Article about Jose Eber

Hi there..

Karen.. I read your article about Jose Eber "Messenger of Love and Beauty". Great article! I've been a fan of his work for 20 years... yes, 20 years. I was a teenager when he was on "Hour Magazine" in the early 80's. I remember rushing home from school.. I think it used to be every other Tuesday... to see what new neat makeover he'd do.

I've met him on several occasions (even had a web page where I talked about how great the work of he and his staff is...), and I HAVE to admit I've sorely misjudged the man. The times I've met him I've been incredibly intimidated. I had the feeling that outside he has this kind of "cool" .. almost "aloof" ... thing going on. However he can be a really nice guy. I've seen both sides, but my initial impression has always leaned a bit more towards the "cool" side. When I read this article I felt guilty because I misjudged him, but thought it was really neat to see the kinder side coming out.

Anyway, Karen, it was a really cool article. Like I said, it was so nice to see another side of one of the top folks in the fashion and beauty industry. :-)

Nicole

Hi Nicole,

Thank you so much for your feedback and welcome to the boards.

Over the past two years I have gotten to know several of the celebrity hairstylists very well. In some cases I have their private cell phone and home numbers which I feel very honored to have. And I have learned so much from them about not judging anyone that is heavily in front of the media. Many of the celebrities that have a rep for being really rude or unfriendly, are actually shy or just hesitant because they have been burned by incidents with the media or the press. As a result of knowing this, I try to be very respectful when I write about any celebs or their stylists because I have seen firsthand how they are often misquoted, misrepresented and mishandled.

As far as Jose....he was very kind to me, as I tried to portray in my article about him. I can't speak to anyone else's experiences with him but his kindness and warmth touched me deeply. Yes, I had heard before that he could be moody (he even admitted that he can be that way when he is having a bad day - and who isn't?) but I think that overall he has a good and very kind heart and has been very misjudged by many.

On the flip side...I will confess that I have been treated very badly by some of the press agents for some of the celebrity hairstylists and celebrities. One agency sent me the worst name calling email I have ever received in my life because I would not do what they wanted me to do w/ regard to their "client". In another case I tried to call a press agent for a famous NYC hairstylist and his agent screamed at me for even daring to inquire about an interview and then hung up on me. So sometimes I think that the stylists & the celebs don't even know how horrible their PR agents are to people like little ole moi that just want to write about their idols. :-)

If you saw the Sex And The City show where Lucy Liu fired Samantha for misrepresenting her interests over a purse, you know what I am talking about. Those things really do happen. :-)

Thank you again for your kind words and for joining us here at HairBoutique.com.

Best wishes,
Karen

In the hair world Jose is not well respected as an artist. He is just a guy who with good p.r. Nothing against him, just thought you would want to hear of our prospective.

My favorite is Robert Cromeans from Paul Mitchell. I have met him several times and is always ready to talk. I have successfully used alot of his business ideas and techniques. He is a genious!!

My second favorite would have to be Sam Villa from Redken. I have found success with sooooo many of his cutting techniques. Ruth Roche comes in real close after that.

Fredrick Fekkai is begining to make a name for himself in the hair world. I saw him in Chicago one year. He has alot of "stage presence" to work on. He still is not comfortable on stage yet.

The Dove's are another "hot" team to watch right now. i have not seen them in person yet, but I've read alot about them and seen their work.

I'm sorry to ramble, you hit on one of my favorite subjects. Watching these people on stage is like watching a rock concert live when you were a kid. So much adrineline corses through me when I watch and read about these great hair stars. I can't even sleep when I am about to go to a hair show. It really gets my motor running.

Do you think thats why I do hair?.....................YES

Hi Lili,

Actually I know what you are saying about Jose.

From where I am sitting at HairBoutique.com which watches both consumer and professional hair care personalities...there are actually two worlds of hair celebrities.

There are the public idols like Jose (and yes, regardless of what people in the hair world might say, many respect the work he has done over the years starting with the early Farrah cut) and there are the hair world idols like The Doves and Sam Villa and Patrick Cameron and Ruth Roche.

Fekkai, in my opinion, straddles both worlds because he has become very well known in the consumer hair world because of his Press Agent (who also used to represent Martha Stewart) and he is also known in the hair world recently presenting Ruth Roche her NAFA award.

Many consumers have never heard of The Doves or Sam Villa (although I am very familiar with both). And while people in the hair world admire these artists, the average Joe Blue consumer doesn't care.

I do see it from both sides of the coin...the public side and the professional hair world side....and I have interviewed on both sides of the fence. People that are respected in the hair world are not necessarily respected in the public but on the other side, the public often could care less about who is well thought of in the hair world.

It is really like this in all worlds. Great writers that are respected by other writers may never achieve public fame but mediocre writers w/ a good concept or good timing will become best sellers.

I have the odd position of admiring people in both sides. I have watched stage performers at shows like IBS and am amazed. I have also watched people like Ken Paves transform celebritie's hair while being crushed by throngs of cameramen, sound people, fans, handlers and even bodyguards. So I totally admire both types of stylists.

Just my opinion.

Best wishes,
Karen

Hi folks...

Karen hit the nail on the head.... As a member of the 'public' or a 'consumer'... I'm more familiar with the stylists that are more 'out there' in the public eye. I haven't heard of Cromeans or Villa. (although I HAVE heard about Fekkai.... ) But, I sure has heck have heard and seen Jose's work over the years. It's a shame that he doesn't get more respect from the hair world as an artist, based on what LiliBeach said.... I've seen the work from Jose and his team, and I think they do great. But, that's just my opinion... just a 'consumer' (although, isn't that important, hummm? Attracting the consumer to one's work???)

It was BECAUSE Jose's work was so public that I knew that eventually that was a salon I wanted to go to, and an experience I wanted to treat myself to (yeah.. drawback... $$$$ I just recently became a first time homeowner.. I can't afford to go back in the near future. Big disadvantage! I got to go a few times, and I SERIOUSLY miss going to one of Jose's salons.) . I could SEE what they were doing. I KNEW that walking in there I was in good hands. Those of us who get nervous trusting people with their hair -- knowing what one is in for is INCREDIBLY important! I don't see the work of the Villas and Roches and Camerons of the world -- at least not obviously so??? Or lately that I'm aware of???

Ah, yes, I have heard that Jose can be a handful when he's in a *mood*.

A friend of mine had told me about that scene of "Sex and the City" about that purse thing....

Karen...You've been cussed at by press agents? Hm. Not good for them to hurt relations with the press......

I am also a tad bit green with envy that you do get the opportunity to chat with Monsieur Eber. I've respected the work of he and his team for so long, plus I've had a minor interest in the hair biz, I wish I could just spend 1/2 hour just sitting and chatting with him. He's gone from stylist to business owner.. I especially want to find out about how he's dealt with the transition to becoming a manager. I'm kind of going through that struggle myself at my own job...! Also I'd love to find out his thoughts about the hair biz, and what his favorite parts of the job are. But, again... I've looked up to him for as long as I have, you know??

Sorry LiliBeach and the others in the biz for me *gushing* as much as I have been, and in the direction I have been, but like I stated earlier I'm *just* a consumer.

BTW, I have seen the work on TV of other stylists... Chris McMillen (sp?), Oribe, Louis Licari, Garren, some of the work coming from some of the Vidal Sassoon salons......... Like I said, I like what I've seen from Jose the best.. I like what he does and what he says. 'nuff said.

And yes, I know that there are other great stylists out there that AREN'T "known"... but it's much harder to stumble on to them. I consider myself endlessly lucky that I have a stylist I go to locally who is what I really look for... easy to talk to, sweet and kind person, creative, not afraid to give suggestions, and really good. She *gets* it. She knows I'm a fan of JE's, and doesn't mind. I can get really nervous about my hair. But, working with this stylist I know I can relax. That's VERY important to me!

Ah, Karen, thanks for your kind words and welcome. Keep up the good work!!

And like Karen said... just my opinion.

Sincerely,
Nicole

Very interesting reading you guy's!

Isn't Jose the guy with super long blonde hair?
If it's the guy I'm thinking of, he is a cute guy!
....and his long hair is beautiful!.
No wonder he is good with women's hair! He has such great hair himself!

Hi Tina,

I think you might be thinking of Robert Hallowell. He is a dreamboat or as Uzma would say, swoon thump, (sorry Uzma). Karen does include images with her articles so you can check out Jose to see what he looks like. He always wears a trademark cowboy hat though. I believe it is custom made for him.

I know that one of Karen's favs is Ken Paves who does JLo's hair but although he is blonde, his locks are shorter.

Hi Tina, Bratty & NHMV,

Thanks for your replies.

NHMV I hope you continue to visit us and post here. I enjoy your responses.

Tina & Bratty
Yes...Robert Hallowell have long blonde hair and looks like a movie star. :-)

Jose does wear a cowboy hat that is a couture and custom design. His image is w/ the article about him.

Best wishes,
Karen