Gail Federici, 76: Performance, Not Perfection

When you encounter a problem in your everyday life—a problem you and those around you are wrestling with—is your instinct to solve it or wait for someone else to find a fix? Take having a bad hair day, for instance. Gail Federici experienced the challenges of managing her hair firsthand, so what did she do? She put on her problem-solving hat and created a solution not only for herself but also for the women around her.

The first “prescriptive” remedy for frizzy hair? Her idea. The first full collection aimed at tackling the unique dulling challenges of managing blonde locks? Her idea. The first budge-proof powder root touch-up? Her idea. The first heat-activated, humidity-shield sealant for “glass-like” tresses? You guessed it—her idea. For every haircare problem Gail’s encountered, she has created a solid gold solution. After decades in the beauty and hair industry, that problem-solving hat of hers is now more so a crown. We should all be calling her the Queen Midas of Haircare.

Starting at the salon brand Zotos, a giant in the perm field, in the 1970s, Gail quickly rose through the ranks, rising from an assistant in the education department to vice president of corporate communications, overseeing creative, marketing, and public relations for the company. Spending countless hours in the Zotos lab, she learned the chemistry behind haircare and gained a solid understanding of what makes a hair product truly effective and original. This experience was the ideal springboard to start her very first brands: Bain de Terre, an ahead-of-its-time spa-themed haircare range built on natural ingredients, and Acclaim, a perm that quickly garnered major market share. 

Just when Gail considered pivoting in her career, fate brought her together with the London-based hairstylist and salon owner John Frieda while she was on a business trip to the UK in 1987. Through their partnership, she helped Frieda market a few products he had in development; in exchange, he gave her access to the labs he was working with. It was there that she conjured up an easy, everyday solution for frizz, something she struggled with herself. By 1990, the groundbreaking formula was ready—and soon, they started to sell a bottle a minute worldwide.

Hair product hit after hit made its debut on the market and turned the heads of countless beauty conglomerates. After receiving an offer Gail and Frieda just couldn’t refuse, they sold John Frieda Professional Haircare to the Japan-based Kao Corporation. Bound by a non-compete, Gail, whose husband and twin daughters are musically minded, spent the next several years in the record biz. During that delightful detour, her entrepreneurial brain continued to hum. In 2013, she launched Color Wow: a capsule collection of revolutionizing and innovative problem-solving products for colored hair. After striking hair gold so many times, one would think Gail may want to slow down, that all the haircare challenges in the world have been solved? But no. Her product-creation to-do list just keeps growing and her entrepreneurial spirit continues to burn bright.

How old are you?
Seventy-six.

Where are you from and where are you currently based?
I’m originally from Stamford, Connecticut, and still based in Connecticut—now in the town of Wilton.

Are you married? Kids?
Yes, I’m married, and I have twin daughters.

You’ve had multiple career chapters, from Zotos to John Frieda to music and back to the world of hair care with Color Wow. How has each transition shaped your perspective on reinvention?
Each chapter has taught me something different. Reinvention, for me, has never been about chasing trends—it’s been about following curiosity, solving problems, and staying open to new ideas. I think reinvention comes naturally when you’re driven by purpose and not just by profit.

Many of your breakthrough products came from solving your own beauty challenges. Has your approach to identifying “white spaces” in beauty evolved as you’ve aged? (And can you define what you mean by “white spaces”?)
“White spaces” are the gaps in the market—those unmet needs that no brand has truly solved. My approach has always been to create products that serve a real purpose and solve problems for women. That hasn’t changed. What has evolved slightly is my focus on solutions that help women get their best hair faster. We’re all so busy—I want to lighten the load, even if it’s just by helping someone cut their styling time in half.

When your non-compete led you to the music industry, what lessons from that detour proved most valuable when returning to the world of beauty to launch Color Wow?
That was such a fun and unexpected chapter. It reconnected me to pop culture, which was incredibly energizing. Staying engaged in culture keeps your perspective fresh, and it definitely helped shape Color Wow’s voice and vibe. We’re a hair brand, yes, but we also want to be part of the cultural conversation.

Having achieved such significant success with the sale of your first company, what motivated you to start over with Color Wow rather than retire?
I just wasn’t ready to retire. After we sold the company, I didn’t know exactly what I’d do next, but I knew I still had more to give. Then, one day, my sister came over with her roots showing and said she didn’t use anything because the products out there didn’t work. That was it—I saw the white space. That conversation sparked the idea for Color Wow.

The beauty industry is often fixated on youth, yet your innovations serve people across age demographics. How do you approach creating products that address beauty needs that change with age?
We create for real women with real hair challenges—and that transcends age. Our mission has always been to develop high-performance solutions that work no matter your age, hair texture, or lifestyle. The focus is on performance, not perfection.

The beauty industry also moves incredibly fast today. How do you maintain your innovative edge in a market flooded with new brands?
We’re lucky to have two brilliant chemists on our team, and our lead chemist, Dr. Joe Cincotta, has been with me for over 30 years. He doesn’t stop until a formula is perfect. Our edge comes from that commitment to performance and our refusal to compromise on quality—ever.

You’re described yourself as “analytical to a fault.” Has this trait served you differently at various points in your career?
Yes, absolutely. Early on, it helped me build a strong foundation for product development and business strategy. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to balance analysis with instinct. Sometimes your gut knows something before the numbers do.

Has the professional and personal wisdom you’ve gained increased your risk tolerance compared to when you were younger in your career? If so, how?
In some ways, yes. With age comes confidence and perspective. You realize that failure isn’t the end of the world—it’s just a part of the process. That gives you the freedom to take smarter, more meaningful risks.

How has your definition of success shifted throughout different stages of your life?
My greatest joy has always come from hearing women say our products changed their lives or gave them more confidence. That feedback—that real connection—is still my definition of success.

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs over 50 who are considering launching something new?
Go for it. I launched Color Wow at 64. It’s never too late to start something new if the passion is there.

What daily practices or habits help sustain your creativity and problem-solving abilities?
Staying curious, staying connected to people, and carving out time to think. I also make space for quiet moments—creativity needs room to breathe.

After 35+ years in the beauty industry, what keeps you excited about creating new products?
It’s still the thrill of solving a challenge that no one else has cracked. There’s nothing like that moment when a product works exactly the way you dreamed it would—and then seeing the impact it has on someone’s life.

What’s next on your professional bucket list?
I’d love to continue growing Color Wow globally and maybe mentor the next generation of beauty entrepreneurs. There’s so much talent out there—I want to help lift it up.

Finally, what are your three life non-negotiables (i.e., the things you can’t live without)?
1. My family
2. My books
3. My sneakers so I can go for my daily walks (it’s a great time for me to have peace to think)

Editor’s Note: Some answers may have been condensed and/or edited for clarity.

Connect with Gail: LinkedIn / Instagram (@gailfed)

Cover image courtesy of Gail Federici