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Internationally-acclaimed celebrity hairstylist and founder of the VERNON FRANÇOIS ® Collection, Vernon François, has brought his creativity from his home town of Huddersfield in Northern England to the global stage. He champions the incredible versatility of textured hair and his prestige brand of hair care and styling products is for ALL hair types.
François clients include Lupita Nyong'o; Solange Knowles; Serena Williams; Willow Smith; Ava DuVernay; Ruth Negga; Cynthia Erivo; Kerry Washington; Teen VOGUE’s editor-in- chief Elaine Welteroth; Tracee Ellis Ross; Uzo Aduba; and many more.
The Hollywood Reporter’s ‘Top 25 Beauty Moments of the Year’ celebrated Vernon’s work with Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o for two consecutive years; Serena Williams’s Vanity Fair cover grabbed global attention in June 2017 and Refinery29 named François a Beauty Innovator of the year 2017 finalist.
Vernon’s passion for textured hair started when he was aged eight. Raised in a Rastafarian household, he remembers Sundays were about “Mum cooking and braiding our hair for the week ahead”, which he never enjoyed. One day, tired of his complaints, his Mum suggested he do it himself - this was his ‘eureka’ moment. He taught himself how to braid, loc and twist using everything from his Grandmother’s beaded curtains to the living room rug fringing. It quickly became an obsession and instead of doing homework after school he’d be busy with his creations. Although he didn’t realise it as a child, Vernon is also dyslexic.
Aged 14, Vernon started working at salon on London’s Oxford Street. He won ‘Newcomer of the Year’ at Black Beauty Hair Awards aged 17; ‘Black Hair Junior Stylist of the Year’ aged 19; and is listed in the ‘Top 20 Influential Black People Under 40’.
Vernon’s work is seen on the covers of VOGUE, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair; in Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Allure, ESSENCE and more; also, red-carpet events including the Oscars, Met Gala and film premiers. Campaigns he has styled hair for include Lancôme and Pirelli Calendar 2017, working alongside iconic photographers Mario Testino, Mert & Marcus, Victor Demarchelier, Alexi Lubomirski, Peter Lindbergh and Annie Leibovitz.
For more information about Vernon François the man and the brand visit www.vernonfrancois.com