M+B Meets Jake Gallagher

M+B Meets Jake Gallagher

We always have a little fan girl moment in the office when we see one of our fave hairstylists have used Milk + Blush hair extensions on a shoot. Their work is so inspiring and it’s cool to see how many different looks they can create using our sets. In our new series M+B Meets … we’re going to be sitting these guys down to get all the behind the scenes tips and tricks that you can incorporate into your everyday routine. If it’s good enough for models and celebrities, then it’s good enough for us right? Today we’re chatting with Lily Allen’s go-to stylist Jake Gallagher whose cool, high fashion aesthetic means he’s always pushing boundaries. He’s worked on looks for the Tom Ford and Chanel catwalk shows along with editorials in Vogue and Wonderland so we’ll trust anything he has to say about hair. M+B: How did you get started in the industry? JG: I started out by assisting an amazing woman called Nina Butkovich-Budden who’s done hair for the likes of Lady Gaga and Pamela Anderson. This was my first introduction to being a session stylist and everything grew from there. M+B: Are there any pro tools in your kit that we could incorporate into our daily hair routines? JG: Olaplex! Of course. It’s amazing and the best at repairing damage after colouring. As for extensions my go-to product at the moment is something that not a lot of people know about. It’s a silicone mix treatment mask that you mainly find in Afro hair and beauty shops that’s super cheap and works wonders at reviving extensions after shoots. Just make sure you only use it on your extensions and not your actual hair as it’s way too heavy. M+B: What are your top tips for using M+B hair extensions? JG: A tip that I use for blunt cuts or short hair is to braid a section of hair at the nape of your neck and then clip the extensions over that. This stops you from getting that telltale line or the short pieces poking out underneath for a more seamless blend. M+B: If you don’t have a lot of time to style a client’s hair what’s your go to look? JG: My personal favourite is a low pony as you can dress it up or down and it’s really quick and easy. M+B: What do you think the biggest hair trends will be for the summer? JG: Definitely blunt bobs so if you’re not blessed with thick hair ask your stylist to cut your extensions down to the desired length to add loads of fullness. M+B: How do you prep for a photoshoot or red carpet? JG: When I’m preparing for any kind of shoot or red carpet event I tend to work closely with the stylist and makeup artist. It’s very much a collaborative thing and we pick each other’s brains to get the best possible outcome. A lot of the time you’re not always in direct contact with the client so it’s important to research them and see what their vibe is and what you can bring to the table.