Want to recreate the sleek, polished and bold hair stylings of Khloe Kardashian? Andrew Fitzsimons should be on your radar.
The Irish hair expert has been part of her elite glam squad for a while now, continually getting creative with her ever-changing looks. He’s also teased the locks of her famous sisters, Ashley Graham, Adriana Lima, Megan Fox and many more.
After much-anticipation, Fitzsimons has finally launched his own salon-worthy eponymous haircare line - Andrew Fitzsimons Hair – addressing the gap in the market for inclusive products at affordable price tags that up the styling stakes.
The formulas all feature a trademarked AF Bonding System, a plant-based complex that targets the ionic bonds inside the hair’s structure to strengthen and add elasticity and flexibility. There’s ranges to repair, shine, for blondes, curls, volume and styling.
We caught up with Fitzsimons to find out the items he couldn’t live without.
What are you up to at the moment?
I’m busier than I’ve ever been. I’m currently in the midst of launching my haircare brand, Andrew Fitzsimons. We recently launched in Boots in England and Ireland, now we’re working on our launch in the US before we head to Germany this summer. On top of that, it’s a really busy time for my clients who are premiering their new Hulu show, The Kardashians, and I try to be available for them as much as possible, so it’s a balancing act.
What encouraged you to launch your own line?
I’ve been fortunate to partner with a number of leading haircare brands over the past several years, and what I’ve learned is that creating high performance, salon-quality products isn’t as expensive as it used to be. I wanted to create a line that I could use for a Vogue cover shoot or a red carpet look that my mom could also afford and find at her local Boots.
While the beauty industry has made a lot of strides in recent years in terms of formula quality, inclusivity and responsible marketing, there’s still a very long way to go. This brand is meant to truly celebrate women, not exploit insecurities to sell products. And, when we talk about inclusion, it’s not just about appearance; price inclusion is also super important.
What product are you most proud of in the range?
Can I say all of them? After so many rounds of perfecting these formulas, it kind of feels like they all are my children. I will say, I have a soft spot in my heart for the APRÈS SEXE Texture Spray. A great texture spray is something every hairstylist needs in their kit, so I worked really hard to create the perfect balance of hold and grit for the texture. It leaves your hair perfectly tousled, touchable and smells so good.
What is your favourite look to create?
I actually don’t have a favourite look. One of the reasons I love hairstyling so much is the ability to be creative and to switch things up, so I’m always thinking of the next style.
Talk us through your personal grooming routine
I actually keep it quite simple! I love the cleanser from Kylie Skin and the Fenty Skin Fat Water toner. Obviously, I’m Irish, so SPF is a must--I wear sunscreen every day!
What’s the one item you can’t live without?
This isn’t a beauty product, but coffee!
What do you do for self-care?
I’m naturally an introvert, so alone time is really how I recharge. I recently moved to an area of LA that is a little bit more remote than where I’ve lived in the past, which has been great because I’m able to end my day at my house overlooking the city. I love listening to music and just winding down.
What hair product should we be adding to our routine with our spare time?
Actually, I have a product that is super easy to use and won’t add a ton of time to your routine: the Andrew Fitzsimons AF1 Repair Leave-in Conditioner should be everybody’s new best friend. Just spritz from roots to end on towel-dried hair and comb through before you style as usual (this is a great product for strengthening your strands for healthier, shinier hair) or you can air dry, if you prefer.
What’s the one thing you wish people would stop doing to their hair?
Stop being so rough on your hair. A lot of people think they need to turn their hot tools all the way up in order to get them to work more efficiently, and that’s simply not the case - you’re literally frying your hair. Also, you don’t need to dry your hair so aggressively when you get out of the shower. Use a cotton or microfiber towel and gently squeeze the hair versus tousling it.
Which beauty product do you wish you invented?
Honestly, I’ve invented a few of them in this line! We have some really innovative products in the works that the haircare industry has never seen before...so stay tuned.
