I was very excited when celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons (or as I prefer to call him: 'the world's most famous hairstylist') agreed to answer a few of my haircare questions.
In case you've been living under a rock, Andrew was born in Dublin and left school at the age of 13 to pursue hairdressing and, oh my, did he succeed.
He now works internationally with top celebrity clients, with his trend-setting looks regularly seen on high-profile clients such as the Kardashians, Megan Fox, Jennifer Lopez, Adriana Lima, Joan Smalls, Ashley Graham, Madonna, Bella Hadid, Shay Mitchell and Janet Mock.
Andrew has just launched his first-ever global haircare line, Andrew Fitzsimons Haircare, which includes four care and one styling range, made with high-quality ingredients at an affordable price point now available in Boots.
I spoke with the Dublin man about his celebrity clients, his new line, and his top tips for keeping hair healthy and on-trend this summer. Check it out below.
Andrew, you are always first with the latest hair trends on social media, what should we be doing with our hair this summer?
This is going to be the summer where we see people making bold and daring choices with their hair. With that being said, I envision a lot of short haircut styles coming back to the forefront. Short hair is not only effortlessly chic, but it is so easy to maintain, especially in the sweltering heat.
For those of us who are not blessed with full bountiful hair, what's the secret to adding some volume when styling at home?
Texture spray works wonders for creating more volume within the hair. I personally love my own, the Apres Sexe Texture Spray for lightweight texture that's still touchable. Also, the Body Volume Blow Dry on damp hair before you blow out your hair will create beautiful, voluminous tresses.
What one hair care tip do you wish everyone knew?
Use heat protectant! Besides the styling line, my products are formulated with the AF Bonding System TM ️ which is an innovative protein-based complex with a double action that helps build maximum strength from within by creating powerful hydrogen and ionic bonds inside the keratin hair structure.
Also, know what ingredients are in your product and how they work with your hair type. Using the right products for your hair is so important.
What's the one mistake we are all making with our hair?
You have to let your hair air dry for a bit before you start using any heat on it. You can’t just hop out of the shower and go right to a blow dryer. Allow your hair to dry a bit, then add the necessary products to style.
Talk to me about the fragrances you've been using in your products.
Next to creating a brand that was inclusive of every person and every hair type, I knew I wanted to have a product that people would stop in the tracks to try and figure out where that good smell was coming from.
Having an effective haircare line is half the work, having your hair look and smell good all day was super important to me. Also, the Andrew Fitzsimons Discreet AF Dry Shampoo is formulated with the AF Aurascent TechnologyTM and it is a long-lasting scent technology that envelopes the hair strands with a divine fragrance, allowing the citrus, green floral and creamy wood notes to gradually release. This allows the hair to smell good all day long.
You've styled some of the biggest stars in the world, who's got the most beautiful hair and who is most dedicated to their hair care regime?
Everyone I work with has beautiful hair. The best part of my job is that I get to work with so many different people and types of hair and it really is incredible seeing how stunning each individual’s look is. I have also built a personal relationship with my clientele so adhering to their goals and desires allows me to be super creative with their luscious locks.
What hair trends do you think are coming down the line that we need to get on board with now?
Hands down, up-dos. They are so chic and it keeps the hair out of your face and they are so versatile. They can be glamorous, but they can also be casual.
Who's your absolute favourite person to style? We can keep a secret...
My mum! She is my main source of inspiration, and doing her hair is just something I will always take joy in.
