ceremony at the at Lincoln Center in NYC where this collaboration was showcased!

This photo itself was shot at the Philip Pelusi Bank Center Salon in his 3^rd floor photography studio.  The Philip Pelusi Bank Center Salon was a cool spot, 3 stories high with a gorgeous stained-glass ceiling.

Behind the Scenes…

Haircut and Design: Philip Pelusi

Lighting Staging and Photo: Philip Pelusi

Makeup: Cathy Cappiola 

Philip Pelusi Products: Volumize Shampoo and Conditioner, P2 Gel, finished with P2 Industrial Spray

Did You Know? are fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL Did You Know? on Did You Know? – Busy Stylist

Philip Pelusi redefined curl and texture with his “Girls Who Love Curls Collection” presented at NYC Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in 2009!  This exciting collection introduced Tela Beauty Organics by Philip Pelusi Curl Of My Dreams Weightless Anti Frizz Curl Boost, showing once again that Philip Pelusi has always been ahead of the trend curve when it comes to curl and texture.

These standout models complete with textured hair and smokey eyes were all created by the Philip Pelusi Talent Team and photographed at The Philip Pelusi Tela Design Studio and Salon in NYC Meatpacking District.  This exciting day had a spectacular ending with the models and Philip ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange that day!

Behind The Scenes:

Photo by Philip Pelusi

Hair design and color, under the direction of Philip, created by National Creative Director Jeffrey and the Pelusi Runway Talent Team

Clothing by Julien Lewis a Finalist for Project Runway

Philip Pelusi products: Tela Beauty Organics Curly Shampoo and Curly Conditioner, P2 Xtreme Liquid Hair Repair (the 3 Minute Miracle), Tela Beauty Organics Curl of My Dreams, finishing with a lite mist of P2 RefresHair

Did You Know? are fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL Did You Know? on Did You Know? – Busy Stylist

The year 1966, only 16 months after Philip opened his first salon called “The Studio Of Elegance” on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill.  Philip just turned 22 years old and of course was totally in tune with the hottest fashion and pop culture trends of the times.  The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Carnaby Street, London, Mod style, and Philip Pelusi were bursting onto the scene and wildly influenced hair and fashion trends.  The common thread?  They were all part of one of the most dramatic movements in the world of fashion!  So, the arts (Andy Warhol/Edie Sedgwick), movies, plays, the street scene, and graphic shaped hair designs became all the rage!

Philip shares, “I was invited to present my Mod Bod Haircut and Design inspired by the times.  And this is the only photo from that show!  We blow-dried the hair with a 350-degree dryer, that was the highest wattage you could get back then.  Hairstyles were dramatically changing!  And we went from using 12 cans of hairspray a day in the salon to just 1 a day.  No more teased hairstyles to last a week, hair instead was swinging along with all the swinging artistic trends.  The haircut ruled those new times; hence the Volumetric Pelusi Method was devised!  Like Bob Dylan’s song (1964), ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’!”

Behind The Scenes:

Haircut Concept and Design by Philip Pelusi

Photo credit is unknown, shot at a boutique on Carnaby in London

Hairstylist in the background is Peter who was part of Philip’s team at that time

Clothing Coco Channel suit and go-go boots!  (today only available in vintage stores)

Philip Pelusi Products were at the very first stages of product development!!

Philip Pelusi La Crème Shampoo and Conditioner and Glaze for the blowout

Did You Know? are fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL Did You Know? on Did You Know? – Busy Stylist

The year was 2009, the phone rang with Pittsburgh’s WHIRL Editor asking for a Philip Pelusi hair and makeup duo for their Holiday issue.  Philip tapped his dynamic duo Lisa K. (currently our Director of Talent Acquisition) and Nikki B. (currently our Product Education Director) for the task! 

Lisa created the intricate updo and Nikki created a series of makeup looks on the model’s face.  They put together one of the most dynamic looks WHIRL Magazine has ever seen!

Lisa shares… “We had so much fun that day!  Her hair actually had wire cable from Home Depot in it to make it stick out like that!!!  I think I had like 6 separate hair pieces, all different textures that I made in it, and some of Philips vintage hair coils!  Then they asked me to add jewelry (real diamonds, gold etc.) to the hair.  I remember weaving jewelry through all the pieces!  And Nikki’s makeup was phenomenal!!  What an exciting memory!”

Nikki shares… “They asked for several makeup looks to juxtapose the bold body art a painter was creating.  I started with a fresh shimmery holiday face then worked up to the smokey eye look that made the cover.  No photoshop so I loved the challenge!  I mostly remember how much fun Lisa and I had working together that day!  We were in that room working on that model for like 10 hours, all while the body art was being painted at the same time!  So fun!!  Lisa’s updo was absolutely spectacular!  The beautiful model had very fine hair and Lisa literally built that updo with all that heavy jewelry!  I think I handed her about 1,000 hair pins that day.  It was a blast!”

Check out these images scanned from the actual WHIRL 2009 issue and the fun image of Lisa and Nikki!  Wow how time flies while you are having fun!

Did You Know? are fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL Did You Know? on Did You Know? – Busy Stylist

Timeless indeed!  In 1982, Philip was selected by the prestigious Milan Italy Hair and Fashion Magazine Lo Zeffiro as the #1 International Haircutter and Hair Designer in the World!  This design and photo, titled by Philip as “Punk meets Ballet”, was part of a hair collection Philip presented at the Lo Zeffiro Awards Ceremonies in Milan and Florence. 

Philip shares, “Note the delicacy of this hard-edge look where beauty and rapture meet unspoken strength.  It captures the mood and spirit as well as transcends decades of design.” 

Philip was featured along with top fashion clothing designers Krizia, Versace, and Armani.  Cool fact… this cut was dried by a hand-held heat lamp as Philip cut the hair, literally cutting and sculpting the cut as it dried!

Behind The Scenes…

Volumetric Haircut, Design and Photo by Philip Pelusi

Background Art by John Patton

Hair and Photo assistant Jeffery Reitz

Philip Pelusi Products ~ La Creme Shampoo and Conditioner, 3D Modeling Glaze and Modeling Conditioner

Did You Know? are fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL Did You Know? on Did You Know? – Busy Stylist

There is a little-known fact that Philip, along with Jeffry Reitz, designed hair designs for the dance company “The Pittsburgh Alloy.”  Philip was a member of the Board of Directors supporting the arts in our great city of Pittsburgh.

This look was inspired by a specific highly expressive Spanish dance form along with the traditional dress worn by its dancers.  The traje de flamenca (“flamenco outfit”) is the dress traditionally worn by women at festivals in Andalusia, Spain.  

Philip shares, “This modern interpretive design captures the modern cultural energy of the Spanish dance the Flamenco circa the 1990’s.  It was featured in many hair magazines throughout Europe, the UK and the USA.  The baby fringe around the hairline is an understated feature to the design as well.”

Note… The lattice crown the model is wearing was a hair piece designed and crafted by Jeffery and Philip and incorporated into the design

Behind The Scenes:

Hair Design by The Trend Team of Philip Pelusi, Jeffrey Reitz, and Sam Canavan

Hair Color by Sam Canavan

Photo, lighting, photo styling by Philip Pelusi

Dress By Designer Vivian Tam

Did You Know? are fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL Did You Know? on Did You Know? – Busy Stylist

The term “Chiaroscuro” (pronounced kee·aa·ruh·skyur·ow) is an Italian term referring to the use of light and dark shadowing in a painting or photo.  This is reflected in the composition and lighting in every aspect of this Philip Pelusi original design, from photo, hair color, even the clothing.  Philip played with shadows and light to complement the design as this model was actually sitting off stage waiting to go down the runway in Paris!  Thus, the theme Somewhere in Paris!

The hair and image were created in 1985 for the French magazine Coiffure de Paris and was shown locally too on The Pittsburgh Today Show on CBS.  Mind blowing fact…remember this image was created in 1985 so none of Philip’s photography was ever altered.  There was no retouching or Photoshop or apps (weren’t invented yet) used to enhance or alter the photo, hair, makeup, or clothing, everything in every image is all real!  Kinda wild when you think about it.

Behind the Scenes:  Hair Crafting Hair, photo styling and photograph by Philip Pelusi

Philip Pelusi Products: La Crème Shampoo and Conditioner, for blowout styling P2 Fixative and P2 Soft Wax, P2 Fluid Spray for detailing and P2 Industrial to finish 

Did You Know? are fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL Did You Know? on Did You Know? – Busy Stylist

Philip calls her “The Rebel” for a reason, he says, “She is the best combination of tough and chic.  She knows what she wants!  She’s fierce and glamourous.”  In addition to always adjusting his versatile haircutting method for all textures, Philip is also the master of capturing the spirit of his Guest as he did here with The Rebel.  Style and strength embodied in one!  There is a sense of timelessness to his designs.  Note the dream like quality of the photo’s background as it draws in the imagination!

Behind The Scenes…

Hair And Photo – Philip Pelusi

Hair Design and Styling – Trend Team of Sam Canavan, Tim Dehainaut, and Jeffrey Reitz

Philip Pelusi Products – The 3D collection, P2 Fluid Spray and P2 Rivet Spray

Did You Know? are fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL Did You Know? on Did You Know? – Busy Stylist

Deemed “The Beret” by name, this iconic Volumetric™ Haircut was created it the early 70’s.  Haircut, design, styling, and photograph all by Philip himself!  The design features Asymmetric Bangs and a strong Weight Line.  Note the amazing subtleties of the Layering and Weight Distribution, one of the foundations for the Volumetric™ Method Hair Cutting System created by Philip.  Timeless, these techniques are still applied today to create the chic looks of 2022!

This well-crafted Volumetric™ Haircut was feature in Hair Dressers Journal, a prestigious hair magazine distributed in England, Ireland, and Scotland.  The model?  A Frequent Guest of Philip’s from Belfast who was attending college in America. 

Philip Pelusi products used:  La Crème Shampoo and Conditioner and for styling, the original P2 Glaze formula

Did You Know? are fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL Did You Know? on Did You Know? – Busy Stylist