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There is “Method” to his madness

What warrants the price of a personal cut by Ferretti, which Forbes reports to be US$1,500 (S$2,020)? For the 57-year-old Italian, it’s “The Method”, a hair-cutting technique that he and his sister Lorenza invented in 1994. 

What he dubs an “invisible cut” for looking soft and not raw – the way freshly shorn tresses sometimes do – was game-changing, as designer cuts then were more choppy and stylised (think Vidal Sassoon’s angular lines). “The goal was to create a haircut without geometry and seeing the cut of the scissors,” he says. “I just wanted to see the natural fall of the hair.”

What customers get are lush, full locks that fall according to their natural waves (think bouncy “rich girl” hair) – how he believes one’s crowning glory should look. It might also explain his megastar clientele (Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Middleton, Angelina Jolie) and stable of 20 salons in luxury destinations like Beverly Hills, Monaco and the Maldives.

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Instead of pictures of celeb clients, find art on the walls.

He invented and patented his scissors

Ordinary shears don’t cut it for Ferretti and team at his first South-east Asian hair spa that opened here at The Fullerton Hotel (#01-04) in October. Instead, he uses a pair of patented texturing scissors with horizontal teeth that he invented. They cut only 18 per cent of strands per snip, as compared to the usual 50 to 60 per cent of regular layering scissors, allowing hair to maintain its natural volume even after a cut. 

And while the London-based Ferretti no longer personally offers commercial services (save for special occasions or charity), all the stylists in his salons use the same scissors, with each taking about two to three years of “rigorous training” to master The Method, he says. The cost of one such cut here: from $375 to $510.

He was a pioneer of balayage

You know, that hair colouring technique where swatches of hair are sectioned and hand-painted freehand for natural-looking hues that’s all the rage today? Well, Ferretti was already championing it back in 1997. “It was the first really organic way to colour hair,” he says of the way this technique changed the concept of salon colouring.

haircutHe takes a skincare approach to haircare

While the residual oils from some shampoos and conditioners can cause bacne if not properly washed off, Ferretti’s own haircare range, Rossano Ferretti Parma, is actually good for the complexion. Launched last year, the 18-product line was created based on Ferretti’s decades of salon experience. 

Spanning an “anti-ageing” shampoo (it’s said to boost strength and radiance while minimising the effects of hair loss) to a Regenerating Potion hair oil (“superfood for your hair”), they’re all based on natural ingredients for a “holistic experience”. Formulated by scientists and made in Italy, the sulphate-, paraben- and cruelty-free products are also personally tested by Ferretti till they meet his standards.

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Ferretti’s hair spa is an exclusive space where the products used are as tasteful as the decor.

His products are seriously luxurious

In spare, elegant packaging, Ferretti’s hair products promise a spa-at-home experience. His recommendations? 

To protect hair from harsh rays, Brilliante 11 Protective and Shining Oil ($76) has a UV filter and rich concentration of natural oils to deeply hydrate, leaving locks soft and shiny sans oily residue. Velluto 14 Smoothing Serum ($70) keeps hair smooth and supple in humidity, while controlling static and protecting from external aggressors.  

Meanwhile, Intenso 03 Softening and Smoothing Hair Mask ($96) offers effective conditioning. “In a few minutes, it perfectly detangles while making hair shiny and silky,” he says.

Photography Vee Chin Art Direction Adeline Eng

This story first appeared in Female’s January 2018 issue. 

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