Megastar Hairstylist Giannandrea on How He Launched His Career and the Tool He Created for 'Global Styling'

Giannandrea, the man responsible for so many celebrity's perfectly styled strands—Chrissy Teigen, Jessica Simpson, Drew Barrymore and Christina Aguilera, to name a few—is known for his trendsetting hairstyles and mega skills with a flat iron. Now, he's launched a new tool in collaboration with Aria Beauty, that's taking the industry by storm. We got a chance to catch up with the celebrity hairstylist to learn more about his rise to fame and the latest creation he (and we) can't stop raving about.

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NewBeauty: How did you break into the industry?
Giannandrea: I started doing hair at 16 years old in Bologna, Italy. The '80s landed right on my lap and hair was all wanted to do—the British punk rock movement and Malcolm McLaren–Vivienne Westwood fashion and music scene was an epic time in my teens. The mix of my generation (the rebel years) and training in a classic education formation of hairstyling was the perfect storm. At 18, I moved to Milan and started doing hair for fashion shows, and from that moment onward, I became a full-time freelancer in fashion hairstyling. 

In the late '80s/early '90s, I was between Milan, Paris and NYC in the midst of the fashion world. I moved to NYC in 1992, and there the magic began for the next 10 years. In 2002, I did an editorial for The New York Times Magazine featuring young Hollywood actresses—Scarlett Johansson, Eva Green and a few more. Scarlett and I hit it off, and from there I started working with actresses and fashion combined for the past 15 years. It's been quite a journey and it's still running at full steam nearly three decades later.

NB: At what moment did you think, "I made it"?
G: When I received an Emmy nomination for outstanding hairstyling for my work on Christina Aguilera for Season 8 of The Voice. It was an honor to be recognized at the highest level from the Television Academy. I also won the Hollywood Beauty Awards this year for Outstanding Achievements in Hair Styling.

NB: How did the collaboration with Aria Beauty to create the Giannandrea Global Styler come to be?
G: I was introduced to Aria Beauty while walking the floor at Cosmoprof in Vegas. In 2015, at that time I was beginning to source companies that specialized in Infrared Tech and Aria Beauty is the most advanced beauty company in that particular sector. The quality of their tools is outstanding, they share my views and philosophies, and they understood that our partnership was a natural progression between stylists and brands. It is important to me to bring the latest and most advanced products to my clients because their betterment is, and always will be, my number-one priority.

After a few meetings with AB, we decided there was a necessity to create a tool that had the potential to be taken out of your house and on your journeys around the world, or wherever that may be. But once you're out of North America, the problem is always the different electrical outlets and you can’t ever take “your favorite” and most reliable tools. Now that's all changed because our Global Styler is dual-voltage and works no matter where you go.

NB: What inspired it?
G: I have developed flat iron hair waving and texturizing techniques for the past 10 years, so it was a natural choice for me to start with a tool that allows me to perform so many different types of styling tasks. It is my role as a pioneer of these techniques to promote ways for stylists and consumers alike to achieve the styling trends they see on the red carpet and in magazines, all using a flat iron. Karlie Kloss's waves at the 2017 Oscars were achieved with the Global Styler.

NB: Which hair types does it cater to?
G: No matter what hair texture you have, hair is delicate and can only take so much heating before the cortex starts to lose elasticity, the cuticle becomes dull and the beauty of the hair slowly fades. The ultimate benefit that the Global Styler gives is care and prevention of damage without sacrificing styling choices because of its infrared technology. The world is made of a wide spectrum of ethnicities, and no one is left out.

NB: What makes it stand out from other tools?
G: Prevention. Far infrared heat prevents damage, static and frizz and improves the hair’s moisture balance. It penetrates the hair shaft cortex, warming the hair from the inside out for instantly healthier-looking, shinier hair. Titanium-tourmaline plates provide the fastest, most even heat transfer to hair and slide easily for snag-free styling. The range of heat settings available (100–400 degrees Fahrenheit) allows all hair types and textures to get the best style and protection. I recommend 300 degrees for damaged/fine hair, 350 degrees for light or colored hair, 410 degrees for normal to thick hair and 450 degrees for those who've had a keratin treatment.

Check out some of our favorite celebrity looks from Giannandrea here: