By Cristina Cuomo
PURIST: Looking back on your career with Valery Joseph, what has been the best part?
NICOLE GACHE: Building a family of clients in the place where I spend more time than anywhere else in the world. This salon is my element. The greatest privilege has been connecting with so many people and becoming part of their lives.
How did your journey with the salon begin?
When I first met Revi [Valery Joseph’s late wife, co-founder of the salon], she had just given birth to her first son, and the salon was still under construction. I had other opportunities, but there was an immediate connection between us. Revi had such conviction that I was going to work with her that it simply became reality. The rest is history.
Tell us about your background, and how you became a colorist in New York.
I began coloring and styling hair in France right after high school. The approach to color there is very different from New York. In France, color is often treated as an accessory—clients might go from brunette to red on a whim. In New York, color tends to be a natural extension of the person, enhancing rather than transforming.
I first visited New York four years before meeting Revi and instantly fell in love with the city. I knew I wanted to live and work here. Revi encouraged me to focus exclusively on color, and that decision ultimately shaped my career.
What color trends are you seeing right now?
The biggest trend is a return to natural beauty. Clients still love highlights, but they’re looking for softer, more subtle results. People are embracing what makes them unique—strawberry blondes want to enhance their natural tones, chestnut brunettes want richness and shine. It’s all about balance and creating harmony between the hair, the face and the individual.
Are there healthier alternatives to traditional hair color?
There are very few truly natural color options beyond henna, which we do not use. However, color technology has evolved tremendously. I work with an oil-based color that contains no ammonia and no PPD [paraphenylenediamine], making it much gentler on the hair while still delivering beautiful results.
What keeps clients loyal for so many years?
I have clients from all over the world who have been with me for more than 15 years. I think they know they’ll leave feeling beautiful and confident. Color is about understanding balance and knowing how to enhance someone’s natural beauty. Trust is what creates lasting relationships.
NYC: 1044 Madison Ave., 212.517.2333; Bridgehampton: 2454 Montauk Hwy., 631.537.8997; Miami: 140 NE 39th St., 305.967.8352; valeryjoseph.com
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