L’Oréal Professional Products Division has long been deeply committed to the stylist community, and the opening of the new L’Oréal Academy in New York City is a powerful testament to that promise. More than just a physical space, the Academy represents the brand’s continued dedication to education, artistry, and the professionals who shape the future of hair.
While celebrating the Academy’s grand opening, The Tease founder Kelly Ehlers sat down with Leslie Marino, President of L’Oréal Professional Products Division, for an intimate conversation about education and the intention behind this milestone moment.
Read on for more on our conversation with Marino.
With 37 years at the company, Marino brings not only experience, but a deep emotional connection to the professional hair industry. Being the first woman U.S. president at L’Oréal, Marino’s career reflects both momentous leadership and heartfelt passion. Throughout her whole career she has believed in the transformative power of professional beauty.
“What’s so powerful about the hairdressing industry is it’s accessible for everybody. When you see a young gal who doesn’t have a big budget, and she gets a beautiful cut and a spectacular blowout, she walks out of the salon with a bounce in her step, she feels good. It’s always about beauty that’s accessible for everybody whether it’s a transformation, a new hair color, or just a cut and a beautiful blow-dry.” — Leslie Marino.
With the Redken Academy being long established on 5th Avenue, L’Oréal recognized a growing need for the community. Strong education could no longer live under just one brand, especially in a city like New York. Stylists from across the country were saving their money to travel to NYC, often for their first education experience, and their reactions to Redken’s classes made the opportunity for all L’Oréal brands clear. Marino notes that these academy experiences are often life-changing, deeply moving for stylists and, in many cases, inspire them to step into education themselves.
The Academy’s physical space is a direct reflection of L’Oréal’s values. Designed to welcome many, it embodies inclusivity from the moment you walk through its doors. The space is intentionally flexible, it’s able to transform from one expansive classroom into smaller, more intimate learning environments. It adapts to the needs of education rather than forcing education to adapt to it. Through and through the Academy is not a static space, it’s a living one that responds to the evolving needs of stylists.
Throughout Marino’s career she has lead with a clear understanding of what has always mattered most to stylists, and at the center of her vision is inclusive, comprehensive education. Textured hair education, in particular, is something she has long championed. Marino firmly believes that every client, especially clients of textured hair, should be able to walk into any salon and know they will be expertly cared for. And, education, she emphasizes, is the only way to make that standard universal.
“Pre-COVID we weren’t where we needed to be on textured education. So, we worked very quickly across all of our brands to recruit educators who are very talented at textured hair, not only are they teaching our customers but they’re teaching each other,” says Marino.
The L’Oréal Academy is opening doors for stylists in more ways than one. Through it all, L’Oréal remains committed to working hand in hand with the hairdressing community, from involving stylists in product testing to continuously listening, refining, and evolving alongside the industry. Our time with Marino, and our firsthand experience of the energy inside the L’Oréal Academy, left us feeling inspired and excited for what’s ahead. If this grand opening is any indication, L’Oréal’s continuous impact on the future of professional beauty is only just beginning.
