Julien Farel is Adding Braiders to His Annual U.S. Open Hair Salon
Julien Farel is the official salon for the U.S. Open. (Photo: Instagram)
When it comes to dealing with sweat, sun and action, athletes take the cake. Tack on shampooing multiple times a day, depending on the number of practice sessions, and you better believe they’re concerned about their hair. “That’s the request I get all the time, ‘Get my hair healthy,’” says Julien Farel, owner of his eponymous Upper East Side salon and haircare line. Farel is back at the U.S. Open and hosting his pop-up salon for players, coaches, and entourage members for the ninth year in a row.
In fact, Farel has been doing tennis hair far longer than that. Decades ago, he worked with Dessange at the French Open salon pop-up. Farel later moved to New York and thought why not the U.S. Open? It took some convincing, but now the salon is a favorite of players, coaches and entourage members for both hair and pampering. Stationed next to the players’ gym at Flushing Meadows, the temporary salon offers a full range of salon services (minus the chemical stuff, like highlights and keratin treatments, but including fun options such has hair chalk). This year the salon will also feature braiders officially for the first time as well as an aesthetician who will be using Natura Bissé products. Need a makeup touchup? That’s available too, courtesy of YSL Beauté. There’s also a mani and pedi station, where ladies like to match their nails to their tournament outfits.
If it all sounds rather indulgent, the players tend to book the 30-minute hair wash and cut power service the most, Farel says. He accomplishes that speedy feat by using his all-in-one Restore product that promises to cleanse, treat and condition in one step. “The sun and humidity are really tough on the hair,” he says. “Frizz is a major problem.” The Restore formula contains hyaluronic acid to quench parched strands, he points out.
When Farel isn’t taming flyaways at the salon, you’ll likely find him in the stands. An avid tennis fan with a solid forehand, he’s predicting a Djokovich win. “He’s been the strongest lately, although Federer is effortless,” he says. “At this level though they all have their strengths. It’s all about the head.” Topped with a Farel-trimmed mane no doubt.
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