A Pro Stylist for a Pro Collection
Hair hero Andrew Fitzsimons’ gift for glam has graced red carpets and magazine covers alike. The Kardashians have him on speed dial. He’s molded the magnificent manes of Hollywood’s hottest stars, like Madonna, Megan Fox, and Hailee Steinfeld. Now, the celeb stylist is collabing with us (!!!) on our Pro Collection — an advanced line, powerful enough for the pros yet approachable for aspiring amateurs.
Andrew Fitzsimons official announcement for Wavytalk
Let’s start from the beginning, how did you first get into hair styling, and what inspired you to pursue it as a career?
At 13, I asked my mother to get me a summer job. She happened to think the hair salon would be a good environment for me as it was mostly a female environment, which felt safe for me as a young gay person. Plus, I was always more creative than academic. I fell in love with hair so much. My school environment was extremely homophobic, so I ended up leaving school and have been doing hair full-time since then.
How long have you been in the industry, and what’s the most memorable moment from your journey so far?
I have been doing hair full-time for 23 years, which is sometimes hard to believe. After starting my career in a salon in my native Ireland, I moved to Paris at 17 to work in fashion, then expanded my journey to the U.S. to work with celebrities. Along the way, I’ve experienced so many memorable moments. But my favorite part of my job is educating people on how to achieve the hairstyles they see and covet and which products and tools can help them achieve these looks without a beauty school diploma. Getting to work with Wavytalk is definitely a highlight, as I not only get to work with a hair tool brand that is committed to innovation but also making hairstyling quick and easy for everyone!
Andrew makes magic with his must-haves: Wavtalk’s Pro Fast Drying Hair Dryer and Thermal Brush
We know you don’t usually partner with brands… so, what made you say yes to us? (We’re forever flattered, BTW.)
Wavytalk is a brand that I’ve had my eye on for a minute now — which wasn’t hard as it’s all over social media. People are really taking their hair and styling into their own hands using Wavytalk tools, so when I had the opportunity to first try the Pro Fast Drying Hair Dryer I was obsessed. When I tried the rest of the range like the Thermal Brush and Straightener Brush I was hooked!
What excites you most about partnering with Wavytalk as our first celebrity hairstylist ambassador?
It’s amazing to be able to use such powerful hair tools on my celebrity clients and then show people at home how to easily achieve these looks using Wavytalk tools, as well. Also, because Wavytalk is so committed to innovation, I’m excited to be able to work closely with the brand and hopefully make everyone’s glam time a little easier and a whole lot more fun.
As a celeb stylist, how does Wavytalk Pro help you achieve red carpet-ready looks that last?
When I’m working with my celebrity clients on red carpets and magazine covers, every minute counts, as we only have a certain amount of time for hair and makeup. So, tools like the Pro Fast Drying Hair Dryer help cut drying time DRAMATICALLY! Which gives me more time to perfect each look. My clients are always impressed by how quick the drying process is now, especially my clients with thicker, longer hair.
What’s your ride-or-die tool and why?
Honestly, as I said, I’m pretty obsessed with the Pro Fast Drying Hair Dryer. Not only does it cut down my drying time and reduce frizz with its ionic technology, but it’s so lightweight that it’s much easier on my arms and back physically. You guys have changed my life with that!!!
Andrew poses with Wavtalk’s “life-changing” Pro Fast Drying Hair Dryer
You’re going on vacay and can only fit 1 Wavytalk tool and 1 hair product, what are you packing and why?
Well I have a shaved head, so I don’t really need much in the hairstyling department, but I would probably bring my thermal brush because I know I would end up getting roped into styling one of my friend’s hair for a dinner or two. The thermal brush is such an easy and quick way to achieve the most beautiful, bouncy blowout that looks like it took hours but only takes a few minutes (which is all the time I’m prepared to style hair for on vacay lol).
What’s your advice for people who aren’t experts but still want to nail those just-left-the-salon styles at home?
Honestly using the right hair tools for you. No one knows your hair better than you, so always be willing to try new tools and see if they suit your unique hair needs. Hair is such a fun way to express ourselves, and with technology moving so quickly, it's always exciting to try something new.
What advice do you have for aspiring stylists who look up to you and want to follow in your footsteps?
Be fearless. I come from a single parent household, raised by an incredibly strong and brave mother which inspired me to try to work just as hard as she worked while I was growing up with little to no money. She told me to believe in myself and that I could only achieve my goals if I pursued them relentlessly. That allowed me to keep marching forward even when it got tough or my career didn’t feel like it was going anywhere at times. Those words kept me going, so hopefully they can do the same for someone else. Irish mammy wisdom!
The Steam Hair Straightener Brush is Andrew Fitzsimons-approved — fit for queens, kings, Kardashians… and you!
Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the future of Wavytalk’s Pro Collection, and how do you envision it’s evolution?
Well my biggest hope is to continue to create and inspire using Wavytalk tools and help people achieve their hair goals to feel beautiful from the inside out! Also, working with the amazing Wavytalk team on tutorials and maybe some tool collabs… who knows?! The possibilities are endless! What excites me most is to see which innovations the team will come up with next because I’ll most likely end up being just as obsessed with them as I am with the current line up!