Greenwich, Connecticut
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Greenwich, Connecticut
INSIDE STORY:
As a young boy in Ecuador, Becker Chicaiza became an undercover hairdresser: He covertly braided the hair of his parents’ indigenous employees at their chicken plant, chopped the tresses off his cousin’s Barbie (much to her dismay), and quietly snipped his nanny’s hair—with his mom’s fabric shears, no less. But it wasn’t until he completely transformed a local unhoused man’s mane that it became abundantly clear Chicaiza’s future would heavily feature cuts and color. “He loved it. He looked like a different person,” Chicaiza recounts. “I told him not to tell my mom (who he had started working for) that I cut his hair because at the time I was worried about what [my parents] would think. My mom didn’t even recognize him!”
Though his parents disapproved of his hairdressing pursuit, that fact didn’t stop Chicaiza from relocating to Paris in 1995 to work under Alexandre de Paris, stylist to iconic stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. “Alexandre was a perfectionist; he taught me that there’s movement in a haircut,” Chicaiza says—not to mention, de Paris trained Chicaiza in the art of balayage long before it became a beauty buzzword.
Fast-forward to 2000, when Chicaiza relocated to the United States to pursue his hair dreams—a road that was rocky for this Ecuadorian immigrant yet, with hard work, paid off: In 2007 he opened his eponymous salon (@beckerchicaiza), the first Latino-owned salon in the heart of Greenwich, Connecticut. “Greenwich was one of the first towns to open their doors to me and my career in America,” he says of his fondness for the location.
Celebrating 15 years in 2022, Chicaiza’s 2,550-square-foot space (an upgrade from his first location) is a modern vision of floor-to-ceiling white perfection. “I decided on an all-white salon since white signifies cleanliness, purity and transparency,” he says, adding, “All-white decor is telling because you always have to keep up with it to stay clean!” And pristine, it is. Gleaming white lacquer floors reflect a series of ivory curves: half-moon lacquer chairs; inset circular lights; a winding, glowing cloud feature in the ceiling; and stunning MGBross spherical mirrors that look straight out of the ’70s sci-fi flick Sleeper. “I view this design element as the circle of life, yin and yang, male and female. This large mirror also reminds me of the handheld round mirrors from the ’60s—yet contemporary,” Chicaiza says. In the shampoo area, alabaster shampoo chairs by Dutch design studio Marcel Wanders continue the modern ’60s aesthetic, yet are functional, too: They administer a soothing, full-body massage while clients relax into their shampoos. Amidst all of the white, art pieces liven up the space with pops of boisterous color. “The artist, Gotasi, and I went to school together and is a dear friend of mine. I see talent in his art and wanted to support him and get his name out there,” Chicaiza says.
The all-white interior also calls to mind a chic laboratory—and, in a way, Becker Chicaiza salon is a testing ground. Within its walls Chicaiza’s plant-based haircare brand, Be Chic, finds its formulas put to the test. Launched in 2019, the line, which is a tight four SKUs, answers what Chicaiza saw as an industry failing: He wanted well-rounded products that can do it all. “One shampoo to volumize, another to smooth, another for shine—some worked, others didn’t, but I knew there had to be a better solution,” he says. Be Chic isn’t private labeling; Chicaiza is fully involved in the formulation process of the brand’s Signature Shampoo and Conditioner, Hydrating Hair Masque, and Hair Oil. “Growing up in Ecuador and having access to the Amazon rainforest, I was able to use and witness the power of nature and its effects on hair,” he says. “When we first met with our chemist in 2016, he advised it would take three months to formulate. After perfecting the formula, we launched three years later!”
And his clients are involved in their own way, too: “Clients, staff and their families were part of the testing phase. It was fun using the products on clients and getting their feedback,” Chicaiza enthuses. Now that Be Chic is a few years into its existence, Chicaiza views the brand as the best complement to his services—and is hopeful other salons will invite it into their doors, too. “Most hair health happens at home, and it’s important that clients have products they can trust that show them a visible difference,” he says.
RETAIL HAIR LINE:
Be Chic Hair Care
COLOR LINE:
L’Oréal Professionnel
Popular Service:
“Balayage, without a doubt. Everyone loves a natural, low-maintenance balayage haircolor,” says Chicaiza.
WHAT’S UNIQUE
TikTok Talks: Showcasing and hashtagging Chicaiza’s signature “twist and texture” cut on TikTok has garnered upward of three million likes on a single post.
Couture Caffeine: “Clients love our cappuccinos that have ‘BECKER’ spelled out in cinnamon,” Chicaiza says, adding that one even reads, “It tastes better with Becker.”
