VIP hairstylist Julien Farel serves style at US Open pop-up

If Julien Farel’s plane hadn’t been late, Carlos Alcatraz might still have a luxurious mop.

“I was scheduled to cut his hair,” says the debonair French stylist, whose flight from Palm Beach was delayed. “And then his brother took care of it. I came back and I was like, ‘Okay!’”

Alcaraz’ startlingly short buzz cut happened after his brother fumbled the clippers. “Suddenly he just misunderstood with the machine,” the 22-year-old Spaniard told the press on Monday. “Then, you know, the only way to fix it is just shave it off. To be honest, it’s not that bad, I guess.”

American Frances Tiafoe had a different view of the shear disaster. “Yeah, it’s horrible. I mean, it’s definitely terrible,” he said. “It’s my guy though. It’s funny. I looked at him and I was like, I guess you’re aerodynamic.’”

Farel was more generous. “His brother did a pretty good job,” he insisted. “It’s good for the hair anyway! It will grow out in about a month.” 

The locks legend – who charges $1,250 a cut at his signature Park Avenue salon inside the Loews Regency New York Hotel and his Palm Beach location at Via Flagler by the Breakers – could have shaped Alcaraz’s textured crop at his annual US Open pop-up salon. The outpost inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium offers complimentary haircuts, blowouts, braiding, hair styling, manicures and pedicures to players, coaches, executives and VIPs. His team sees about 500 people in two weeks. There are no appointments, only walk-ins for the busy athletes. 

In previous years, Farel has coiffed Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka, Taylor Fritz, Iga Świątek, Naomi Osaka, Madison Keys, Coco Gauff, Rafael Nadal and many others. In fact, after he gave Nadal a short cut in 2010, the Mallorcan went on to win the tournament for the first time in his career, completing his first Grand Slam. 

“We became a good luck charm after that,” says Farel with a smile. “But, beside that, the athletes enjoy coming and having their stress-free moment.” 

Farel, an avid tennis player and fan of the game, said that Djokovic is one cool customer. “He gets a haircut one hour before his game,” marveled the celebrity snipper. “He’s so confident. He just says, ‘It’s 6:00, I have a game at 7, can you cut my hair?’ He’s so relaxed and he doesn’t rush you.”

Farel works quickly and, to save time, many of the players leave with wet hair.

The salon is their style ace in the hole.