One of the most sought-after celebrity hairstylists in the world, Oribe Canales was famous for creating the sexy, big, beautiful hair that became synonymous with the rise of the‘90s supermodel. Oribe’s work graced the runways of nearly every well-known designer and the covers of major fashion magazines worldwide, as well as countless international ad campaigns and commercials.

Born in Cuba in 1956, Oribe immigrated to the United States as a child. At 18, he attended beauty school in Buffalo, NY, where he met the soon-to-be-legendary hairstylist Garren, who encouraged him to pursue his passion for hairdressing. In the late 1980s and early ‘90s, Oribe began a partnership with photographer Steven Meisel and makeup artist François Nars that would re-define beauty in that era. Oribe formed a career-defining relationship with Gianni Versace in the early ’90s, which led to countless creative collaborations, including iconic print ads and commercials as well as groundbreaking runway shows. During that time, he was also known for his palatial Fifth Avenue salon at Elizabeth Arden in New York City. 

It wasn’t until the late ‘90s that Oribe became a household name thanks to his alliance with aspiring musician Jennifer Lopez, who reached out to him having spent her teens admiring his work in Vogue. Beginning with the cover of her first album, On the 6, they collaborated for nearly two decades. 

In 2008, Oribe began working with Oribe Hair Care president and co-founder Daniel Kaner to translate his love of hairdressing and individual beauty into the collection of products he’d always envisioned: A range grounded in traditional hairstyling and blended with leading technology and the finest ingredients. The result was an edited line focused on the needs of the hair-obsessed. 

​​Oribe genuinely loved what he did, and he did it with passion and conviction until his death in 2018.