Joe Kelly is the hairstylist saving the big, sexy blowout

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Big, dramatic blowouts might feel like a relic from another era, but Joe Kelly still knows how to make them feel alive. At 26, the London-based hairstylist has already carved out a space for himself that resists easy categorisation. To him, styling hair does not just transform the surface of how someone looks, but allows individuals to amplify a presence that honours both beauty and expression.

“I’m more than just a hairstylist,” he explains. “I’ve never wanted to fit into a box, because labels limit what creativity can become. I’m not chasing to be understood, I’m chasing something greater, something far beyond definition.” That perspective has guided him from observing stylists in his mum’s best friend’s two-chair salon to shaping the looks of Troye Sivan, Millie Bobby Brown, Cindy Kimberly, Lori Harvey and Maya Jama. He has worked backstage at fashion shows in London and Paris, where he leads teams with the same instinctive energy he brings to one-on-one collaborations.

“My work is about more than beauty; it’s about bold, expressive art. I want to inspire others to believe in themselves. There’s space for everyone in this world, and if you stay true to your vision, anything is possible,” Kelly says. For him, hair is never just about trends or technique. It is a language of confidence, individuality and transformation.

Below, Kelly talks us through his journey so far, his ‘I’ve made it’ moment and loving alien-like beauty.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and where you grew up?

Joe Kelly: I grew up in Spain, Alicante, then moved to Ibiza. Later, my family moved to north-west London, so I was a little Spanish kid, but my heritage is Irish with a dash of Ukrainian.

What is it you do and why do you do it?

Joe Kelly: I started off in the creative industry as a model at 13, then went on to work in a hair salon from the age of 15. I qualified at 18 and began working backstage on shows and travelling the world. By 22, the hard work started to pay off.

How did you get into it?

Joe Kelly: My mum’s best friend had a hair salon when I was younger, so I grew up going to a two-chair salon in north-west London when we were in the UK. I’d watch my family getting their hair done and think, ‘I’ll do this one day!’

What are you trying to communicate through your work and why?

Joe Kelly: I aim to express creativity through the hair looks I create, not just glamorous styles, but sculptural, thoughtful designs. I collaborate with designers and creative directors to make a statement. My work is about more than beauty; it’s about bold, expressive art. I want to inspire others to believe in themselves. There’s space for everyone in this world, and if you stay true to your vision, anything is possible!

What’s your earliest beauty-related memory?

Joe Kelly: My earliest beauty memory would have to be when my mum would apply her makeup before a night out in Spain. I’d help her apply it and do her hair, since I was about six years old.

What’s been your career highlight so far?

Joe Kelly: One of the biggest highlights of my career was doing Kendall Jenner’s hair backstage a few years ago; that moment really hit me. I thought, ‘Wow, this is what I’ve worked so hard for.’

More recently, I’ve stepped into the role of lead hairstylist backstage at fashion shows in both London and Paris. Being part of that creative energy and leading teams in such iconic cities has been a real ‘wow’ moment for me.

Describe your beauty aesthetic in three words.

Joe Kelly: Raw. Fearless. Transformative.

Which fictional character do you most relate to and why?

Joe Kelly: I’m a Pisces, so I’m a big lover boy. I relate to Romeo and Juliet a lot. If you’ve ever experienced deep, overwhelming love – the kind that feels like it consumes your whole world – Romeo and Juliet makes perfect sense. Their connection is instant, passionate, and all-in. My inner lover boy is obsessed with that.

Who is your beauty icon or favourite look of all time? Why?

Joe Kelly: Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn spent much of her childhood marked by instability and trauma, and yet she made such a strong statement and success through glamour. I find her relatable and iconic. She’ll live on always.

What is your current obsession?

Joe Kelly: Currently obsessed with soft, long, undone hair – it’s more chic at this current moment in time. Less is more, always. Last year, it was slick looks, more buns, and more structural elements. I’m excited for what’s next!

What does beauty mean to you?

Joe Kelly: Beauty isn’t just about looks or what the hair or face looks like – it’s about the person and what’s inside. It’s about how they act and treat other people.

When do you feel most beautiful?

Joe Kelly: When I’m in a hot country with my loved ones, fresh out of the sea on a beach.

Are you optimistic about the future?

Joe Kelly: The future for creatives is always bright if you’re projecting the right energy and direction. I’m super excited about what this year holds for me and the next, as I’ve been working on some exciting projects launching at the end of the year.

What is the future of beauty?

Joe Kelly: The future of beauty is definitely leaning toward more natural looks – enhancing someone’s natural appearance. Think: natural noses, natural faces, fewer fillers, and fewer surgeries. Less of everyone looking the same.

It’s the year 2100. You’re the owner of the largest beauty tech company in the world. What five products or treatments will you dedicate your resources to inventing?

Joe Kelly: One: a good sculpting machine – I may be a hairstylist, but I love a snatched face. Two: shampoo and conditioner – there’s always room to improve. Three: a lymphatic drainage product or cream – this would be a lifesaver. Lymphatic drainage is the new key to a glowing face and body. Four: texture spray – my go-to hair product. Five: hair perfume – there’s not enough on the market, and hopefully as technology advances, that will change.

It is the sixth day and you are creating humans. They can look however you want them to. What do they look like and why?

Joe Kelly: In my eyes, the more alien-like, the more beautiful. I like weird-looking humans, unnaturally big noses, big eyes, big faces, different shapes. Super tall with long limbs. The more unhuman, the better!

If you could have a new sense on top of your existing ones, what would it be?

Joe Kelly: I think a sense for healing through touch would be nice, if that doesn’t already exist somewhere on the planet.

Head to the gallery above to check out more of Kelly’s work.