Biography
For 30 years Ken Paves has remained one of the most sought-after and arguably one of the most recognizable hairstylist in the world. Oprah Winfrey has called him “the big Kahuna of Hollywood hair.” His work has graced the covers and pages of Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Allure, Glamour, Vanity Fair, Cosmopolitan, GQ, In Style, O Magazine, American Salon, Modern Salon and many other publications internationally, many celebrating Paves himself.
In fashion and entertainment, he has created signature styles for David and Victoria Beckham, Eva Longoria, Tom Brady, Retta, Celine Dion, Lady GaGa, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, Kerry Washington, Julianne Moore, Taylor Swift, and Marc Anthony to name a few.
Dubbed the “hottest hairdresser in Hollywood,” Ken was a regular guest, performing breathtaking makeovers for 12 years on The Oprah Winfrey Show, 9 seasons of The Biggest Loser, as well as America’s Next Top Model, The Today Show, Oprah Winfrey’s network OWN and, Style and in Fashion Mob, a special Ken created, produced and starred in with Jeannie Mai, Cat Deeley, and Selita Ebanks. Ken also starred in the reality series, The Price of Beauty where he and Jessica Simpson traveled around the world to discover true beauty. Ken has also showcased his talents on E!, Fox, NBC, CNN, ABC, and many other affiliates around the world while simultaneously maintaining an impressive presence online on every beauty site as a beauty expert.
Ken has become an industry favorite for his talent, vision and, his unparalleled dedication to his clients. “There are hairstylists… and there are hairstylists, and then there is Ken Paves. Part shaman, part therapist, he works a unique kind of magic on his subjects, spending an extraordinary amount of time talking to them before he even touches their hair”, O, The Oprah Magazine.
In 2002 Paves opened his first salon in his home town in Michigan and his second salon in Beverly Hills in 2004. In 2004 Paves also launched the first clean hair care range, Paves Professional, to be approved by Whole Foods and target at the same time. Paves Professional was not only launched on The Oprah Show and in her greens rooms, within 6 months it was in 12,600 doors, an unparalleled feat at that time. The success of this range garnered the attention of Chrysler and for the first time in history Paves, with his “Convertible Proof” hairspray became the first (hairdresser) spokesperson for an auto company. Paves was a spokesperson for Chrysler’s Top Down Days for 2 years. In 2004 paves also created and launched, arguably the most successful clip in hair extension range in the world, Hairdo by Ken Paves. Hairdo was sold in 80 countries and 80,000 doors as well as on QVC globally as well as prestige stores like Henri Bendel’s and Selfridges (London). In 2006 Paves launched, Healthy Hair (haircare) by Ken Paves, and a signature line of hair tools partnered and sold at Ulta.
In 2013, Ken released his book, “You are Beautiful,” published by Sterling Publications. Ken’s book is a beautiful harmony of self-help and a tutorial guide for beauty tips and tricks. Ken’s book has received high respects and critiques from many worldwide publications and entertainment outlets. In 2015 Paves created and launched the first “multitextural” range and launched it to rave reviews in Walmart. Paves’s latest venture took him back to QVC where he sold out his latest hair extension range, $2.2 million dollars in 38 minutes, his newest blow dryer sold $500,000 after a of 38 second spot on Good Morning America. (Thank you Tory Johnson).
However, Paves’s proudest moments have been the opportunities to give back that his career has afforded him. Growing up Paves’s mom Helen always supported and encouraged his compassion and concern others. Ken was able to really begin to make a larger difference when he opened his first salon outside of Detroit, Michigan. Ken and his mother Helen, promised to support any one in need who came there way or any charity that needed help. They did so in the form of fund raisers, donations, and free services to anyone in need. Ken recalls every time he would fly in from Los Angeles to cut hair at the salon his parents Gary and Helen managed, there were always wonderful women on his schedule that said they couldn’t afford his services but they wanted a new look for a job interview, to regain confidence, to find their “self” again and Paves’s mom invited them in with gratis. They were able to do so much great work that Ken’s mother Helen was recognized and honored for her work to give back. Helen herself was no stranger to “need”. She grew up in the lower East Side of Detroit with seven siblings, where he father, Simeon an immigrant from the Philippines did his best to provide for his family. Ken was born in the same house that his mother was, and although his parents both worked very hard in factory jobs, they could not afford Beauty School for Ken and with both parents working were just outside the financial limits for aid. Ken’s parents cashed in part of their retirement funds for a down payment for Ken’s school. The remainder they paid payments, which paves recalls, we often missed but my school was gracious enough to still let me attend. When Paves launched his Hairdo extensions in 2004 he committed to giving any woman in the world in medical need a free wig, up to a million dollars a year. He did this for 10 years. Paves was a long time supporter of many charities including Operation Smile (which repairs cleft lips and palates) for whom he even lobbied on behalf of in front of Congress. He now sits on the Board of Bright Faces which is dedicated to helping children and adults with cleft lips and palates in even the most remote locations around the world. One of his main focuses is the Phillipines in honor of his mom. Paves raised 2.2 million dollars which he gave away on The Oprah Winfrey should to Stanford University after they had lost heir grant to research a cure for Epidermolysis Bullosa, which is a rare skin disease that affects children whose skin is so fragile and ulcered, they are called Butterfly Children. Paves has travelled the globe visiting hospitals and orphanages to bring awareness and offer support. After a trip to Kenya, Paves assisted in brining a child to the University of Michigan to have a very complicated keloid removed from her face. The keloid was as large as her face, and the surgery was life changing. During Covid Paves called upon his favorite beauty brands to give back, raising tens of thousands of dollars for beauty professionals affected by the pandemic, families who were struggling to eat, and to provide PPE to anyone who needed it. Paves recently orchestrated an exclusive launch of Victoria Beckham Beauty in the Philippines to raise money to combat human trafficking, promote early breast cancer detection, offer scholarships to gifted young Filipinos interested in the arts, and support Bright Faces. They raised over 1,000,000 pesos in a very short amount of time. Paves is always looking for way to put his voice to good use, to benefit others, acknowledging the help he and his own family have received by the kindness of others. Ken’s mother Helen recently passed from ALS. She was determined to fight it and she and Paves teamed up with The ALS Organization to bring awareness and film a PSA that has been view over 160,000,000 times. Helen also became the main protocol in the largest ALS research program at the nation’s research agency, the national Institute of Health just before she passed. Ken continues this fight in her honor.
Ken is so proud to announce that he recently joined Beauty Changes Lives, a nonprofit that empowers the next generation of beauty professionals through scholarships, mentorship & advanced education to build stronger communities in the beauty industry.
Kenneth L. Paves