Salon owner, stylist Steven Sobel rites set for Friday

STEVEN CARL SOBEL, a hair stylist and salon owner for more than four decades, passed away peacefully at Ochsner Hospital from complications of mylar dysplasia syndrome (MDS) on December 31, 2025. He was 68.

STEVEN CARL SOBEL

Faced with numerous earlier health issues involving multiple myeloma, he fought the good fight for 20 years but remained optimistic through it all. With the help of his family, he lived a wonderful full life to the very end.

Sobel will be remembered for his enormous talent for having made an indelible mark on the New Orleans professional hair industry. Following his first successful salon – Sobel’z  – which he opened near Tulane University with his sister and partner Sally Sobel Smason of blessed memory, Sobel opened the Steven Sobel Salon on Maple Street in a former site previously occupied by a nail salon.

His salon became a fixture in the New Orleans Riverbend area, having serviced thousands throughout its approximate 40-year history. He had so many loyal clients that we would often joke that he should run for mayor. Steven’s clients were so indebted to him they would even travel long distances just to have their hair done by him. He also made house calls to make sure no one went without the perfect coif. He was not only beloved by the New Orleans community but recognized nationally as well, receiving several national award citations, most notably Top 100 Salons in America by Elle Magazine for four consecutive years.

A native New Orleanian, he was the youngest of five and was often referred to as “baby brother” by his siblings. When he was a young boy, he moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he spent most of his childhood and graduated from Brooklyn’s New Utrecht High School. Following a stint at Brooklyn College, he returned to his hometown and transferred to the University of New Orleans. His college days were brief though, as he realized his true passion was making people beautiful, so he started on his journey by graduating from the John Jay Beauty School.

His greatest love was for his family. Following a whirlwind romance, he married Vicki Gagliano in Florence, Italy in 1993, and from then on referred to her as his “bride.” They began raising their children in a progression of homes across New Orleans, oftentimes purchasing a home in need of rehabbing, Together they raised two wonderful children, Alexander and Natalie. They were his pride and joy and were fortunate to have had the best of their dad’s years.

Steven also loved his many pets. His fur babies were a fixture in his salon. Upon entering, his clients were greeted by one of his precious golden doodles, Midnight, the most famous of the shop dogs, and more recently Bear or Bentlie.

Sobel is survived by his wife Vicki;  his two children Alexander and Natalie Sobel; his siblings David Sobel (Pamela) of Sydney, Australia, Phyllis Feran and Annie Elsas (Byron) and his brother-in-law, CCJN editor Alan Smason.

Visitation will begin Friday, January 9th at 10:00 a.m. in the chapel at Temple Sinai, 6227 St. Charles Avenue. Services will be jointly officiated by Rabbi Daniel Sherman and Cantor Joel Colman and will begin at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Hebrew Rest Cemetery # 3, 2100 Frenchmen Street at Pelopidas Street.

A celebration of life will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Sobel’s home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.