The Color Whisperer: Sharon Dorram’s Timeless Touch

Sharon Dorram has held a unique place in the world of hair color for decades. Her clients often get stopped with the same question: “Does Sharon Dorram do your hair?” That kind of recognition comes from consistency and a clear signature: color that looks effortless, natural, and deeply flattering.

Growing up in northern New Jersey, Sharon was drawn to the arts early on. She studied at Bennington College, the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and the Winchester School of Art in the UK. She explored painting and weaving, and that creative foundation still informs how she sees hair. She treats it like a three-dimensional canvas, paying close attention to how color, texture, and light interact.

Her early training came under industry legends like Louis Licari. From there she moved through some of the most respected salons in the business including La Coupe, Oribe, Frédéric Fekkai, and John Frieda. These high-pressure environments helped her refine a style that’s become her trademark: color that looks unforced, moves well, and always suits the person sitting in her chair.

One of her first major celebrity clients was Barbra Streisand. That job demanded absolute precision. Sharon learned how small shifts in color placement or lighting could completely change the final look. It sharpened her attention to detail. Collaborations with stylists like Sally Hershberger helped her expand her reach even further. Together, they opened Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger, a private townhouse salon on the Upper East Side that emphasizes discretion, comfort, and one-on-one attention.

What makes Sharon’s work stand out isn’t just her ability to create soft, natural tones. It’s how she uses color to bring life and balance back to the face. She considers how lowlights and highlights interact, how to soften the hairline, and how to strike the right mix of warm and cool tones so that skin looks brighter, not washed out. Her ideal reference point is children’s hair, full of natural variation, healthy-looking, and completely unforced. She often uses several custom-mixed colors in a single appointment to build that kind of depth.

She is clear about what she avoids. Foils are central to her approach, and she is cautious about balayage that looks sloppy or aimless. She has moved past trends like ombré, which can sometimes leave hair looking striped or artificial. For her, real color has dimension and nuance, not just surface brightness.

Her consultations are focused and thoughtful. She listens, but she also observes, looking at old color mistakes, skin tone, hair texture, lighting, and lifestyle. Often, the first session is about correcting damage. The second session is where her signature look comes together. She says there is no mystery to hair color. What matters is technique, discipline, and getting it right.

That same mindset shows up in her day-to-day work. Sharon often starts early, rarely takes a break, and manages multiple clients with help from a trusted team. But the quality never drops. Whether she is working with an A-list celebrity or someone visiting her for the first time, the standard stays the same.

(Courtesy)

Her approach to wellness plays a role too. She keeps active, meditates regularly, and makes time for rest and family. These aren’t afterthoughts. They shape how she works and how she treats people. Appointments aren’t rushed. Clients feel seen and cared for. The space she co-owns reflects that, designed to be intimate and calm, not loud or hectic.

Still, her career hasn’t been without challenges. Her Upper East Side salon has faced scrutiny over employment practices and allegations of hair discrimination. Sharon and her team have taken steps to respond and make changes where needed.

Today, Sharon Dorram’s name is tied to a very specific kind of color: personal, believable, and alive. Her clients come in looking for change but often leave feeling more like themselves. In her hands, hair doesn’t feel artificial. It feels like something restored. And that is what keeps her at the top of her field.

Presented by: APG