Years before Claude Baruk became a Las Vegas resident, the stylist was tending to celebrity clientele like Naomi Campbell and Uma Thurman on private yachts in St. Tropez. There, he also caught the attention of Wynn Resorts, who later asked him to take over two salons in the Vegas-based properties.
In 2014, Baruk opened the Claude BARUK Salon at Wynn and later, Claude BARUK Encore. Tasked with recreating his St. Tropez salons on a grander scale for the Las Vegas strip, Baruk says he had carte blanche when it came to the look and feel of the salon. "The most important thing for me was to train the hairstylists, makeup artists and nail technicians on the guest experience I'd come to know from working in two of the most luxurious and exclusive cities in Europe: St. Tropez and Courchevel," Baruk says. "I wanted to channel the experience the guests would receive in those cities and bring it to life in Las Vegas."
Claude BARUK at Encore
To this day, Baruk prides himself on offering clients the full experience. "We want clients to have fun with us," he says. 'We have a full cocktail bar and we have events with DJs and bands. The salon has become a place where happiness and beauty meet—guests can laugh, sing, dance, drink champagne and be treated like royalty."
Keeping the guest experience up to royal standards, both salons offer a long list of high-class services. Some of the specialized treatments include the Le Balayage De Claude, Rendez-vous Privé and the Women's Signature 5 Step Cut. The 24-Carat Ritual delivers shine, nourishment, softness and radiance to hair. Other hair spa treatments include the Ultimate Caviar Ritual and the Shu Infusion Ceremony.
.jpeg?itok=SnCs12yr)
Claude BARUK Salon at Wynn
Unlike many other salons in the Las Vegas area, the BARUK salons don't look at cut, color and style as separate specialties. "The stylists at my salon are trained to create an entire look for the client," Baruk says. "There is not just one colorist or one stylist—just a group of talented, highly skilled individuals."
Baruk’s next act is working to create the Claude Baruk Hair Academy at Wynn Las Vegas—a space where hairdressers can train, learn techniques and adapt the unique experience Baruk offers at his salons. "I want to give hairstylists from all over the country the training they need to excel in their hometowns," Baruk says. "The training will cover everything, from skills and techniques to management and the guest experience."
Though he's miles and miles away from his homeland—Avignon, a town in Provence in the south of France—Baruk works toward his ultimate goal everyday: bringing a touch of France to Las Vegas. "I want my salons to be a place where styles and trends are born,” he says, “where we combine influences from all over the world."