Introducing: Laurent DeLouya

Introducing: Laurent DeLouya

Laurent really needs no introduction. If you’ve ever been to his salon, La Boîte a Coupe, you’ve most likely noticed Laurent in the midst of the friendly, welcoming world he has created.

Laurent began studying this trade as a young man of 14 in Paris. He had a choice of going to yeshiva to perhaps become a rabbi, or apprenticing to a trade. HIs uncle took him to the best salon in Paris where he began helping out, running errands and cleaning. At the same time, he continued his schooling.

Although he was shy when he first arrived, he adjusted to this new environment and began to learn how to style hair. He quickly took to this trade and developed his own flair for styling. After just two years as an apprentice, he could style hair on a par with any of the other stylists.

He soon realized that his customers needed something new in their lives, not just a haircut. They needed to refine their own styles. As Laurent had learned about style from his father, a tailor, he was ready to help them develop a new image that would include a new hairstyle. “The son of a tailor must be fashionable,” he said. “I could feel what they needed – I sensed it before they even knew what they wanted.”

From Paris, Laurent transferred his talents to New York City. Forty years later, Laurent has attracted a team of stylists and staff that make everyone feel welcome. Clients feel more like family and wouldn’t think of letting any one else touch their hair unless they were stranded out of state or out of the country.

From fathers to sons, the tradition of relying on Laurent not just for hairstyling but also for advice on style and fashion continues. Helping him create this relaxing and welcoming atmosphere are Renata, a stylist at the salon for more than 20 years, and Eva, Laurent’s daughter and manager of La Boîte a Coupe. Together, all the staff at La Boîte a Coupe are committed to maintaining this agreeable island of style and friendship in the heart of Manhattan.

Introducing: Renata Voronovskya

Renata has been a treasured part of La Boîte à Coupe for more than twenty years. Renata came from Moldova where hairdressers were not highly respected and her parents wanted her to be a teacher. So she became certified as an educator and taught elementary school. She never forgot her love of styling hair and when she came to America in her early twenties, she quickly gravitated to Laurent’s salon. About their first interview, Laurent said, “I could see that she wanted to be there very much.” With her passion and hard work, she was soon creating magic for Manhattanites of all ages.

“I’d known since I was twelve years old that I wanted to be a hairstylist. I loved hair and fashion,” she said. “But I wanted to make my parents happy so I started teaching. But now I can indulge in my passion for hairstyling. I have the power to change people’s lives by giving them a perfect cut,” she continued. “A great cut can make you feel twenty years younger.”

Renata prefers to give her clients a natural, unfussy look, one that suits their lifestyles. She loves to design the exact cut and coloring to complement the client’s appearance and enhance their innate style. “A good haircut should be easy to work with, work well with the hair’s texture and be able to be styled in the time the client wants to devote to it. I have a good vision for what a client will like and what will look beautiful on them.”

While her parents didn’t initially understand her interest in fashion and hairstyling, she still learned a valuable lesson on style from her father. “My father taught me that if your hair and shoes are a mess, you should go home and change. You can get by with a low-priced dress, but your hair and shoes must be perfect.”

Now, Renata says, her parents are very proud of her. She said, “They told me ‘We didn’t understand your love of hairdressing but now, we’re very happy for you.’”