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Last week I had an amazing chance to chat with celebrity hairstylist Harry Josh who has been Gisele’s colorist for quite some years now. Harry Josh is also John Frieda’s International Creative Consultant.

I’ve interviewed Harry Josh for Talking Makeup’s celebrity beauty section: www.beautyinterviews.com

Harry Josh is a top celebrity hairdresser coming to us from Vancouver Canada. Harry Josh is also John Frieda’s International Creative Consultant and the hairdresser behind supermodel Gisele Bundchen’s hair. Aside from Gisele, Harry Josh styled hair for celebrities like Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow, Natalie Portman, Fergie, and Reese Witherspoon.

I caught up with Harry Josh on the telephone interrupting his very busy morning to learn more about his fascinating career as top celebrity hairdresser.

In this interview Harry Josh talked to me about what attracted him to the world of hairdressing. His working relations with Gisele Bundchen. Gives tips to how we can achieve Gisele’s hair at home. Lists some John Frieda products he just can’t live without. Dishes out summer hair trends and future plans.

Marta Walsh: Why have you decided on a career in hairstyling?
Harry Josh: I always had a passion to be in front of the camera, I wanted to be an actor or a model and that didn’t work out so well. I then realized that if you can’t beat them, join them! I remember looking through fashion magazines when I was young , particularly Vogue, and seeing an outtake from a photo shoot of a hairdresser brushing model’s hair on a cliff. It didn’t even look like a job it looked like fun. As a hairdresser you get to work with beautiful models and to travel to exotic locations. It seemed like a cool job and I wanted to get it!

 

I caught up with Harry Josh on the telephone interrupting his very busy morning to learn more about his fascinating career as top celebrity hairdresser.

In this interview Harry Josh talked to me about what attracted him to the world of hairdressing. His working relations with Gisele Bundchen. Gives tips to how we can achieve Gisele’s hair at home. Lists some John Frieda products he just can’t live without. Dishes out summer hair trends and future plans.

Marta Walsh: Why have you decided on a career in hairstyling?
Harry Josh: I always had a passion to be in front of the camera, I wanted to be an actor or a model and that didn’t work out so well. I then realized that if you can’t beat them, join them! I remember looking through fashion magazines when I was young , particularly Vogue, and seeing an outtake from a photo shoot of a hairdresser brushing model’s hair on a cliff. It didn’t even look like a job it looked like fun. As a hairdresser you get to work with beautiful models and to travel to exotic locations. It seemed like a cool job and I wanted to get it!

MW: What was your big first break as a celebrity hairdresser?
HJ: I would have to say Vogue Magazine. They have done a story on 5 up-and-comer hairdressers to look out for. I ended becoming their featured story. Vogue gave me a full page picture and a big chunk of the article. It turned out to be a really big thing for me. From that it all kind of snow balled.

MW: What is your working relations like with supermodel Gisele Bundchen?
HJ: I’ve been Gisele Bundchen’s colorist for 10 years. I’ve been one of her closest friends for about 13 years. And I style her hair on occasions such as red carpet events.

MW: Can you reveal how to get Gisele Bundchen’s hair color?
HJ: Gisele’s hair color can be achieved only if the bulk of your natural hair color or base color is showing. Only idea if you have light brown or dark blonde hair naturally. If your hair is very dark naturally, it will never work on you.

MW: How can we maintain color treated hair or highlighted hair such as Gisele’s?
HJ: I use John Frieda Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Serum on EVERY single person’s hair I’ve ever styled in my life. Especially after coloring hair John Frieda Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Serum helps in flattening the hair cuticles.

MW: How would you describe Gisele Bundchen’s hair cut? What should one ask their hairdresser at home to achieve Gisele’s cut?
HJ: You should ask your hairdresser to give your hair long layers.

MW: You’ve been recently featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show. How was that experience?
HJ: Appearing on the Oprah show was probably the highlight of my life! I’m a fan of the show and Oprah, and the fact that I got to sit next to Oprah for an hour and chat with her it is something I will never forget. I really hope to have another opportunity to go back on her show and do this again.

MW: Which some hot (pun intended, lol) summer hair trends we are going to see in the upcoming seasons?
HJ: We are seeing a lot of loose waves, natural tousled hair, nothing too styled because the summer heat makes hairstyles staying looking good for long difficult. We are also seeing a lot of hair accessories such as: headbands, hair clips, and hair combs.

MW: How would you describe your role at John Frieda?
HJ: I’m John Frieda’s International Creative Consultant for all the products that are launched in their line. We test all products and try to come up with what is missing on the market. We try to fill every niche we can when it comes to hair care. Our mission is to address or solve every hair issue with every hair type with our products. Whether you have frizzy hair, color treated hair. Whether you are blonde, brunette, or a red head, John Frieda has the product for you. John Frieda is a very innovative hair care line and a problem-solution based brand. We try to be specific about every product we create. Because I’m a hairdresser and not a scientist really helps the John Frieda products to be the best they can be. John Frieda products are not just coming from a lab, they are created through a hairdresser’s real life experimentation with these products and giving feedback on which product works or not. This way John Frieda was able to revolutionize how women style and care for their hair!

MW: Which other John Frieda product you just can’t live without?
HJ: I’m really a big fan of John Frieda’s mousse line and its Luxurious Volume Bountiful Body Mousse, and Frizz-Ease Take Charge Curl-Boosting Mousse. Both work fantastic and I can use them just about on any hair to build body and texture.

Harry Josh & Ali Larter at 2009 Costume Institute Gala.

MW: Which tips can you give us on maintaining healthy hair on an everyday basis?
HJ: Getting a trim every two months and using the right shampoo and conditioner can make a big difference to your hair. When you go to your local drugstore and stand in front the John Frieda section, read the labels and see which product describes your hair type. For example, if you have thin hair, try the John Frieda Root Awaking line, it is fantastic for that. John Frieda’s Root Awakening is our newest shampoo and conditioner. It smells amazing like eucalyptus. It really cleans and hydrates your scalp and promotes health hair growth. And as I said it smells so amazing, it is worth trying Root Awakening even just for that.

MW: What is your favorite city in the world?
HJ: New York City hands down!

MW: What is your favorite drink?
HJ: An Acai Smoothie, I drink that twice a day. It keeps me very healthy.

MW: How would you describe your personal style?
HJ: My style is understated, casual, and Rock Star chic.

MW: What some exciting projects are you working on at the moment and what’s next for Harry Josh?
HJ: I just styled Gisele Bundchen’s hair for the Vogue’s 2009 Costume Institute Gala. And I’m working with John Frieda on our product launches for 2010 and 2011.

It was a pleasure to interview Harry you can find out more about his work with John Frieda at the official site: www.johnfrieda.com  and view more of his work portfolio by visiting his personal site http://www.harryjosh.com/