I was beyond excited to meet Orlando Pita, I had read about him in Allure and other fashion publications for years and couldn’t believe he was going to style my hair! I planned on being early but was stuck in traffic and could not get there at our scheduled time (almost half an hour late!). Needless to say I panicked, big time. I called and expected to be told that I would lose my slot and who came to the phone but Orlando himself! He was more than accommodating and told me he would move the appointment after me to my slot and would take me whenever I arrived. Huh? This is the world’s most talented and expensive hairdresser who works on Kate Moss et al regularly (not to mention runway shows like YSL, Oscar de la Renta) but he had absolutely no ego and was courteous and sweet.

I finally arrived and had my turn on the chair. Orlando and I discussed our options including my plans for the weekend and decided to go for a head full of curls (I have stick straight hair and have always dreamed of cascading waves of hair). He proceeded to curl my hair, with the duality straightening iron no less, and gave me the most amazing soft curls! (It lasted 3 days, 4 parties and a brunch by the way!) While he worked, we gabbed about his incredible ascent in the hair biz and discovered we both had a penchant for lopping off our siblings' hair as teenagers!

Beauty Snob: What was your childhood ambition? Did you always want to be a hair stylist?

Orlando Pita: I came from Cuba in 1967 when I was five years old, I always thought I would work on Wall Street. Which I did after high school, I worked as a broker redeeming US stocks and bonds. But I always loved doing hair. My first attempt was on my brother when I was 14 years old. We would pore through GQ magazine and would show our barber (in New Jersey where I grew up) what we wanted but they never even came close to to the suave photos we showed them! So I decided to take matters into my own hands and cut my brother's hair. It was a total disaster, but I vowed to practice until I could do it well.

I started practising on anyone and everyone, no one was safe from me, substitute teachers, family members, friends, I'd cut their hair for practice. I made many mistakes but they were all learning experiences, I started thinking about the end result before actually cutting or styling, which allowed me to achieve the look I wanted.

BS: So how did you actually transition from working on Wall Street to hair styling for top magazines and runway shows?

OP: I had a life changing experience in Jan. 1984. My brother is a photographer and he was on a shoot and the hair stylist did not show up so he called me frantically to fill in. At the time I was working on Wall Street during the day and cutting hair at night so I took the offer and went to the shoot. A week later, an agent called offering to represent me and get me more work. Things just went crazy from there. Six months later an agent in Paris offered me the same thing so I saved my money for another few months and moved to Paris.

BS: Wow, that is amazing, and up to this point you had not had any formal training?

OP: Yes, I was enrolled in beauty school, mainly for the technical things as I was self taught for almost 10 years, but left for Paris before I actually got all the certifications. I was not working in salons so there was no need. When I opened my salon four years ago, I went back and got all the certifications I needed to run the salon.

BS: So what was the first runway show you ever styled?

OP: Martine Sitbon, it was her first show too! We were both new at this so it was a great experience to go through it together.

BS: Most memorable runway show?

OP: YSL's last show in Paris, it was a retrospective of his 40 years in fashion with 112 models. It was spectacular and I was honored to be chosen to create the hair looks for the show.

BS: Tips for our readers to keep their locks glowing and gorgeous?

OP: Do not wash you hair so much! Wash less! Every other day or every two days is ideal. The more you wash your hair, the more oil glands are stimulated to create more oil and the greasier your hair. If you wash it less, your hair will actually become less greasy.

Use good products, our new T3 products use nano technology so that it penetrates through the hair follicles instead of sitting on top of it.

BS: How did you get involved with T3?

OP: I've always been a fan of the T3 dryer and irons, I have to work on the models' hair for multiple shows during fashion week and for magazine shoots, why would I use anything that would damage their hair?!?!?! So I chose the best, which is T3. We decided to collaborate on a line of products that would complement the dryers and irons. After much research and development, the liquid products were born.

BS: What are your favorite movie hair looks?

OP: Faye Dunaway in Chinatown and Bonnie and Clyde.

BS: What's hot for Spring 08?

OP: Bangs remain a focus, it's flattering when done right. And soft shorter layers around the face. I love long hair but do not like long layers that drag down a woman's face and make her appear older. You need lots of wispy short pieces to play with!

An hour later, my hair was full of gorgeous waves- how he managed to do that with a straightening iron is byond me. All I know is I loved it and I can't wait to go to his salon, Orlo, the next time I am in NYC!

34 Gansevoort St Phone: (212) 242-3266