Thursday, April 12, 2007

Your Town-Tribute to John Sahag By Kathleen Giordano







On June 13, 2006, family, friends and colleagues gathered together to remember and celebrate the life of celebrity stylist, John Sahag who succumbed to brain cancer in 2005. The theme of the night was to keep his legacy alive and reveal the new faces of the John Sahag Workshop. The evening was also the launch of the John Sahag Foundation whose purpose is to foster creativity and support of craftsmen in the hair design industry through continuing education, training and scholarships. John Sahag was internationally known as an artist for more than 30 years. His groundbreaking method for cutting hair was something that earned him his renowned reputation. He mastered the "dry cut" which technique is used by many stylists today. Johns work was featured in many infamous fashion magazines. Recognizing his talent at the age of 16, John went off to Paris where he was in high demand. In 1985, he opened up a salon in New York City called the John Sahag Workshop."I wanted to create an oasis away from the frenetic pace of New York life, to erase the "edginess" of urban living and to revive the energy of each man and woman who enters into my space so they can leave feeling enhanced, refreshed and invigorated." He stayed involved with his workshop as much as he could up until the end. Sahag took pride in his work and who worked with him. Affectionately calling his colleagues "his kids", he created a team of experts. In attendance were resident stylists Gabriel Saba, Karmela Lozina, Mayumi Honda, Rafael Garcia, Daniel Garza, Thomas Clancy and colorists Frank Reina and Santino N. Acquista. They continue John's legacy everyday by using his inventive dry cut. He instructed them to treat every client individually and to find a look that is as unique as a fingerprint. The night was appropriately titled "A Night of Imagination, Unlimited". The evening would not have been able to take place if it weren't for his faithful clients Martin and Janet Sheen, Julianne Moore and Rita Wilson. The event was hosted by Holly Hunter, Carol Kane, Irina Pantaeva, Estee Lauder President John Demsey; Vogue Beauty Director, Sarah Brown; Town & Country Beauty Health Director, Janet Carlson Freed, Basil Charles of Mustique and M. Katherine Dwyer, Officer of John Sahag, Ltd. and Founder of Skinklinic. That night $100,000 was raised for the John Sahag Foundation. Several people gave speeches about a man that they not only respected, but greatly missed. John was said to be a magician with a scissor and comb. He was known as a true "rock star" and was even called the Mick Jagger of hair. One thing for certain is that he touched the lives of so many people and definitely left an impact on this world!

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