We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nicolas Al Yacoub a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Nicolas , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Since I was a child, I have always been fascinated and curious about hair. The texture of hair is alive and can be transformed in countless ways. Even at the age of 7, while my friends were playing football or other games, I would often be found playing with my teacher’s hair at school.

Nicolas , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Growing up in Lyon, France, I always wanted to be a hairstylist. So, I naturally, without any doubts, started hairstyling school at 15 years old in France, where I am originally from.

I studied 2 years for the first hairstylist diploma in France; then I continued for the second diploma for 2 more years. (The second one is needed if you want open your own salon in France.) I finished with my last diploma for 1 year, where I learned more about management and the business of hair salons.

During my school years, I also worked at DESSANGE hair salon to learn and practice hair. I was licensed at 19.

After that, from 2016 to 2022, I had the opportunity to work in the same salon where I was practicing and learning about hair. The prestigious and luxurious hair salons in France called DESSANGE. During these 6 years, I worked with the L’Oréal Professional brand, I created the “Sunlight B” technique – a fabulous innovation in hair balayage designed to recreate that coveted post-vacation glow. With Sunlight B, your hair becomes a canvas where sunshine dances effortlessly, bringing highlights around your face and along the lengths, reminiscent of those sun-kissed moments spent on sandy beaches. This technique expertly blends hues to mimic the natural play of light, ensuring a seamless transition from roots to ends.
This technique has to be done after the haircut to bring light at some spots and draw a specific movement that needs to be seen more than other .. or at least on clean dry hair. This technique adapts well to blondes as to redheads or brunettes.

I also worked on stage twice a year to present the new Dessange hair collections for worldwide hairstylists.

My clients come from all over California to get their hair done with me in Beverly Hills at the José Eber salon.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Six years ago, a client with years of highlights on her hair sat in my chair, expressing a sense of lost identity in her almost solid blonde hair. Yearning to reconnect with her natural color while still enjoying the vibrancy of highlights, she entrusted me with her transformation. Understanding her journey, i embarked on the creation of a technique that would not only bring back her natural essence but also infuse it with the radiance of sunlight memories.

With care and expertise, i explained the process to her, assuring her that the outcome would be a closer reflection of her true self. I meticulously worked on her hair, blending shades to mimic the sun’s gentle touch, and a transformation unfolded. When she looked in the mirror, a smile spread across her face, and she expressed gratitude for helping her rediscover herself. From that moment, the “Sunlight B” technique was born –

So for sure, for me the most rewarding part of my work is to make feel people better, understand what they need, why they need to see me and change their lives through magnificent hair.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Well of course. This is obvious, make my clientele happy, try to keep this vision of creativity and offer them new ideas each time they visit me !

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolas_al_yacoub?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolas.alyacoub.1?mibextid=YMEMSu

Image Credits

Stephanie Girard photographer