Irish-born John Barrett is currently New York's most successful and high-profile hairdresser, with his own 9,000 square feet salon for the past year in the penthouse of the Bergdorf Goodman department store on Fifth Avenue. Responsible for actress Jennifer Aniston's "Rachel" crop, he has also cut the hair of her fellow cast members Courtney Cox and Lisa Kudrow, as well as Bette Midler, Juliette Binoche, Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson. On a flying visit through Dublin, he found time to answer a dozen questions from Robert O'Byrne.
Where are you from originally?
I was born in Ardagh, Co Limerick and moved to London when I was 14. I'm 40 now.
How did you end up in the United States?
Courtesy of a green card lottery five years ago; before that I'd been working in London. Although I was successful there, I'd always felt more of an affinity with the States and really wanted to move. I went to New York reasonably cold, so it was a great stroke of luck getting a job with Frederic Fekkai who is such a big hairdressing star.
How does it feel now to be as big a celebrity as some of your clients?
In the States it's hugely important but for me it's relatively new too. A few weeks ago I went to a party given by Glenda Bailey (editor of American Marie Claire) where there were all these photographers and as I went by, one of them shouted "Look, there's John Barrett" and they all rushed forward which was just hysterical. It's a baptism of fire because I need to develop my persona and I have to be careful what I say as people take notice.
Are you fed up hearing the name Jennifer Aniston?
Totally sick. The extraordinary thing is that all my stars must have been in conjunction at once. I was asked to go to Los Angeles to work on Friends and around the same time I was offered my own salon in New York. The two things kind of rowed off each other.
How much do you charge?
US$250 for an appointment with me.
How far in advance is it necessary to book an appointment with you?
About six weeks.
So how soon do you launch your own line of hair products?
Actually there is a line in the future. At this moment, it's not something I can talk about.
Who cuts your own hair?
I've two people in my own salon who can do it. I'm totally open to taking advice. I'm also very relaxed about the whole thing; I generally sit down and fall asleep.
Would you ever consider coming back to Ireland?
The reason I'm in the country is because I have been invited to judge a fashion show in Limerick. I'm really proud and thrilled to do it because when I was growing up there were really no opportunities like that. But to be honest, I've now travelled so much, while I can envisage having a house here at some stage, I don't see myself becoming a permanent resident. I still come back every year to see my mother in Co Limerick.
What do you think is the biggest mistake women make with their hair?
An awful lot of women take a picture into a hairdresser and say "I want to look like that". If you're good, you'll talk through the style first and say what is possible. The other major faux pas is people who change their hair colour dramatically. That may be okay if you are 17 or 18, but otherwise I really think subtlety can be a lot more effective.
What is the number one style at the moment?
Looking at the collections, I found it refreshing there's not so much craziness at the moment but a lot more realism. Hair is off the face in a very simple way. My whole motto is that hair plays the B-role: your face is the major thing. When I meet a client, I see her best feature and try to work from that. My other motto is that if it takes more than 10 minutes in the morning to do your hair, then you've really got a problem.
Again, keep it simple. I'm also thrilled curls are coming back.
How do you see your future developing?
I've been approached about possibly opening salons elsewhere in America and in London. What's going to determine whether I'm a flash-in-the-pan or a long-term player is how I run my present business. So, it's important to get the salon in New York running perfectly and then I will consider other things.