When he was young, Andy Lecompte never dreamed that he’d work with the one of the greatest artists of his time. But on a chance trip to New York City 15 years ago, the 23-year-old caught Madonna’s attention and immediately became the man behind her Vogue covers, Met Gala appearances, and everything in between. On the eve of her 60th birthday, he shares what it’s really like to work with his idol, how it changed the course of his life, and the lengths they go to for great hair. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

I watched Truth or Dare when I was ten years old, and I saw Madonna celebrating the gay dancers. They were just equals to her and, at the time, I was sort of an outcast. I had been bullied as a child, but I didn’t let anyone know that because it was shameful — you don’t want your parents to know that you’re being teased for being gay or that nobody likes you in school because you’re different.
But I liked how she celebrated these gay guys in the movie, and I didn’t know that I was gay or what it was. Around that same time, I started working at my sister’s hair salon, and that was the place that I felt safe and secure. The clients loved and adored me, and I could just be myself. I started styling my sister’s clients and that’s where I developed my passion for hair. I said, “This is what I want to do.”
Lucky Star
I did Madonna’s manager’s assistant’s hair since she was in college. Then I met her manager, and I started doing her hair. The manager recommended me to Madonna’s assistant, and I started doing all their hair. In 2003, I was flown to New York, where Madonna was promoting The English Roses, her children’s book series. I thought, I get to do Madonna’s hair; this is cool… this will just be one gig.
Madonna was starting her book tour and winding down on her promo for [her album] American Life, and they wanted her hair to look very natural. She really liked the way I did her hair because I’m good at waves and curls; that’s the phase that she was in and she liked how I was able to give her a very natural texture.
Full interview HERE