Seven women who say they survived Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse have sued celebrity hairstylist Frédéric Fekkai, claiming his salons helped Epstein make women look younger and style them to fit his preferences as part of the grooming that preceded his alleged abuse.
Kersti Ferguson, Audra Christiansen and five women identified as Jane Does filed the lawsuit Sept. 1 in New York Supreme Court against Fekkai, Frédéric Fekkai & Co. LLC and former salon employee Patrick Coombs. Fekkai moved the case to federal court in Manhattan on Sept. 8.
According to the complaint, Epstein routinely sent women to Fekkai salons with instructions about their appearance. The women say employees followed those directions, including requests to bleach their hair blond and style them “like dolls.”
The lawsuit calls Fekkai’s former flagship salon at 712 Fifth Avenue, then inside the Henri Bendel department store, an “epicenter for victim grooming.” Epstein allegedly used salon visits and other expensive services as part of a system that rewarded compliance and allowed him to dictate the women’s appearance.
Two of the Jane Does later described their salon visits to CNN. One said she was about 19 when Epstein sent her to a Fekkai salon in Manhattan. After telling a stylist how she wanted her hair cut, she recalled being told, “Those aren’t the instructions I got.” She said Epstein later praised the resulting style.
Another woman said she was about 20 when Epstein brought her to Fekkai in Saint-Tropez and asked how she could be made to look younger. She said a stylist at a Fekkai salon in New York later appeared to have already received instructions about her appearance.
The women are suing under New York City’s Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, which permits claims against people or businesses accused of directing, enabling, participating in or conspiring in gender-motivated violence. A January amendment opened an 18-month window for some older claims.
The claims against Fekkai and Coombs focus on the law’s enabling provision. The women allege Fekkai followed Epstein’s instructions about their appearance, helping him exert control over them and further his abuse.
The complaint also alleges Epstein helped create Frédéric Fekkai & Co. and that Fekkai benefited financially and socially from their relationship. The women cite documents and emails released by the Justice Department that they say show connections between Epstein and Fekkai’s salon operations.
Fekkai has denied wrongdoing. His representative, Mark Herr, said the hairstylist had no knowledge of Epstein’s trafficking or criminal conduct and could not have known whether any victims were among the large number of clients served by his salons.
Five of the Jane Does previously sued Fekkai-related companies before voluntarily dismissing that case in June after it was moved to federal court. Fekkai has asked the federal court to award costs tied to the earlier lawsuit and pause the new case.
The court has not ruled on the women’s allegations or Fekkai’s request to stay the case.
