Orlando Pita is known as one of the most accomplished hairdressers in the industry.
With more than 30 years of experience, he has created iconic runway looks for the most well-known, top designers in our fashion world today.
His trend-establishing styles grace the covers and pages of Italian, French and American Vogue, Allure and W.
Originally from Cuba, he is now based in New York.
For a hairstylist (and product mogul) who’s practically as famous as his clientele (Amal Clooney, Jennifer Connelly, Sofia Coppola), Orlando Pita is remarkably down to earth. His unassuming manner and level-headed professionalism have made him a favorite with photographers, designers, editors, models and celebs, alike. And his creativity and perfectionism on set are nonpareil.
He got into the business when he was 21 and he never thought of doing hair for a living when he was young. But he’d been cutting hair since he was 14, because he hated every cut he got as a child. He convinced his brother to let him cut his hair, thinking he could do a better job than their hairdresser. But it was so bad his father had to take him to the barber to get it fixed. From that point, he was determined to learn how to cut hair properly, simply because he wanted to be able to cut his own eventually. He convinced anyone and everyone he could to let him cut their hair – his cousins, friends, substitute teachers. And he always charged for it.
But Pita’s hobby didn’t turn into a career right away. Instead of attending a traditional beauty school, the 21-year-old worked on Wall Street until he realized the world of finance wasn’t for him. One morning his brother, who was assisting a fashion photographer, called Pita to let him know the hairdresser on set had canceled at the last minute, and that they couldn’t find a replacement. Pita volunteered, little knowing that this was the start of a glorious career.
Pita moved to Paris to pursue hair opportunities and quickly landed a job working with legendary photographer Peter Lindbergh. At the time, however, the self-taught hairstylist didn’t have a clue who Lindbergh was—which possibly worked to his advantage.
In 1986, he began working with then-unknown designer John Galliano during London Fashion Week. Pita went on to construct some of Galliano’s most iconic beauty looks, both at his namesake label and at the House of Dior, including huge crimped bobs, wigs covered in hair pins, and sculptural meter-high bouffants.
Orlando Pita’s deep passion, influence and innovation for hair have been infused into the creation of Orlando Pita Play.
He is represented by Calliste Agency in Europe and you can find his portfolio HERE
He is represented by Home Agency in NY and Tokyo and you can find his portfolio HERE
You can also visit his personal website HERE
You can shop his haircare line HERE
Disclaimer: we do not claim authorship over this writing.
