Leigh Jones Biography Favorites Color Red & Black Food Anything Fried Quote “They’re all wonderful ‘til they’re yours.”

Cosmetologist, salon owner and internationally recognized hairstylist Leigh Jones was born December 22, 1944 in Kansas City, Kansas. At the age four his father died, and his mother moved the family to Chicago, where Jones attended Gillespie, Park Manor, Saint Columbanus, and Charles S. Deneen schools. His uncle owned Jimmy's Restaurant on then bustling 63rd Street, where Jones enjoyed listening to older people talk. He graduated from Westcott Vocational High School (now Simeon Vocational) in 1960. Jones attended the University of Illinois at Chicago, Roosevelt University and Loop College before enrolling in the American School of Beauty Culture in 1962 as one of the first black students. There, he was influenced by Bernice Van Dessell. Jones, who graduated and was licensed in 1964, also attended Revlon Color Institute, the L'Oreal Institute, Pivot Point International, Clairol Color Academy and the Southern Illinois School of Continuing Education.

In 1963, Jones became the first African American to work for Jean Luc Vercammen, and in 1964, he began working at Carrie's Chateau and at Frederick Glasser's Cheers and Shears Salon. Over the years, he worked with Darrell Whitten, Inc., Maximo Salon, and Jean Pierre Salon before opening his own salon in 1983. During this period, he was also the stylist for A. M. Chicago and then new Chicago television host, Oprah Winfrey. Early on, Jones became the hairstylist of choice for many well known clients including: Lainie Kazan, Lena Horne, Eunice Johnson, Dori Wilson, Heather Bilandic, Beverly Crown, Diahann Carroll, Natalie Cole, Marlo Thomas, Barbara Eden, Billy Dee Williams, Debra Norville, Phyllis Newman, and Essie Kupcinet. He is known for treating all of his clients with the same high standard of courtesy.

Jones has been a commercial hairstylist for Johnson Products, Alberto-Culver, Helene Curtis, Revlon, and Clairol as well as for television specials and Broadway shows. He is the chair and judge of the Gold Trophy and Silver Shopping Competition for the Midwest Beauty Show and is a board member of the Chicago Cosmetologist Association, Mid American Art Association, Bike and Hike for Multiple Sclerosis, and the 10th Annual Chicago House Benefit for AIDS. Living near many of his clients in Chicago's Gold Coast, Jones enjoys the positive feedback he gets from his work and watching football.

Jones was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on July 19, 2004.