Jack Howard: The Man Behind the Hair Colour You Want

The beauty desk cornered the top hair colourist at Paul Edmonds...

Don’t know who Jack Howard is? Unbeknownst to you, dear beauty fans, you actually do: he's the man credited with bringing Balayage to the UK (a hair colouring technique the beauty desk are immense fans of), and has wielded his dye-loaded brush for the likes of Poppy Delevingne and Suki Waterhouse. Oh, and yours truly. While working his magic, we pulled our trusty notepad out and grilled him...

MC: So, Jack, do you think having good colour is more important than a decent hair cut?

JH: I’m a colourist so, yes, colour! No, in seriousness they work in synergy.

MC: While we’ve got you on hair in general, we’re a bit obsessed with short hair at the moment. Do you reckon we - and everyone else - should be getting the chop to update our look?

JH: No, no - it depends on the woman. There are honestly no rules!

MC: What made you decide to work on the colour side of things, then?

JH: I love texture, science and women and there are endless possibilities when it comes to hair colour…

MC: Name a product you use more than any other?

JH: L’Oreal Platinum pre-lightener. I use it so often for balayage.

MC: We like your do. What’s your routine?

JH: I’m so low maintenance - I wash my hair with Head & Shoulders and then I’m done.

MC: And who cuts your hair?

JH: Vanessa Essack here at Paul Edmonds. She honestly is the best cutter in London and I’m a fussy old Queen!

MC: You work a lot on shoots. Who’d comprise your dream team?

JH: Sam McKnight to cut, me for colour (obviously!), Cara Delevingne modelling as she’s lots of fun, and Charlotte Tilbury for make-up.

MC: As seasoned experts, we know shoots can get a bit fraught. How do you handle stress?

JH: Walk away and breathe. Failing that, a nice Makers Mark!

MC: Let’s get personal. What don’t you leave the house without?

JH: Breath freshener from Boots. Seriously.

MC: What’s your biggest indulgence?

JH: A lay in on a Sunday and taxis.

MC: What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given?

JH: Not to worry about what other people are doing - just do what you want to do.

MC: And what advice would you you give a woman on the hair/looks front?

JH: To keep your look fresh and relevant. And don’t get hung up on youth.

MC: You’ve worked with some pretty gorgeous women - who defines beauty for you?

JH: There is honestly beauty in everybody. I think it’s unfair to say this one’s beautiful but this one isn’t. Only temperament can render a woman ugly.

MC: Thanks, Jack. We think we know you pretty well now. Tell us something we don’t know about you?

JH: I cook a mean Sunday roast!