HAIR TO STAY

CELEBRITY HAIRSTYLIST FLORIAN HUREL, WHO HAILS FROM PARIS, SHARES HIS LOVE FOR INDIA AND INDIAN CELEBRITIES WITH SRIJITA SEN

Florian Hurel travelled to India after his mentor in France encouraged him to broaden his horizons.

Since then, there has been no looking back. Today, Florian is one of the most sought-after stylists in Bollywood, having created iconic looks for stars such as Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Deepika Padukone, Tamannaah Bhatia and Shraddha Kapoor, to name just a few. In this candid conversation with Filmfare, he opens up about his journey from the streets of Paris to the fashion capital of India, Mumbai. He sheds light on his creative process, the challenges of constantly reinventing his looks and even debunks a few popular Indian hair care myths.

Did you always want to be a hairstylist?

Yes, I knew from the age of 13 that I wanted to be a hairstylist. My mother's uncle was a hairstylist, and I always admired his style and the way he dressed. There was something charming about the profession as well.

From Paris to India – tell us about your journey.

It’s been quite a long journey, nearly 20 years now. I started at a young age and went through various stages of learning, growing and assisting some of the best hairstylists in the world, working with top brands. After travelling, I returned to France and opened my salon at 21. It was a franchise, which I eventually sold before deciding to move abroad again. My mentor in France suggested that I go to India, believing it would be beneficial for my personal and professional growth. I came to India to explore the market, work and train people. That’s essentially how my career unfolded here. Whether it's Bollywood, TV commercials, or working with different celebrities, I made a name for myself by working closely with them. Then, I opened my beauty salon. It’s been 11 years now and it feels like I landed just yesterday.

Who was the first big celebrity client you worked with, and what look did you create?