Admit it: you tell your hairstylist everything. He knows what happened on your big date last month. He knows where you went on your summer vacation. And he knows your approach to your hairstyle, which probably is one of the following: a) if it ain't broke, don't fix it; b) let the stylist make the call; or c) "I'll try anything once."

Antonio Pagano, the new salon director at Vidal Sassoon Salon on Newbury Street, must have plenty of insider information from a long list of international fashionistas. After all, he's been a stylist for over 10 years -- working all over the world, from Munich to Manhattan. Pagano relocated from New York to Boston three months ago. But don't worry, ladies, he's not sharing your secrets. He is, however, sharing some insider tips about hair and his first impressions of the sophisticated style of Boston women.

When it comes to the latest trends, Pagano said the Vidal Sassoon style collection has something for everyone. "We create haircuts that clients can relate to... edgy but not too over the top, classic, funky...," he says. "We reach every kind of person, from lawyers and bankers to designers." According to Pagano, the recent trend of pin-straight hair, achieved by using a flat iron, is a thing of the past. Now there's more of a natural look, "a natural flow with movement."

With three style divisions - Academy, Salon and Studio - Vidal Sassoon accommodates a range of tastes. "Academy is more extreme," said Pagano. "Salon is contemporary, and Studio is young and fresh."

When asked what celebrity cuts his clients covet, Pagano says they are leaders, not followers. "They don't relate as much to movie stars. They are more aware of what looks good on them. They may choose a style from the '70s or '80s, and [I give it] a modern look. There's a different awareness of who they are and what they want."

What's the difference between clients in Boston and New York? "In New York, a higher percentage of clients want an extreme look," said Pagano. "In [Boston], it's more contemporary, classic with an edge... a haircut you can wear wherever, whenever... It's never too much."

As for Boston's level of sophistication: "It's a well-educated city, very clean, very smart... I like that the people are right to the point."

And what about all of the juicy, private information clients share with him? Here, Pagano's discretion is evident: "We're dealing with something very personal, a style, a look... And we reach into their comfort zone. Clients trust us... They talk about personal experiences. We have to be open and be able to take it like a sponge. I try to always be neutral... I don't give too much advice. If you tell someone to break up with her boyfriend and it goes wrong, it's bad for business."

And, as we all know, Boston is a town where discretion counts.

- Anna Gustavson Boardman

Vidal Sassoon, 14 Newbury Street, #4, Boston, 617.536.5496.