Rob Peetoom – Hair guru with a mission

Rob Peetoom – Hair guru with a mission

by marlies|dekkers

Having empowered women since 1969, Dutch hairstylist Rob Peetoom has definitely earned a place of honor in this magazine. Although he may seem like a bundle of contradictions – a feminist patriarch, a trendsetter who goes beyond trends – Rob’s vision is straightforward: if a woman looks good, she feels good. Good enough to take on the world! During a lovely conversation on Bali, where Rob and his team styled the amazing hair looks on these pages, the maestro shared his wisdom and yes, some great hair tips.

Marlies: Rob, first of all, thank you so much for your contribution to our Mother Earth collection shoots. You and your team blew me away with your creativity and professionalism! I also realized that we share the same mission: to help women shine and fulfill their potential.

Rob: We certainly do, Marlies. I am very much a woman’s man. I love being around them and working with them. I actually believe you are much stronger emotionally than we are! When I opened my first hair salon, women were still expected to get married and have babies as soon as they hit their twenties. Career planning? Forget about it! So, I decided to create an environment where women could develop their talents and prove their worth. At our salons, through the combination of courses and hands–on experience, men and women have always had equal opportunities to grow from apprentice to top stylist and even all the way to creative director. As long as you work hard enough.

Marlies: Education is at the heart of your organization.

Rob: Exactly. Price differentiation is another key component. If you charge one general price for a haircut, whether it’s by the owner or the assistant, every client will insist on getting cut only by the most senior employee. You can imagine how this curbs the growth of a beginning hair stylist! And how demotivating is it to know that you will be getting the same salary at 35 as you did when you were 18? In the seventies, I was the first hair salon that started charging different prices for a haircut depending on the experience of the stylist. With this, we became one of the few places where women could build a beautiful career without having to break through glass ceilings.

Marlies: Well done! It’s obviously been a success formula: there are now 15 Rob Peetoom salons and three academies in the Netherlands, Bali and New York, many of them run by women. A few years ago, your daughter Rochelle became the CEO of the company. It’s a fact, Rob: you are a feminist! How do you see femininity?

Rob: I believe that feminism and femininity go hand in hand. I used to cut two very elegant women who were the living proof of that: Renate Dorrestein and Liesbeth Hendrikse, the figureheads of the second feminist wave in the Netherlands. Such enlightening conversations I used to have with them! In general, I love the fact that Dutch women are so down to earth and practical. But sadly, that often means throwing their femininity overboard and getting a short hairstyle because it’s so ‘easy’.

Marlies: You feel that, in a sense, they cut off their femininity?

Rob: In a lot of cases, yes! Luscious long locks can help women tap into their sensuality. Just look at you: your manes suit you so well, they are an extension of your femininity! If you would cut them all off, you might as well stay home. (Laughs) Just teasing!

Marlies: Well, I would probably cause less car accidents walking down the street! (Both laugh) But seriously, what do you see as the perfect hair length?

Rob: That is completely different for each woman. It depends on many factors: your face, shape, lifestyle and which phase of life you’re in. When I say ‘long hair’, I don’t necessarily mean ‘down to your waist’. It could be chin–length, as long as it gives you that extra little flair that makes you fall in love with yourself when you look in the mirror.

Marlies: I love that! It’s exactly what I want my lingerie to do: to make women fall in love with their own reflection, so they are confident enough to make their dreams come true. And for each woman, there is a different shape or style of bra that hits the spot. But back to those gorgeous manes; can you share some tips with us, Rob?

Rob: After washing, always use conditioner to close your hair cuticles, even if you think your strands look a little limp afterwards. The alternative is that they break off, which is not what you want! A great tip for your beach holiday: in the morning, work your favorite hair mask into your towel–dry locks, put your hair in braids, a knot or a ponytail and leave it on for the rest of the day. At night, just rinse it out. No need to shampoo!

Rob: Absolutely! When you have thick, healthy hair, you can get away with not shampooing it for up to two weeks, otherwise once a week should suffice.

Marlies: Wow, I know a lot of women who wash it every day!

Rob: Yes, women with fine hair are afraid their hair loses ‘body’ if they don’t, but with a great haircut and the right products, that doesn’t have to be the case.

Marlies: Last but not least, what are the next hot hair trends?

Rob: The hottest hair trends are born in the streets. From Tokyo to New York; I’ve always been inspired by observing the styles of real people in vibrant cities. Hairdressers don’t necessarily create new trends, but they make sure the trends work for you. Which is an art in itself.

Marlies: As you have proven time and again, Rob. Thank you for having made women feel fabulous for over 60 years now. You rock!

 

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