In 1989 Brian opened worldSALON, which within four short years of business was voted “Perennial Best Hair Experience”by Toronto Life Magazine. In 1993, Brian developed a severe case of contact dermatitis on his hands – and realized that toxins in salon products had caused it. The condition cleared up after he stopped exposing himself to perm solution and hair gel. Brian decided that he wanted to service his clients without toxic exposure, so in 1999, he started working on a line that was healthy for everyone – clients, salon staff, friends and family. In 2001, worldPRODUCTS was born, a multi-use personal care line for hair and skin that is a healthy alternative to the plethora of toxic products on the market. “We live in a time where people think very carefully about the food they put in their mouths,” says Phillips, “It is time that we become mindful of the products we put on our hair and our skin as they end up in our bodies.”
A creative dynamo, Phillips has designed hair for many MAC advertising campaigns, twenty-three years of Fashion Cares fashion shows and worked on celebrities from Norah Jones, kd lang and Joni Mitchell to James Marsden, Kim Cattrall and Terence Howard to name a few.
In July 2004, The Clean Air Alliance’s ‘Cool Shops’ launched their summer program at worldSALON where Mayor David Miller congratulated Brian for being a leader in the small business community. In June 2007, worldSALON received a Certificate of Achievement from the OPA for reducing electricity consumption by 50% in seven years and in March 2009; Phillips was honoured with being the first recipient of the ‘Green Circle Award for Environmental Stewardship’, at the Canadian Hairdresser Awards. “After years of reformulating and perfecting the worldPRODUCTS line, we are very excited to show off the new look of the products now called WORLDHairSkin and promote it through North American salons who are looking for healthier options”, says Phillips.
In November 2014, worldSALON was voted Best Hair Salon in Toronto in the Now Magazine ‘Best of Toronto’ Reader’s poll, and in February 2015, Phillips was honoured at Environmental Defence’s 30th Anniversary Gala with the ‘Green Champion Award’ for 2015 for ‘25 years of leadership in sustainable business practices and progressive work eliminating toxic chemical in personal care products.’