Angus Mitchell is what you would imagine a Californian to be like: warm, good-humored and only too happy to chat out of the box. Together with his wife Mara, the beauty entrepreneur meets us for an interview and talks about what it means to be the co-owner of John Paul Mitchell Systems.
FACES: What meaning does hair have for you?
Angus Mitchell: Hair is just like fashion. You can wear them in different ways – depending on how you feel. We have been very relaxed over the past three years of the pandemic. Now that the pandemic is over, we’re starting to dress up and get a little fancier. That’s what I love about hair: it can be styled and cut in countless ways.
F: What past hair trend are you bringing back to the present?
AM: I love the very classic trends of the 1950s – especially the hairstyles in the black and white films of Sophia Loren or Audrey Hepburn. It would be great if people would go to the hairdresser more often to have their hair styled in this romantic way.
F: Do bad hair days even exist?
AM: Bad hair days start in the morning after the first glance in the mirror. We wake up, go to the bathroom, look at our reflection and ask ourselves: “Oh my God, what am I going to do with this?” With the right products and the right hair care, everything is half as bad and every bad hair day can quickly turn into a wonderful day.
F: Which product helps us best on such a bad hair day?
AM: Clearly the Clean Beauty line. The products in this range feel particularly light and are easy to use. I also love the fantastic packaging, which also takes care of nature. The entire line is vegan, the packaging is made of bio-based plastic, and we are very proud of that.
F: Which person would you like to style?
AM: I can tell you that I have styled someone I am thrilled with. I’m talking about Maye Musk. She’s a good friend of my mom’s, and one day she said, “Angus, how come you’ve never cut my hair?” To which I replied, “You never asked me…” In the middle of the pandemic, she came to our house with her assistant and asked me if I already had a vision of what her future hairstyle would look like. The idea was already in my head and she gave me the go-ahead with these words: “Do whatever you want!” So I conjured up a beautiful, short bob cut for her. At that moment I was immensely proud, after all, she is an icon and the first supermodel I was allowed to style.
F: Do you get the impression that hairdressers are sometimes unofficial therapists to their clients?
AM: Of course. The more time you spend with someone in private, the more willing you are to share your everyday life or your deepest thoughts. In my opinion, this is one of the most important qualities of a hairdresser. of a hairdresser and distinguishes between a normal hairdresser and a a hairdresser from a brilliant one.
F: If you hadn’t taken on your father’s life project, what would your career plan have looked like otherwise?
AM: I love theater. That’s why it was my favorite subject in high school. My mother was an actress and my grandmother an opera singer. When I was younger, I used to imitate my grandmother while she gave me singing lessons. One day she grabbed me by the ear and dragged me to the Metropolitan Boys’ Choir in New York City, where I sang opera for three years. I was a natural on stage and my mother’s agent really wanted me for television.
F: You didn’t become an actor, however, but took up the legacy of your father Paul Mitchell. What challenges do you face in your everyday life as a beauty entrepreneur?
AM: I didn’t have the opportunity to have a TV career and perform on big stages. However, I am convinced that I have brought together the best of both worlds. I have my own stage, and I can perform all over the world to honor my father’s legacy. Above all, I don’t follow a script and can speak from my heart. The challenges I have faced in the past have been to honor my father in spirit. Through my incredible journey, I felt like I had finally found my strength in my gift of communicating with people and being a good hairdresser to them.
F: How do you want people to remember Paul Mitchell?
AM: There isn’t enough paper to write it all down. But I would like people to remember our innovation, our culture, our know-how, our craftsmanship and the performance of our products.
F: What was your relationship like with your father?
AM: This is actually one of my favorite stories! I felt spiritually connected to my father at an early age. I remember saying to my father: “The tree doesn’t fall far from the apple.” And my father said: “No, son, it’s the other way around: the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” I replied: “No, Dad, I had the feeling I already knew you.” That was my way of telling my father that perhaps I knew him from another life.
F: Paul Mitchell was one of the first brands to speak out against animal testing. Where does this strong desire to fight for animal rights come from?
AM: My father was a great activist. He was a vegetarian when it was not yet popular to be one. He and John Paul DeJoria both firmly believed that animal testing should not be carried out, as an ingredient that has been tested once does not need to be tested again. They were also of the opinion that if products really needed to be tested further, they could simply test them on themselves or on hairdressers, as they use the products themselves. In the course of the company’s development, we have also established a sustainable farm in Hawaii, where most of the ingredients needed for our products are sourced.
F: Social commitment is also important to Paul Mitchell.
AM: Supporting charitable causes is part of who we are. This makes our company unique and also inspires our followers. Our sales and partnership partners around the world share the same philosophy. In Switzerland, we also support charitable organizations such as the Limmat Foundation, Look good feel better and Elfen helfen. This is our way of giving something back to the world, to people who have not been as lucky as us.
F: What advice would you like to give your younger self?
AM : I don’t have to travel back in time to do this, because I have a son to whom I can pass on this wisdom. Dylan is seven years old, and as I watch him grow up, I often think of things I want to teach him: life is not a race, it’s a marathon. Don’t be intimidated by hurdles, but trust that you can do it and that everything will work out.
F: What has changed in the beauty industry in recent years?
AM: During the recession, people were less likely to have their hair cut or dyed. Today, after being in the dark for so long, people want to feel more beautiful and well-groomed. Now it’s all about fashion, looking good and feeling good. Technology has also changed and it’s important to stay in touch with your hairdresser via social media or other media channels and keep up to date with the latest trends. Thanks to Instagram, many things have become easier and faster. Now you can show pictures of your creations to attract new customers. In my day, we only had to boost business through recommendations. I don’t know whether it’s easier or more complicated now…
F: What projects are you working on right now?
AM: We are really looking forward to designing new packaging and finding innovative ways to become even more sustainable across our product range.
F: Have you thought about starting your very own brand?
AM: This is my own brand – it has my name on it! (laughs) No, because I was born into this industry, into this brand, I feel not only an owner, but also lucky and blessed to be part of so much more. The Paul Mitchell DNA and the opportunity to inspire people all over the world with our products is a priceless gift!
More information about Paul Mitchell can be found at PM Care Systems AG.
