Rodolfo Valentin
Encyclopedia
Rodolfo Valentin is a New York City
hairdresser
and entrepreneur
. Beginning his career as a fashion model in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
, Valentin later emigrated to New York to find work as a hairdresser, eventually opening his own business. He owns three hair salons within the New York City area with products and services that include hair extension, and hair coloring
.
Valentin is also an active philanthropist
, he currently supports the AFSP, Alzheimer's Association
and has set up his own charity organization, Sofia's Hair 4 Health Foundation.
, Argentina
. The son of Spanish
and Italian parents, from an early age he had dreams of becoming a plastic surgeon when he grew up. However Valentin became more interested in his future profession after years of playing the hair dresser to his mother and sister. His aunt, who had studied at a local beauty school in Buenos Aires, would later teach Valentin some of the techniques she had learned. He initially worked as a fashion model.
Moving to Europe
, Valentin worked at the side of hair stylist Alexandre de Paris, helping him perform his work in countries such as Spain
and Italy
. It was around this time that Valentin found a liking for the Five Towns
area of Long Island
, New York
, later claiming “Five Towns is my Beverly Hills”. Renting a studio apartment he would go on to stay in the area for eighteen years.
Upon immigrating to Long Island in 1984, Valentin quickly set about opening his own hair salon. Taking on still current partner Jorge Perez, after just two years he opened Rodolfo Valentin’s salon and spa to the general public. Since then he has expanded his business ventures with the opening of two new salons in the New York area.
Valentin’s patented method of hair extension, the “Hair Infusion”, has been the subject of media coverage, garnering the Hair colouring techniques award,
the 2010 Top hair colorists NYC by the New York City Guide,
and positive support from the public, in particular being consistently rated 10 out of 10 by the readers of The New York Times Magazine
.
and named BEST OF CITYSEARCH
2009.rated with 5 gold stars.
In 2011, Rodolfo Valentin has been the winner of the "Best Hair Extension Salons" award for his trademarked "Hair Infusion" that is recognized by the press as safe to the natural hair.
and the Top Salon NYC award by the "Hair New Era" international beauty guide.
It was also recently featured in the book Forget the Facelift by dermatologist Doris J. Day.
At present he lives in his Hewlett Bay Park home which he shares with long time companion and business partner Jorge Perez, he is also set to appear in a cameo role in the independent film “Sticky Fingers”.
When he was a child Valentin had decided to help those suffering from hair loss due to chemotherapy
treatment. His desire to do so arose after seeing the depression his mother (who later died from breast cancer
) suffered from after losing her hair. “I promised my mother that I would help everyone with this, and make the perfect piece for chemo patients” he said.
To accomplish this, in 2002 Valentin founded the Sofia's Hair 4 Health foundation which offers free hair pieces for those undergoing chemotherapy treatment. To qualify the person must earn fewer than thirty thousand dollars per year. “Some ladies don’t make enough money,” he said. “If they make $20,000, they don’t make enough money to pay for the prosthesis.”
Between one and three people are chosen every month by the organization. Nominations can originate from the person's own application, his or her friends, family members or medical caretakers. Applicants must also currently be under treatment and suffering hair loss due to treatments.
Valentin also helps other charity organizations by donating money to them. He currently supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
, Alzheimer's Association
and the Hellenic Times Scholarship Foundation.
On October 27, 2011 Rodolfo Valentin has donated 1,000 hair prosthesis to the "Hewlett House 1 in 9". The organization name derivates from the fact that 1 in 9 people living in Long Island NY is being diagnosed with breast cancer.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
hairdresser
Hairdresser
Hairdresser is a term referring to anyone whose occupation is to cut or style hair in order to change or maintain a person's image. This is achieved using a combination of hair coloring, haircutting, and hair texturing techniques...
and entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
. Beginning his career as a fashion model in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Valentin later emigrated to New York to find work as a hairdresser, eventually opening his own business. He owns three hair salons within the New York City area with products and services that include hair extension, and hair coloring
Hair coloring
Hair coloring is the practice of changing the color of hair. Common reasons are to cover gray hair, to change to a color regarded as more fashionable or desirable, and to restore the original hair color after it has been discolored by hairdressing processes or sun bleaching...
.
Valentin is also an active philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, he currently supports the AFSP, Alzheimer's Association
Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association, incorporated on April 10, 1980 as the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc., is a non-profit American voluntary health organization which focuses on care, support and research for Alzheimer's disease....
and has set up his own charity organization, Sofia's Hair 4 Health Foundation.
Early life and career
Valentin was born in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. The son of Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
and Italian parents, from an early age he had dreams of becoming a plastic surgeon when he grew up. However Valentin became more interested in his future profession after years of playing the hair dresser to his mother and sister. His aunt, who had studied at a local beauty school in Buenos Aires, would later teach Valentin some of the techniques she had learned. He initially worked as a fashion model.
Moving to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Valentin worked at the side of hair stylist Alexandre de Paris, helping him perform his work in countries such as Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It was around this time that Valentin found a liking for the Five Towns
Five Towns
The Five Towns is an informal grouping of villages and hamlets in Nassau County, New York, United States on the South Shore of western Long Island adjoining the border with Queens County in New York City. Despite the name, none of the communities is a town...
area of Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, later claiming “Five Towns is my Beverly Hills”. Renting a studio apartment he would go on to stay in the area for eighteen years.
Upon immigrating to Long Island in 1984, Valentin quickly set about opening his own hair salon. Taking on still current partner Jorge Perez, after just two years he opened Rodolfo Valentin’s salon and spa to the general public. Since then he has expanded his business ventures with the opening of two new salons in the New York area.
Valentin’s patented method of hair extension, the “Hair Infusion”, has been the subject of media coverage, garnering the Hair colouring techniques award,
the 2010 Top hair colorists NYC by the New York City Guide,
and positive support from the public, in particular being consistently rated 10 out of 10 by the readers of The New York Times Magazine
The New York Times Magazine
The New York Times Magazine is a Sunday magazine supplement included with the Sunday edition of The New York Times. It is host to feature articles longer than those typically in the newspaper and has attracted many notable contributors...
.
and named BEST OF CITYSEARCH
Citysearch
Citysearch is an online city guide that provides information about businesses in the categories of dining, entertainment, retail, travel, and professional services in cities throughout the United States. Visitors to each of Citysearch's local city guides will find contact information, maps, driving...
2009.rated with 5 gold stars.
In 2011, Rodolfo Valentin has been the winner of the "Best Hair Extension Salons" award for his trademarked "Hair Infusion" that is recognized by the press as safe to the natural hair.
and the Top Salon NYC award by the "Hair New Era" international beauty guide.
It was also recently featured in the book Forget the Facelift by dermatologist Doris J. Day.
At present he lives in his Hewlett Bay Park home which he shares with long time companion and business partner Jorge Perez, he is also set to appear in a cameo role in the independent film “Sticky Fingers”.
Philanthrophy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
treatment. His desire to do so arose after seeing the depression his mother (who later died from breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
) suffered from after losing her hair. “I promised my mother that I would help everyone with this, and make the perfect piece for chemo patients” he said.
To accomplish this, in 2002 Valentin founded the Sofia's Hair 4 Health foundation which offers free hair pieces for those undergoing chemotherapy treatment. To qualify the person must earn fewer than thirty thousand dollars per year. “Some ladies don’t make enough money,” he said. “If they make $20,000, they don’t make enough money to pay for the prosthesis.”
Between one and three people are chosen every month by the organization. Nominations can originate from the person's own application, his or her friends, family members or medical caretakers. Applicants must also currently be under treatment and suffering hair loss due to treatments.
Valentin also helps other charity organizations by donating money to them. He currently supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention was founded in 1987 by a group of experts on suicide who wanted to create a 5013 organization to fund research in suicide prevention....
, Alzheimer's Association
Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association, incorporated on April 10, 1980 as the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc., is a non-profit American voluntary health organization which focuses on care, support and research for Alzheimer's disease....
and the Hellenic Times Scholarship Foundation.
On October 27, 2011 Rodolfo Valentin has donated 1,000 hair prosthesis to the "Hewlett House 1 in 9". The organization name derivates from the fact that 1 in 9 people living in Long Island NY is being diagnosed with breast cancer.
External links
- Official website of Rodolfo Valentin