The Headmasters, our monthly profile of leading industry professionals, for May was an easy find. Howard McLaren has decades of experience in the industry, both with major brands and as an independent artist. He’s a trailblazer and a true visionary, and I was dying to interview him. His story is compelling—it begins in Scotland, and then moves on to London, then the U.S., the East Coast, the West Coast, Bumble and bumble, The Whitehouse, and now, it’s with R+Co.
It’s no surprise then that the range of products, with a solid team behind them (McLaren, Thom Priano and Garren), deliver. And the packaging is pretty fantastic too. In fact, my two favorites (Dallas Thickening Spray and Death Valley Dry Shampoo) sit on my bathroom windowsill and serve two functions: styling aids and interior design aids. But if I had to pick one to bring if I were stranded on a deserted island, it’d be Death Valley Dry Shampoo. It’s more than a solution for too many days without washing my hair, and that’s what I love about it. Here McLaren gives a little info about it and shows one of the many ways it can be used.
About: Kristen Heinzinger is the Managing Editor of American Salon, where she gets to report on the latest products, trends and industry hotshots. She holds a B.S. in journalism from Boston University, and has previously worked as an editor for beauty, art and finance publications. She currently lives in New York City, in an apartment where a multiplying collection of dry shampoos, conditioners, eye creams and nail polishes are earning her lots of potential for an episode of "Hoarders."