Camello ‘Frenchie’ Casimir, the Haitian-American Hairstylist Who Defined Modern Dandy Style

Who: Camello “Frenchie” Casimir, Hairstylist (—1986)

What: Owner, Casdulan beauty salon

Where: Harlem, New York City

Camello “Frenchie” Casimir was the first noted Black celebrity hairstylist. The Haitian-born creative was also a modern dandy who embraced fashion just as much as he did beauty. Fashion, for Frenchie, was intrinsic to his way of life.

He arrived in New York by way of Miami in the ’50s, opening and helming a chair at the Casdulan beauty salon in Harlem in 1952, located above Woolworth’s at 210 W 125th Street. Years later, he moved the salon to 110th Street, adjacent to the Apollo Theatre, eventually retiring in the late ’70s. It was here that he evolved his style while coiffing and entertaining women and men from the neighborhood, alongside a long list of Black celebrity clients. His hair artistry earned the loyalty of Cicely Tyson, Diahann Carroll, Naomi Sims, Helen Williams and Audrey Smaltz, a fashion industry veteran, founder of The Ground Crew and a close friend. It was Frenchie who paved the way for the popularity of the Afro and natural hair looks when he perfected a short natural hairstyle for singer Miriam Makeba in 1960.

While not always covered for his beauty in WWD, Frenchie was often photographed in the Eye pages for his style. “Frenchie was a man about town,” Smaltz recently told WWD. His pursuit of fashion took him to Paris, where twice a year he was fitted for and bought suits by French tailor Christiani. His accessory of choice, a Louis Vuitton scarf, and his signature speckled gray comb-back hairstyle paired with distinctive sideburns made him stand out in any crowd.

Smaltz, who experienced his impeccable style, recalled, “He was perfect — a gentleman and an individual. He tried to get others to join him on his pursuit of style, but no one was spending a thousand dollars on a suit back then — except Frenchie.“