Meet Edward Katz

National Hair Journal Interview with Edward Katz
"Meet Edward Katz"
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NHJ: When we introduced you, we said that you were Hollywood's "second best kept secret." By that we meant that you have a very distinguished clientele, yet we don't see you advertising. We don't see you in the Yellow Pages. That means most of your business must be the result of word of mouth; one celebrity speaking to another.
EK: That's right. It's hard for an international celebrity, the high-end entertainer or the person who runs a major public company like IBM, Monster.Com or Hewlett Packard, to make a referral, but you're right, a lot of business comes from personal recommendations. Then there are the hair salons in Beverly HilIs, the people who are doing the make-overs. I'm talking daily with the doctors who make people look good when they do a face lift or a nose job. They want to frame their faces of these patients... and that means hair. They send them over to me to give them that final touch that balances their whole face.
NHJ: There was an article in a business publication recently about business leaders getting elocution lessons so they were better pre-pared for social and business success. Is it important for "shakers and movers" to have a good head of hair too?
EK: I recently read an article by Hilary Clinton who said she had never conceived how important hair is to a politician. For her to flag this as one of the most prominent thing a person in public office should be concerned about is quite a revelation.
NHJ: A lot of manufacturers and distributors do their production in Asia where the cost of labor is significantly less. Did you consider doing this?
EK: I don't do this because I wouldn't be able to inspect what's going on. After we finish a hair piece, it still takes 6 people under my direction to fine tune it. We may remove some hair to refine the density and make everything equalized. Just because production of a hair piece is finished, it doesn't mean it is ready to be put on a person's head. I can't see a hair piece when it's China and I can't see it in Mexico or in Indonesia. I need to see it to take make everything come out perfect.
NHJ: I imagine also that if one of your clients is on deadline shooting a film or on a television set, you don't have the luxury of going back to the factory. You've got to get it right the first time.
EK: Right. This is an unforgiving business. I get one chance to get it right.
NHJ: Do the studio stylists ask for your input?
EK: We're on the phone a lot. The fact that we're working with synthetic hair makes things much simpler. It combs easily into place and the knot we tie, it's called a split-knot, gives the hair piece the body of a natural head of hair. A single knot or double-knot, the only knots you can tie with human hair, would give a flatter look and make it harder to see the scalp through the hair.
NHJ: Do you use lace fronts?
EK: Laces to me are a very old fashioned concept. They give a fake looking front, even though many people think they're wonderful. But I talk with many people, people like actor Jack Klugman. People said he looked phenomenal in Quincy and other programs, but in reality the lace was tedious, unrealistic and constantly had to be replaced.
NHJ: We know you cannot mention the names of your celebrity clients, but we're all voyeurs and want to share share some of your limelight. Are there any anecdotes you can share without betraying any confidences?
EK: Sorry. If I was Armani or a famous fashion designer, my name and the people I'm associated with would be all over the papers. But in this sensitive market my lips have to remain sealed. That's the worst part of my business.
NHJ: Many stars talk openly about other procedures that make them look or feel better. Why is hair different?
EK: Hair replacement does not have a legacy of high quality and sophistication. We're not even in agreement among ourselves about basic products and procedures. In Japan and Europe they use mostly synthetic hair; in America it's 99.9% human hair. Who's right? There are no product norms or technical standards. So the public has developed a bad image of hair pieces and no one wants to talk about them or admit they are wearing one specially the movie stars. It's a little different for women. Women can have all sorts of procedures done, they can wear wigs, have breast implants, facelifts, you name it, and everyone will say they look fantastic. But just mention a hairpiece and everybody hushes up.