Celebrity hairstylist Florian Hurel has worked his magic on some of the most iconic names in Bollywood, but his latest ventures are just as headline-worthy. With luxe salon spaces in Mumbai and the launch of his very own hair care line, FHair, Hurel is on a mission to make the Indian salon industry and hair care products a globally-recognised property through his endeavours. In this interview, he opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, the inspiration behind his products, and where he sees grooming trends heading next. Spoiler: it’s all about individuality, innovation, and everyday luxury. 

Your salons have a distinct look. What were your thoughts behind it? 

During the last 20 years that I've been working at the highest level from Paris to traveling the world and having seen different places all over the world, understanding what people need right now.  When I started 20 years back, there were salons, which still exist right now, that had a particularity of that time. However, in today's time that we are in, be it west or Asia, people are looking at fast moving cities and income but forget about themselves. 

So, people want to discover a place where they can unwind from the busy city and schedule. With our salon space, we have tried to give it a bit of North African and bit of Bali feel while keeping Indian roots intact by using, cement, wooden materials from Rajasthan. Everything is minimalist but hand crafted or designed by us. I believe that’s the charm of our place. It comes from my experience in the global industry over the last 20 years. I’d also like to credit my team, from business management to stylists, they know how to manage people and what experience to give them. We have created a unique IP with the space and so now we want to take it to other countries. Our next will be Dubai. We are surfing on the wave of huge IP success because of the fact of understanding what's the need of the moment and that the people are bored and done with the typical salon set-up. People are looking at hubs offering a niche experience for the kind of money that they are spending. 

What are your thoughts on the current state of the Indian salon industry? 

The salon industry is booming. Having researched it and with numbers in front of me, I can tell you that the mass salons which are affordable and come with less expectation from beside the service that you are buying, are working well. However, people are getting bored of salons that are trying to be luxury but don’t offer a luxurious experience. If I have to do another brand, I’ll probably build one which is affordable and quick but provides quality and high-tech at the same time. 

You recently launched your hair care line, FHair. With such a competitive market, how does it stand out? 

Yes, there are many options available today, but I am confident that there’s nothing compared to FHair. It is a luxury hair care brand that’s made in India by a strong professional team. We have worked really hard to design the bottles, find the right colour patterns and work on formulas that target cutting down frizz and nourishing the hair without weighing the hair down. So, while there might be multiple options available in the same segment, there’s no product with these benefits. There are many international brands coming to India but FHair is made in India and understand the needs of Indian hair types.  

Do you think grooming products, especially hair care, need gender-specific labels? 

No, I think it's in the past. If you look at it from the development and manufacturing perspective, the products are not categorised by gender. They are developed for humans. While it could be different for make-up or skincare to an extent, it’s certainly not the case with hair care products. I believe shampoos, conditioners and basic skincare products can be used by anyone regardless of their gender.  

Usually, these products are made to target a specific hair type like curly hair or coloured hair and this also include men. Men are colouring their hair too so they can use the same coloured-hair shampoo that their partners are using. Putting on these labels might have a marketing edge but from the manufacturing point of view, it’s the same.  

How do you think men’s grooming industry expected to grow or change from here? 

Men got into grooming and the segment took off like a decade ago. They are now using make-up, have a signature fragrance but there’s another segment which is the young pool, the Gen-Z who are cool about not following the stereotypical definition of grooming. For instance, they would wear their sneakers with a suit but at the same time, won’t miss their weekly trim at the barber. What I mean to say is that they are finding what they are comfortable with and doing it. I’d like to give the example of Ibrahim Ali Khan–his hair looks have been easy and simple, just enhancing the natural look without doing too much styling. 

What are the trends that will rule the year? 

Less is more will trend this year. Hairstyles will be less complicated without much exaggeration like how we see celebrities walking the red carpet with minimalistic looks. People relate more to it and that’s why it will trend this year too. With that, I also feel the focus of grooming is also shifting towards wellness. Brands and consumers have become cognisant of what’s in the product and they are wise about those decisions. 

What next? 

We will definitely be expanding in the salon industry across the country and even globally. We will have more SKUs for FHair by the end of the year. You will see the brand going global because it is made in India but for the world.