Uptown Chic with a Downtown Heart: Francky L’Official

By Dina Fierro

I’m a downtown girl at heart though I live in a borough. Put me on the Upper East Side and I feel like a fraud, a fish out of water. So, when I headed uptown for a Saturday appointment at Francky L’Official, I found myself disconcerted by the strollers, the well behaved pups, the street cleanliness and general lack of culture. But, I digress.

Francky L’Official’s modern storefront.

Francky L’Official opened in the Fall of 2005, a collaboration between salon owner Henri Elfassy and the eponymous stylist and artistic director, who had built a phenomenally successful career as an editorial stylist in Paris. The salon space is divine – pristine and luxe without being intimidating, and comfortable thanks to the warm toned wood floors with rich chocolate furniture.

Stylist and artistic director, Francky L’Official.

Francky himself is French, therefore quite charming and devastatingly handsome (mais oui.) Truth be told, I fell a tiny bit in love with his accent, gray accented hair and tight Diesel jeans (is that wrong? It feels so right.) When I sat in his chair, I felt confident that he’d give me a cut that I loved and thankfully, I was right. I left the salon a mere 45 minutes later with hair that had movement, life and body, a far cry from the disastrous self-trimmed ‘do that I had arrived with. Francky told me that he loves doing cuts that are a bit edgy or avant-garde, so if you’re up for a change, this may be the salon for you.

Francky on Madison is located at 1117 Madison Avenue, between 83rd and 84th Streets. For an appointment, call 212.628.7505.

Uptown Girl in an Uptown World