Ladies of Lux Feature Spotlight

I am so excited (and honored!) to introduce today’s Lady of Lux: Lorri Goddard.

Growing up blond, I didn’t have to worry about color until about ten years ago, when little grays crept in and my formerly “bright” feature turned dull and ordinary. Like any blonde-in-Los-Angeles, I panicked. I Googled something like “best hair colorist in the world” and Lorri’s name came right up. While Lorri’s other clientele were of the A-list variety, the only “A”-thing about me was the first letter in my name. As I walked into a frenetic, stylish salon in West Hollywood where this pretty, rock-and-roll-cool woman was surrounded by bustling assistants, I was so overwhelmed I don’t think I spoke two words to Lorri in my first few visits.

But then, Lorri moved her “colour spa” to a chic, adorable 1920s Country English house in the Hancock Park area. That’s when I really got to know her, and I fell in love with her honesty, her down-to-earth attitude, her focus, her creativity and her warmth. Lorri still colors Hollywood’s A+ talent, but there are no assistants anymore. The mega-colorist washes, blow-dries, and does everything herself. This includes creating and maintaining a stunning garden for her guests to enjoy. As Lorri works her magic, the doors are open and the fragrance of the season rolls through with the breeze. In short, the experience of working with Lorri is nothing short of perfect.

Lorri’s resume speaks for itself. Even if you haven’t heard her name – which most have – you’ve seen her creativity on-screen and off. Lorri is the creative genius (she’s not going to like that I called her that, but she is!) behind Kim Kardashian’s platinum blonde transformation and the vibrant color of many other celebrities like Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Lawrence, Chloe Grace Moretz, Lily-Rose Depp, Kate Capshaw, Emmy Rossum, Selma Blair, Kirsten Dunst, Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. But she also prides herself on working with guests in all areas of life (like me) and offering advice to young people starting out in her business. Nicknamed the “Blonde Whisperer” and “Impressionist of Hair” Lorri has repeatedly been named one of the best colorists by Elle, Allure, Vogue, Town and Country and W Magazine. She is also the author of the Hair Color Mix Book (HarperCollins).

Sure, it’s Lorri as the professional who made her worthy of my pick, but it’s also Lorri the person. I’m excited for you to get to know her just as I have. She has made my hair lighter, but she’s made my life lighter, too.

1. What was your first job?

Babysitter for neighborhood children (learned to multitask early).

2. What is your spirit animal?

Dancing lemur living wild in Madagascar.

3. What advice would you give to young men and women who are looking to break into your industry?

Dive into your passion, find your inspo. In real life: Take classes (You’ve got to learn the rules in organic chemistry before you can break those rules and make different vibes of your own), learn different techniques, visit places that inspire you for shapes and colour (art galleries, museums, hiking/walks to take in the artistry of mother nature).

4. What music do you listen to while you work?

Can’t get enough of:

Pali Vibes X 2022 by Pali Tunes (Spotify)

French Chill Vibes by Hello French (Spotify)

5. Who has influenced you, in your field or others?

My Tribe from all walks of life… loyal, ever true clients and my kiddos, both adult and grown, generously helping me keep ever-evolving.

6. What is your favourite room in your house and why?

My bedroom that I painted all by myself. My inspo was a 1920’s petite cozy French boudoir and I just love to light candles and chill when I have down time. Relaxing with no schedule is such a luxury for me.

7. Wha's one thing you wish you knew at age nineteen?

To be my own best friend and let my soul light shine.

8. Who is the bravest thing you've ever done?

Oh geeeeez. Facing my demons in therapy… and then therapy sessions with my adult children. Not a fun ride…but if you are willing to be accountable and move through all the muck, a huge blessing.

9. Did you get one big career break, or many? If so, what were they?

Definitely many… And hiking up the path was full of twists and turns. The first was meeting Laurent Dufourg and his wife Fabienne. They had just become Jose Eber’s new partners. Awwwe, Jose the Legend. After I was hired to work in their new location, I went on a Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride of meeting clients from all over the world that wanted a consultation with Jose, and he liked my work (merci Jose!). How do you do a long hair spiral perm with a strawberry blonde gloss after (no pink of course, so difficult to do with organic chemistry…)

But I was hungry and ignorant…meaning where there is a will there is a way. And through anxiety a fear of being fired (hahaha but, yeah, true), creativity, and tenacity I found it.

10. One of my favourite things about coming to visit you is your stunning garden When did you become interested in landscape?

My dear momma, my Cherokee roots. It’s hard to believe that I am a citizen of the Cherokee nation, but I am… And I have a deep love for nature and the land, Mother Earth.

11. Do you have any favourite plants or flowers?

Yes, succulents are miracle plants and drought resistant. I just adore plumerias also.

Somehow, these architectural fragrant blossomed plants not only survive but thrive without much water. Can a plumeria be my spirit animal? Love that “thriving with not a lot of nurturing” aspect.

11. Tell me about your studio?

My studio has evolved since I opened it in 2019, the intimate nooks have evolved since then.

The colour palette I chose is the architectural palette from Farrow & Ball, and I just love Blackened and Dimpse, the way these shades provide a delightful background for me to create varying shades of shadow and light on my canvas… hair … and how a stunning space helps unlock your creativity.

I remember when I partnered with Rossano Ferretti in Beverly Hills on Canon, and he had the vision to have clients at a table with no mirrors. I thought it was the strangest, stupidest thing I had ever seen in a salon. In my shortsightedness, I could never have imagined that someone could enjoy this… And yet here, I am guests, sitting with no mirror… he completely influenced me by helping the guests, my clients, escape the mundane mirror expectation in a salon… Rossano really is a genius.

So now my guests look out at the greenery and little vignettes of winding vines with the sound of running water to enjoy and relax…a colour spa, so to speak. This helps me unlock my creativity, because I know that these dear people that come to visit me at the studio are happy.

13. If you weren't a fabulous hair color expert, what would you be doing?

A bit uncomfortable with the label “fabulous” but much appreciated.

I mean, if I could never colour hair again, well, first off, I would need to be a pen-pal expert because I would miss so many wonderful women that I have been blessed to know for these many years. Truly I would miss my chosen family.

Yet if I let my imagination run a bit, I would definitely be donating my time to a nonprofit organisation that helps abused women (when I was a child, I lived with a very abusive stepfather and witnessed my mother, moving through the most horrific things) and their children. Any downtime I would travel the world ... to experience different cultures’ food and music, and being with humans that have a different perspective, and try to learn and maybe glean a key to how we can all get along on this planet.

I remember when I partnered with Rossano Ferretti in Beverly Hills on Canon, and he had the vision to have clients at a table with no mirrors. I thought it was the strangest, stupidest thing I had ever seen in a salon. In my shortsightedness, I could never have imagined that someone could enjoy this… And yet here, I am guests, sitting with no mirror… he completely influenced me by helping the guests, my clients, escape the mundane mirror expectation in a salon… Rossano really is a genius.