“I came to New York from France with a suitcase, knowing not one word of English,” said New York’s notable hair stylist, Julien Farel. “I was 14 years old and I slept on a friend’s floor in Brooklyn. I had no money. I just worked. I did hair. That’s all I did.” And that was the humble beginning of Julien’s career.

There’s nothing ‘beginning’ about him now. Over the past 30 years he has created a name for himself and along the way has built an A-List clientele, including Lauren Bush, Ivanka Trump, Salma Hayek, Gwyneth Paltrow and Richard Gere, to name a few. He’s also branded an eponymous anti-aging hair care line, and this month he’s moved into the Loews Regency Hotel on 61st Street and Park Avenue. Julien has become more than just seasoned. Some would say he’s reached iconic status. And it’s well deserved.

“Jonathan Tisch [Chairman of Loews Hotels] offered me a hand and helped me accomplish my dream,” said Julien. “The opportunity he’s giving me was one I couldn’t pass up.” Unlike Julien’s Madison Avenue salon, which encompasses four floors, his new salon will be on one level, “So I can see what’s going on at all times,” he shared. “Plus, the opportunity for new clients is limitless. The hotel has 85% occupancy all year round with almost 500 rooms. Here you have a footprint of people coming into the space everyday. You have the great restaurant and café, all of which will bring a lot of new business and high traffic along with our already existing clientele.”

Inspired by modern Parisian décor that pays homage to Julien’s French heritage, The Julien Farel Restore Salon & Spa will cover 10,000 square-feet and will offer state-of-the-art beauty, spa and fitness treatments. To meet the demands of the morning worker-bee, the Salon & Spa will open at 7 a.m. by appointment and feature 32 custom-designed stations along with ten treatment rooms, a lounge area, private terrace, gym, VIP rooms and JF Men, a men’s-only area dedicated to full-service grooming. Playing on the theme of the Power Lunch, treatments will include a list of ‘Power Beauty’ services from the Power Coif to Power Highlights to Power Manicures and Pedicures.

Like many hairstylists, Julien approaches cutting hair as an architect. “You have to look at the shape of someone, the head, the cheekbones, hairline, shoulders, and then design something for them,” said Julien. “Everyone has something beautiful in them. I want to make you look the best of yourself.We are the cheapest surgeons.” Well, maybe not cheap. Julien’s cuts cost $650; $900 if you want the master to blow it out.

At the Madison Avenue salon, Julien and his team do about 100 services a day. At the new location he predicts that number will double. And since his new high-performance hairdryers will be part of the guest amenities—and that’s in each of the 19 Loews’ properties—Julien will be leaving his thumbprint in each room.

Then of course there’s his Anti-Aging Haircare line, exclusive to Loews on Park Avenue, which was formulated in collaboration with a renowned Italian scientist. The duo spent five years honing and perfecting the technology and in 2011 released 22 products that specially focus, and to some extent prevent, hair from aging. “We keep improving the products and now we’re adding stem cell technology into them,” he said. “I knew I couldn’t compete against P&G or L’Oréal. I had to create something totally different, something the other products didn’t address.” Made in Italy, the line is powered by an exclusive Anti-Aging Balance ‘A2B’ Technology that deliver clinically proven anti-aging bioactives, whose molecules are small enough to penetrate, moisturize and protect the follicle, scalp and hair.

In a recession market that sometimes seems flooded in a sea of celebrity hairstylists, the challenge to keep a customer coming back seems never ending, and a tricky dance to perfect. “A new hotel is like a brand new car, everyone wants to try it, but how you keep them is what’s tricky,” he admitted. “You’re not selling a haircut, you’re selling an experience. And that experience has to be perfect with no mistakes. We sell the art of service and the caring for the client.”

Having spent 13 years at his Madison Avenue salon, the move is sure to be bittersweet. “I’m excited and scared. I worked for everything I have today,” he said. “There’s no mystery to success, just passion, determination and perseverance when everyone else quits.”