Jill Engelsen, Senior Hairstylist + L’Oréal Professionnel Artist
Jill is currently an Independent Senior Stylist @hawthornestudiony in NYC. She has twelve+ years of behind-the-chair experience with nine those years in NYC (3 years at Ted Gibson Salon, 6 at Butterfly Studio by Kattia Solano and currently at HAWTHORNE Studio by Garrett Bryant) and the previous four years at Bella Salon & Spa back home in Minneapolis. During that time she had been approached to become an educator for L’Oreal Professionnel based on her passion for elevating the industry by her belief that sharing leads to success.
During her 7 years as an artist for LP she has flown across the country sharing her knowledge with top salons, taught at our NYC and Newport Beach Academies, and has been a platform artist at Intercoiffure in Boca Raton, FL.
Jill’s talent is in her bloodline having a mother who was an extremely accomplished hairstylist, salon owner, competitor, competition judge and the Styles Director of the NCA of MN circa 1960-1996. Jill’s first platform experience was at the age of 5 when her mother prepped her to do an up-do on stage in a competition in front of 500 people with herself wearing a killer beehive of her own. That was her ‘normal’ childhood.
Since moving to NYC she has be involved in numerous fashion weeks working with designers Lela Rose, Carmen Marc Valvo, Rachel Roy, Pamela Rolland, Rachel Zoe, Rodarte and Kelly Faetanini for bridal fashion week. On top of that she has been a regular behind the scenes doing makeover after makeover on the Rachel Ray Show representing Ted Gibson.
Celebrities she has worked with include Gabrielle Union, Elizabeth Banks, Reeve Carney, Gabrielle Sidibe, Kathy Najimi, Kate Gosselin, Rebecca Minkoff, Luann de Lesseps, Gretta Monahan as well as many bloggers and TV personalities.
In Jill’s Words
Your Instagram Handle: @JILLtheHAIRexpert
What do you love about working in the beauty industry?
I love that I get to work one on one with my clients and help bring out who they feel they are on the inside to the outside! It doesn’t get any more beautiful than that.
What’s your aesthetic?
My aesthetic is undone cool girl hair.
What kind of look are you known for?
Creating movement in the hair! I’m obsessed with making my clients hair work for them and not against them! That usually means creating some kind of movement in their hair using techniques I have learned and mastered over the past 10 years in my career! I am passionate about creating effortless looking styles that has heads turning to check them out.
What do you like to do when you’re not doing hair?
I’m obsessed with nature and the beach! I feel there in nothing more powerful than Mother Nature and connecting with people in an authentic nature away from it all! I love to explore neighborhoods, travel all over the world, experience new cultures and create art with my hands from painting to collecting rocks to polish to jewelry making using metal work. #beachbum
What’s your most embarrassing hair moment from the past?
When I was 5, my hairstylist mother made me do hair on stage for a competition. I was terrified of the people but also a bit embarrassed of the 1 foot beehive that was on my head!
Jill honed her skills at Ted Gibson eventually earning accolades for her expertise in these media outlets:
