Beauty Boss: Wendy Iles, Celebrity Hairstylist and Founder of Iles Formula

Wendy Iles.

Our latest Beauty Boss is Wendy Iles, a renowned celebrity hairstylist and Founder of Iles Formula—a line of award-winning, high-performance formulas that instantly transform all hair types and deliver the Iles Formula signature finish—lustrous and nurtured without feeling weighed down.

Over the course of multiple decades, Iles has worked with A-list celebrity clientele, traveled the world and created iconic looks for prestigious magazine covers and global campaigns for luxury fashion and beauty brands including Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton, among others. She is also the recipient of a Hollywood Beauty Award for “Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling.”

Iles originally developed her personal haircare formulas to treat and restore damaged hair on her clients, and after discovering their power and effectiveness, they encouraged her to eventually make them available for the rest of the world. In addition to a passion for healthy hair, Iles Formula is also committed to formulating high-performance formulas for maximum impact on hair—with minimal impact on the environment.

Every month they donate native trees back in to the Amazon Rainforest, they are Leaping Bunny certified, their packaging is recyclable and free from microplastics, and they continue to improve their sustainability standards as technologies evolve. We chatted with Iles, who shared the inspiration behind the brand, secrets for success, wellness tips, and much more.

When was Iles Formula founded and what does the name mean?

We officially launched as a brand in 2016. Iles is my last name, but we decided on the name simply because that’s what my VIP clients were calling my formulas. They would specifically request that I bring products whenever we worked together. They would say, “Make sure Wendy brings those Iles formulas,” so we became Iles Formula.

What inspired the creation of the brand?

My celebrity clients were really the ones that encouraged me to take the leap to launch as a brand. I was originally only making very small batches every year to fulfil their personal orders and from there, they ended up in the hands of the buyer at Bergdorf Goodman. That was the call that changed everything and we officially launched as a brand!

Does Iles Formula have a hero product?

My hero is the Iles Formula Signature Collection, which features the essentials for all hair types: our Shampoo, Conditioner, and Finishing Serum. It’s everything one needs to deliver instant hair repair and the gorgeous and nurtured Iles Formula signature finish without ever weighing the hair down.

What are your favorite products from the brand?

If I had to choose one formula from my collection, it would be the Iles Formula Conditioner. It’s my jewel; the performance is unbeatable, and the way in which it instantly shuts down the cuticle and repairs hair without any residue is quite unique.

Where are your products sold?

Iles Formula is available internationally at landmark stores and salons. Specifically within the U.S., we are available at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks online, and of course, on our website.

Future plans for the brand?

We have a unique ethos whereby my focus has never been on launching endless new products for the sake of boosting numbers. It’s unnecessary and only causes confusion in an already over-saturated market. Having said that, we receive daily requests from customers who want to extend their Iles Formula experience beyond their hair.

So we’re excited to soon launch the Iles Formula Spa Collection, which will focus on a curated edit of haute performance wellness products that stand alone within a spa, but also work in tandem with the core Iles Formula Haircare Collection. The first is the Hair + Body Cleanse, followed by a Scalp + Body Exfoliant and an Intensive Hair + Body Balm. Each formula is created for use on the hair, body, or both.

Iles Formula Signature Collection ($145) is an innovative system that instantly transforms all hair types with a shampoo, conditioner and finishing serum for a lustrous finish.

Who inspires you?

My initial inspiration was the late and great Vidal Sassoon under whom I trained. Nowadays, my family, team, and most definitely my customers whose feedback is one of my greatest sources of inspiration.

Secret to success?

My secrets to success have been hard work, always learning, never being complacent, and more recently, learning to delegate certain tasks to my team. This has given me enough time and bandwidth to focus on the areas that only I can manage.

Beauty secrets?

My best beauty secret is to follow a pared down, manageable routine and to listen to your body. Oftentimes, we’re advised to follow too many steps which are just overwhelming and confusing. The basis of any routine is quite simple: cleanse, condition/hydrate and protect. Specific treatments can be layered into your routine as and when required. For example, if your scalp feels dry and itchy, then it’s likely in need of an exfoliation followed by our Scalp + Hair Rejuvenating Booster.

Wellness tips? 

Wherever I am in the world, I always carve out some time for my Sunday wellness routine. It’s imperative to me to have that moment to myself where I can indulge in a pampering session, which was also partly the reason behind our new Spa Collection too. I start with the Scalp + Body Exfoliant on my entire body, shampoo, then the Hair Mask in my hair to give it that extra burst of hydration for the week, followed by the Conditioner to seal in all the goodness. 

Best advice?

Protect your hair. It’s an important tip especially as we come up to the summer months. The same way most people now think of it as second nature to protect their skin, it’s equally as important to protect your hair against UV rays, color fade, heated tools, etc. 

Favorite way to relax?

My garden in France is my ultimate source of relaxation. It’s the first place I run to whenever I get home. There’s something about having my hands in the soil that brings me peace and clarity.

For more information, visit Iles Formula’s website and follow on Instagram: @ilesformulahair @wendyiles_hair

[Images courtesy of Wendy Iles/Iles Formula]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk