One of the most famous hairstylists, David Babaii, passed away in 2021, nearing 50. Babaii was born in Tehran, Iran, and moved to Los Angeles with his family as a child. Although he pursued a business degree in college, he realized his true passion was in hair and makeup. His career spanned over two decades working with A-list Hollywood celebrities
Adjusting to Life in LA:
Moving to Beverly Hills from Tehran was a significant change. Babaii struggled with English as a second language. He found comfort through art classes and discovered a talent for painting, photography and design. These creative skills later served him well in his career working with colours, textures and special effects.
Babaii’s Journey into Hair
Initially pursuing a business degree at Santa Monica College, Babaii, however, always had an artistic flair. Furthermore, he took a keen interest in hair and makeup from a young age. This passion ultimately led him to change paths and enrol in a prestigious hairstyling program.
He received world-class training from celebrity stylist Richard Dalton at his London salon. This experience proved instrumental in shaping Babaii into the acclaimed hairstylist he became.
Passion for Animal Rights and Advocacy
A loving personality shone through in Babaii’s social media presence. His Instagram bio highlighted his dedication to “animal activist” causes, while his Twitter emphasized living for “animal rights.” Beyond beloved clients, Babaii considered all living beings as worthy of compassion.
He supported numerous charities through fundraising events and awareness campaigns. Groups like The Humane Society of the United States, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, and PETA helped enact policies to protect wildlife, household pets and animals in testing facilities. Babaii advocated vegan and cruelty-free lifestyles through his platform
Empowering Future Generations
Babaii’s Twitter bio also revealed another mission close to his heart – supporting children’s cancer research through pediatric foundations. Even with a packed schedule, he found time to volunteer at local hospitals, bringing smiles to young patients. Babaii believed in empowering tomorrow’s generations through access to healthcare and opportunity.
Embracing Unpredictability
His tweets conveyed a deep sense of appreciating life’s unpredictable nature. While achieving success through dedication to his craft, Babaii embraced each new day as a chance for growth. This outlook likely stemmed from overcoming challenges as an immigrant child to living fully despite career demands. It showed how generously he mentored new talent, living beyond himself by paying experiences forward.
Early Days of his career Since David Babaii passed away
After graduating, David Babaii swiftly rose to fame, working with some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Some of his earliest and most notable clients included Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Aniston and Halle Berry. Through perfecting their red-carpet styles, he gained renown for his ability to create effortlessly chic yet glamorous looks. Additionally, Babaii worked wonders with texture and established himself as a pro in working with all hair types
Partnerships and Brand Growth
Leveraging his celebrity following, Babaii formed fruitful partnerships over the years. He was collaborating with premium hair brands like Kevin. Murphy and IGK Haircare will develop their product lines. He also published books such as “Hair by David”, sharing his styling expertise.
Furthermore, Babaii taught sold-out masterclasses internationally, imparting his techniques. All these avenues helped grow his brand while enabling him to educate and inspire other stylists globally.
Career Highlights:
- Some of his earliest red-carpet clients in the early 2000s included Gwen Stefani and Jennifer Aniston.
- Other long-term clients included January Jones, Lucy Hale, and Anne Hathaway, whose styles he refined over a decade.
- His impeccable skill with different hair textures made him a go-to for stars of all races like Halle Berry.
Business Ventures:
2010, he launched Babbaii Haircare, catering to voluminous, bouncy styles. He partnered with IGK Hair Products 2015 on a range focused on fine hair.
Published books like “Hair By David Babaii” share industry secrets and techniques. Taught masterclasses at Paul Mitchell and enjoyed mentorship role
Personality and Philanthropy:
- He was known for his fun, lively personality that put clients at ease in his chair.
- He passionately supported no-kill animal shelters like the LA Animal Shelter.
- He adopted many rescue dogs he doted on like family over the years.
- Generously gave back through fundraising challenges for various charities.
Working with A-list celebrities
Some top celebrities who frequently sought out Babaii’s skills included Jessica Alba, Eva Longoria, Nina Dobrev and Anne Hathaway. However, he considered Jennifer Lopez his long-time muse, creating her red-carpet looks for over a decade.
Babaii was instrumental in establishing JLo’s signature bouncy blowout and sleek styles, which boosted her glamorous persona. Other faithful clients included Emmy Rossum, Lucy Hale and January Jones, with whom he helped craft gorgeous red-carpet moments.
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Legacy in the Industry:
- He mentored several young stylists who call him the artist who sparked their passion.
- His techniques actively influenced trends, making beach waves and balayage colour techniques widely used today.
- His creative styles actively brought out each woman’s innate beauty in a fresh, flattering way.
Developing his Signature Style
By observing auditions in his youth, Babaii recognized the power of glamour in Hollywood.
He refined techniques like dimensional highlighting, face-framing layers and voluminous textures. Babaii blended European artistry with Californian sun-kissed looks tailored for red carpets
Notable Celebrity Projects:
- He collaborated closely with Jennifer Lopez’s styling team to craft her “Jenny From the Block” persona.
- I did bold colour experiments with Halle Berry, like lavender spray-painted strands for premieres.
- Worked on Gwen Stefani’s edgier looks in the 90s with shaved sides and multicolour dips.
- They brought out Anne Hathaway’s natural beauty with loose waves and glowing skin on award shows.
Business Growth:
His brands used natural emollients like argan and coconut oils to impart shine without weight.
He partnered with Sephora to expand worldwide distribution of Babbaii products in 2015. He taught business workshops on pricing services, copyrighting styles, and marketing on social media
Endeavors: David Babaii Passed away
Fundraised over $100k for organizations like Best Friends Animal Society through hair challenges. Volunteered at animal shelters, walking dogs and helping with adoptions. He Donated hair tools and product lines to career programs for underprivileged youth
Tributes from Celebrities after David Babaii Passed away
The shocking news of Babaii’s passing met with immense grief and thousands of heartfelt tributes on social media. Jennifer Lopez posted beautiful throwback photos expressing how much she would miss “her heart and soul.” Long-time clients like Anne Hathaway, Nina Dobrev, and January Jones mourned losing their hairstylist and a dear friend
Several more celebs he was close to, like Jessica Alba, Gwen Stefani and Halle Berry, paid respect to Babaii’s immense talent and kind spirit, which touched so many lives. He left behind a lasting legacy in the world of hair. Although David Babaii passed away but he will be missed by his fans.
FAQS
Estimates placed it between $5-10 million owing to his successful celebrity clientele and business ventures
Babaii sadly passed in 2021 at the age of nearing 50 from an unknown cause
After realizing his passion for hair, Babaii trained at the famous Richard Dalton salon in London to hone his skills
Babaii drew inspiration from high fashion runways and seamlessly blended them into red carpet-ready looks for his A-list clients.
Babaii never married or had kids but considered his large pack of rescued dogs as his family.
Babaii established a reputation as a master hairstylist whose effortless cool girl styles influenced Hollywood red carpets
The young hairstylist David Babaii left an indelible mark through his artistic skill and kindness. He remains cherished in memory by his celebrity clients and legions of fans worldwide for his impeccable talent and warm spirit. Babaii’s vibrant legacy as one of the great hairstylists of our time will continue to inspire new generations of stylists.
