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Rodolfo Valentin
Valentin at work
Born	(1944-06-22) June 22, 1944 (age 80) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Occupation	Hairdresser
Years active	1972—present
Employer	Rodolfo Valentin

Rodolfo Valentin (born June 22, 1944) is a New York City hairdresser and entrepreneur. Beginning his career as a fashion model in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Valentin later emigrated to New York and opened an elegant salon in Madison Avenue. Now he owns three hair salons within the New York City area with products and services that include hair extension, and hair coloring.

Valentin is also an active philanthropist. He currently supports the AFSP, Alzheimer's Association, and has set up his own charity organization Sofia's Hair 4 Health Foundation.

Early life and career

Valentin was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The son of Spanish and Italian parents, from an early age he had dreams of becoming a plastic surgeon when he grew up. However Valentin became more interested in his future profession after years of playing the hairdresser to his mother and sister. His aunt, who had studied at a local beauty school in Buenos Aires, would later teach Valentin some of the techniques she had learned. He initially worked as a fashion model.

Moving to Europe, Valentin assisted hair stylist Alexandre de Paris in Spain and Italy. It was around this time that Valentin found a liking for the Five Towns area of Long Island, New York, later claiming "Five Towns is my Beverly Hills". He purchased a mansion in Hewlett Bay Park; he would go on to stay in the area for eighteen years.

Two years after immigrating to Long Island in 1984, Valentin opened Rodolfo Valentin's salon and spa to the general public. Since then he has opened two further salons in the New York area.

Valentin's patented method of hair extension, the "Hair Infusion", was featured in the book Forget the Facelift by dermatologist Doris J. Day.

Philanthropy

When he was a child Valentin had decided to help those suffering from hair loss due to chemotherapy treatment. His desire to do so arose after seeing the depression his mother (who later died from breast cancer) suffered from after losing her hair. "I promised my mother that I would help everyone with this, and make the perfect piece for chemo patients", he said.

To accomplish this, in 2002 Valentin founded the Sofia's Hair 4 Health foundation which offers free hair pieces for those undergoing chemotherapy treatment. To qualify the person must earn fewer than thirty thousand dollars per year. "Some ladies don't make enough money", he said. "If they make $20,000, they don't make enough money to pay for the prosthesis."

Between one and three people are chosen every month by the organization. Nominations can originate from the person's own application, his or her friends, family members or medical caretakers. Applicants must also currently be under treatment and suffering hair loss due to treatments.

Valentin also helps other charity organizations by donating money to them. He currently supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Alzheimer's Association and the Hellenic Times Scholarship Foundation. On October 27, 2011, Valentin donated 1,000 hair prosthesis to the "Hewlett House 1 in 9". The organization name derivates from the fact that 1 in 9 people living in Long Island are diagnosed with breast cancer. On October 23, 2012, Rodolfo Valentin was named "New Yorker of the Week" by New York Television Channel 1.

References

1. Schiro, Anne Marie (November 30, 1997). "Pulse, Pretty, Quick". The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
2. "rodolfovalentin.com". Retrieved September 19, 2009.
3. "Profile for Rodolfo Valentin". Archived from the original on June 2, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
4. ^ Shalomoff, Rebecca (June 28, 2001). "Fabulous salon has arrived". Herald Community Newspapers. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved May 2, 2007.
5. Forget The Facelift – Doris J. Day. ASIN 1583332324.
6. Connor, Tracy (March 3, 2007). "Big Town, Big Heart". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
7. Santucci, Christina (April 5, 2007). "Gift of hair from Valentin". The Queens Courier. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
8. Jedell, Joan (November 14, 2007). "Silver celebration". Hampton Sheet. Archived from the original on September 12, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
9. "Big greek gala". Hampton Sheet Magazine. September 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
10. CBS, Channel 2 News (October 27, 2011). "Rodolfo Valentin Donates One Thousand Wigs for Cancer Patients". CBS News, Cindy Hsu. Retrieved October 27, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
11. NY1, Time Warner (October 23, 2012). "Rodolfo Valentin - New Yorker of the Week". NY1 News Television. Retrieved October 23, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

• 1944 births
• Living people
• American hairdressers
• Businesspeople from Buenos Aires
• Models from Buenos Aires
• Argentine emigrants to the United States
• Argentine male models
• American LGBTQ businesspeople
• People from Nassau County, New York