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Grooming Pour Homme: Martial Vivot

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The old adage goes “you can tell a lot about a man from his shoes.” If you ask Martial Vivot, he’ll probably say you can tell a whole lot more from his hair.

Originally from France, Mr. Vivot is not your average straight razor stylist plying his trade among the latest batch of trendy barbers­ – He pioneered the movement, and he’s in a league of his own. His salon is located on the cusp of Central Park within the shadows of the Museum of Modern Art, where both uptown finance men and downtown artists go for an upscale and relaxed grooming experience. Vivot’s cuts have been described as, “The most perfect cut in the city” and the salon is a sleek and balanced combination of rugged masculinity and modern sophistication. We visited the salon and mixed it up with the hairstyling pioneer. Read on below.

Briefly tell us about the origins of your lovely Manhattan salon?

I have always had a focus in the men’s salon industry, but as I was working, I noticed that there was something missing in the Men’s Salon world – the men wanted more! One thing led to another, and I ended up opening my first salon and was able to bring in services that I felt were lacking everywhere else.

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What do you offer in the realm of men’s grooming that can’t be gotten anywhere else in the city?

The Martial Vivot Salon Pour Hommes focuses heavily on teamwork. Yes, my name is on the door but there is a whole team that is behind the door that you get to experience. We offer things to our customers that weren’t always available. One example is that we offer the straight shave, the oldest shave in the books, to camera ready make-up (you don’t need to be in front of a camera to be camera ready!) It’s a good look for someone that has an event coming up or a fancy dinner to attend.

“The Martial Vivot Salon Pour Hommes focuses heavily on teamwork. Yes, my name is on the door but there is a whole team behind the door you get to experience.”

You’ve worked with huge fashion designers like Tom Ford, Michael Kors and Michael Bastian – can you elaborate further on these collaborations? 

Yes we have! As mentioned above, my name is behind this salon, but it’s teamwork that we strive on – my team has worked on all these shows and presentations during fashion week. For me, it’s important to maintain and excite my team. Keeping the team happy and putting them in front of the pulse of fashion, especially during NYFW is very important to me. We are able to see and help create all of the latest trends and get more creative than we can at the salon sometimes.

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Being that you’re from France, would you say that there is a big difference in the hair styling habits of American versus European men? 

Oh yes, Americans are MUCH more conservative with their hair. I’ve noticed a very interesting thing among the Americans vs. the Europeans, and here is my favorite example to share: I have two clients, both who work in finance, but one is American and one is British. The American one wants a haircut that is more conservative, tightly styled to avoid standing out too much, but still a fashionable and polished look that is on trend. On the other hand, with the British client, he is much more adventurous with his style. He is willing to have longer hair with color and spikes that he can style. It really all depends on the person and how open they are to experimenting with their hair.

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The hallmark of your styling career has been highlighting the juxtaposition of rugged/gritty and smooth/refined – can you explain that concept further? 

I believe the perfect man is the mix of rugged and sleek. This is his lifestyle, how he lives, how he creates, how he works etc. This totally describes me as well. I liked the combination of the two and you can really see that play out in the salon. For the rugged/gritty you will see the exposed bricks, the metal doors, the stones, all the rough aspects and for the smooth/refined, you will see the green, brighter paint, and the delicate touch of flowers that flow throughout the salon. I feel like it’s a very good balance between the two.

Can you name some major trends/styles that will be big for men this Fall?

The biggest upcoming trend is tousled hair; a very visible tousle but not a frizzy tousle! The best way to achieve the look is to start out by towel drying your hair. Then combine the Martial Vivot creme and gel (use about a 50/50 ratio) in your hand and then run it through your hair — DO NOT comb it, just run your fingers through your hair and voilà!

Men are also interested in a more modern look, which just comes down to a more relaxed feel. The hair is finger combed with no indication of a part. Just pushed to the side bit of course, it’s all about the cut. It should be texturized by your hairstylist but not too razored. The ends will look dead. This is for the shorter hairstyles.

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It’s really important for guys to maintain the health of their hair. What are some tips you can recommend?

I always say that you should treat your hair the same way you treat your face. In the winter, when it’s very dry, you need to add extra moisturizer to your face; well same goes for your hair. Moisturizing is the key to healthy hair. You should always think of your hair as you would your skin. After a good shampoo, lather up with our conditioner (which is formulated with organic aloe and a plant based oil blend) and keep it in your hair for 3-4 minutes before washing it out. This will leave your hair much more moisturized and healthy.

Can you tell us more about the ambience and decor of your salon? It’s a truly impressive space.

We really wanted to make it feel like somewhat of a man cave – give that feel that you are in a man’s shop with a touch of delicate pieces such as the flowers. Even our products are a mix of edgy and sleek. The products are in black bottles, the color of this black was called “mad black,” but the design of the bottles is a sleek and simple design.

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Are there any expansions/new openings coming soon for Martial Vivot? 

Yes! We are opening up a second salon downtown in the West Village this November! We are very excited to be more accessible to our downtown clientele.

Martial Vivot talks about #TheAdventureLife:

I love being challenged and one of my most favorite hobbies is going surfing in Long Beach, New York (we just bought a house there!) – I may not be the best, but I am such a super fan of this sport! It’s the best feeling in the world to be in the zone, out in the water where you are facing all the elements, the cold water, and bonding with nature. That is the time you really escape the ordinary, and fully enjoy the little things in life. I’ve seen sea lions, whales and even dolphins! Also, might I add that it’s the best facial you can get!


To get one of the best haircuts in the city, visit his website here. Or walk in to his sophisticated salon space at: Martial Vivot, 39 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019

All photography by: George Elder


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