Owner
As a hairstylist and color expert for over 25 years, I’ve trained alongside the top hairstylists in north america and europe and opened my salon, Mitchell John Salon, located in Boston’s financial district in 1988. Mitchell John Salon is a creative force that inspires our stylists and clients by defining the cutting edge of the industry. We’re a nurturing, vibrant, creative community whose unique talent and expertise defines trends and creates new standards in the beauty world. Having just celebrated our 28th anniversary this past november, we are looking toward the future for continued growth and success.
As a lover of beautiful things and my trade, I’ve had the pleasure of working with such magazines as Italian Vogue, German Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar as well as with models and celebrities, including Gisele Bundchen, Natalia Vodianova, Daria Werbowy, Paris Hilton and Blake Lively. In addition to being an artist, I’m also an entrepreneur at heart. Fortunate to be able to combine the two, many connections made in my chair have resulted in lasting relationships and business ventures for me as well as my clients. It’s amazing how my chair has become a hub over the years; a connection point if you will, that has produced synergies otherwise unknown between previous strangers.
Enter Living proof – Living proof®. is a technology driven consumer products company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company was founded by Polaris Venture Partners, professional stylists including myself, and a team of scientists including Dr. Bob Langer, an institute professor at MIT and one of history’s most prolific inventors in medicine.
By assembling world-class scientists from a range of disciplines and leading universities we are able to look at everyday concerns from a completely unique and fresh perspective.
The team at Living proof®. has successfully launched frizz which was recognized by the beauty industry as ground-breaking by winning the prestigious Allure Magazine Beauty Breakthrough award for 2008. In 2010, Living proof®. launched full, featuring the second innovation from our scientists, which won the Edison Award for innovation. Most recently Living proof®. has launched its breakthrough styler Straight. Our products are available at livingproof.com, Sephora, QVC, and in select salons as well as, of course, Mitchell John Salon. Living proof®. products are also available in Europe at Spacenk, and Mecca Cosmetics in Australia.
Very hands on in all my endeavors, I’m involved in all areas of the salon and in the Living proof®. business, from technology screening to product evaluation across all programs – that’s when I’m not at the salon, designing side-by-side with my team of stylists or instructing weekly education sessions.
Why I became a stylist:
Both of my parents were hairdressers as well as numerous members of my family and friends, so you could say there was no escaping it. My father owned multiple salons, one of which located a few blocks from where we lived in Connecticut was part of the fabric of the community. It was a source of great pride for our family. Hair, fashion and esthetics were a part of our everyday lives. Although I spent a lot of time in salons and helped out with many of the tasks, it wasn’t until a cousin entered beauty school that I became interested in it as a profession. Once in school I realized that my eye for beauty and detail along with my outgoing personality were well suited for it.
What’s your favorite Living proof. product and why?
full, hands down! When David, Living proof’s®. former VP of Hair Discovery, and I first began discussing alternatives to the typical resins found in volumizing and thickening products, we agreed that we needed something that was more flexible and resilient than what was currently on the market. When Living proof. created the molecule in full, it had that and much more. full adds amazing long-lasting touchable body while keeping the hair malleable and smooth.
One trade secret you would share:
When styling your hair, stand at least 4 ft from the mirror. Too many people get hung up in the details. think Monet – better from afar, as you should be going for balance of the overall shape of the hair not whether each piece is perfectly placed.
When not at the salon, is most likely found:
At the lab or home with the family.
Reviews:
“Very picky curly hair and people just suck at cutting it. Until I found Mitch, he’s amazing and grooms your hair to perfection every time.”
– Seana
“Mitch is a genius with cut color and style. His knowledge of hair and how it will react to certain products, styling and color is intuitive and uncommon among stylists in my opinion.”
– Wendi
“Red Carpet Hair worthy of any Hollywood premiere right here in Boston. No need to travel to LA or NYC anymore Mitchell John brings us the best of both coasts right to our doorstep! He is a phenomenon to be reckoned with! We love him!”
– Renee
“I think Mitch is terrific, and everything about the experience at MJS is professional and top-notch.”
– Stacey