Inspired by Classic Beauties

Hollywood hairstylist John McCormick shares the inspiration behind his latest project where he reimagines classic beauties.

Celebrity hairstylist John McCormick works on the set of the number one daytime show “The Young and the Restless” and his list of impressive credits include popular shows like “The X Factor” and “Days of Our Lives.” McCormick’s mother would tell the tale that her son picked up a brush before he could raise a fork.

Trained in New York for hairstyling, John has styled clients from across the country, working in salons in New York City and San Francisco before making his home in Los Angeles. McCormick’s mantra is, “If the eyes are the window to the soul, then hair is the doorway to your personality.”

When it comes to Hollywood personalities, McCormick goes for the big ones—including the likes of Audrey Hepburn, Lucille Ball and Farrah Fawcett. These women are iconic big-screen beauties who have inspired him to reimagine them for a photo shoot in a way that they have never been seen before—in neon.

“I knew I wanted to work with iconic women,” McCormick says. “These three women made a huge impact on the world with their unique beauty. I wanted to play with the images we’ve all had planted in our brains of these looks and have some fun with them!”

Our favorite (featured here) is Ball—who John said was “a blast” to update because of her amazing bone structure and expressive eyes. Other beauties he had toyed with recreating included Marilyn Monroe and Ann-Margret, and even though he decided not to, McCormick says that he might attempt them in the future. Photographer Russell Mayes and makeup artist Jessi Jewel were both a big part of the shoot, helping bring the classic beauties to life.

“I wanted the shoot to be fun and quirky, yet still pay homage to the classic image,” says McCormick. “I think we’ve turned a classic that we all know and love into something timely and funky. At the end of the day, anyone who knows me knows I want people to laugh and lighten up.”

He is currently storyboarding ideas for a men’s collection that he hopes to shoot in the New Year, and while they won’t be neon, he promises they will be hot.

About John McCormick: When not behind his chair, he can be found around Hollywood, styling for television, film and red carpet events. He is also a 2014 Hairbrained Video Awards nominee and an educator for Bosley Professional Strength.