Atlanta's Daniel Holzberger wins American Hairstyling Award

The July issue of a trade glossy for hairstylists zinged Atlanta’s Daniel Holzberger in a manner that can only be described, if you’ll pardon the pun, as a bit snippy.

“Always a Bridesmaid?” sniffed Modern Salon Magazine in the piece noting that Holzberger had been nominated, once again, in this year’s North American Hairstyling Awards. The article led with, if you’ll pardon another pun, a cutting remark: “Daniel Holzberger understands rejection.”

Ouch! But fair enough, he figured, given his numerous past nominations.

“I’m known in the industry as the Susan Lucci of hair,” he said, referring to the soap opera star who racked up a truckload of nominations before finally clinching an Emmy. But eight times proved to be the charm for Holzberger, creative director for Van Michael, where he’s also an in-demand stylist. He’s just been named editorial stylist of the year, an award that refers to creations he worked on for a magazine spread.

“He’s going to be a superstar in the industry,” said Van Council, co-founder with brother Michael of the Van Michael salon empire. “He’s got the most drive of any employee I’ve ever had. When you love it that much, it’s really not a job.”

Holzberger comes by the hair trade naturally, given his father’s long career with Aveda and his upbringing rinsing rollers or doing other odd jobs in the salon his mother owned.

“Growing up, I thought everyone had to get a perm,” the Cincinnati native joked. “It was the ’80s. I thought it was the law.”

His dad was hoping he’d be a banker instead of a stylist and encouraged young Holzberger to try business school at the University of Cincinnati, where he lasted a year.

“His dream was for me to be a frat boy,” Holzberger said of his dad, noting his father’s impoverished childhood. (The elder Holzberger got his start in the beauty biz while working as an electrician who serviced salon tanning beds). “He was crushed, but today I know he’s very proud of me.”

Actually, Frederic Holzberger put his son on the career path that brought him to Atlanta 10 years ago. Daniel accompanied his dad to trade shows as a kid, and one of the odd jobs he performed as a teenager was serving as a driver for Van Council. Inspiration struck when Holzberger saw Council take the stage.

“He was wearing a see-through shirt and really tight pants, and all the women were oohing and ahhing and talking about how hot he was,” he recalled. “He was like a rock star. I thought it was awesome.”

Today, Holzberger, 29, is finishing a degree in business and marketing at American InterContinental University, but plans to stick to hair. His fiancée Sevin Vee and sister Nikki Holzberger both work at the Van Michael salon in Buckhead.

“It’s all in the family,” he said. His clients, by the way, tell him things they don’t tell their own relatives.

“Daniel has very incriminating info on me,” laughed Jennifer Wolff of east Cobb, who’s been going to him for extensions for five years.

Holzberger has coiffed celebrities including Jessica Alba and Stacy London, but his assistant, Bri Youn, says he brings the same dedication to every client. She notes his attention to detail, pointing out a small but significant change he implemented: foot rests in the hair-washing room.

“He’s very talented,” said client Angie Wildstein of east Cobb, who’s been going to Holzberger for at least six years. Her children, 10 and 12, are also his customers.

“He can relate to anybody, no matter what age,” said Wildstein, who wears her blonde hair long and layered. “He puts everyone at ease. He’s an amazing artist.”