Remembering The Life of Angus Mitchell
Honoring the Life of & Legacy of Angus Mitchell, Hairdresser & Co-Owner of John Paul Mitchell Systems
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Angus Mitchell, 54, the only son of Paul Mitchell, Co-Founder and namesake of Paul Mitchell (John Paul Mitchell Systems® – JPMS)—one of the most iconic professional haircare companies of all time. As the Co-Owner of JPMS, a philanthropist and celebrated hairdresser committed to bettering the professional beauty industry, he will be deeply missed.
Angus was born into the legacy of late, legendary hair stylist Paul Mitchell, who co-founded JPMS alongside his business partner John Paul DeJoria in 1980. As the son of the hair fashion icon, Angus’ unique upbringing in the hair industry exposed him to the same passion that inspired his father. Angus was born in New York but spent most of his school years in Hawaii, where he learned the family business by observing his father.
Educated at Vidal Sassoon, Angus combined their legendary precision technique he studied with the free creative expression John Paul Mitchell Systems® encouraged to craft his own signature style. He then began traveling the world on behalf of the brand, forging his own professional identity as a platform artist and educator, while also becoming the spokesperson for the men’s line MITCH®.
In a Paul Mitchell Schools “Plugged In” profile, Angus once said, “I am a cutter. I crave holding the scissors and comb in my hand to create a wicked cut that has shape and movement. We have all seen people walking down the street with hair that looks limp and/or stiff. My cuts are a function of architecture, meaning the form follows function.”
“My haircuts follow a structure to create a look that falls precisely on the head and still looks incredible as the head moves naturally,” Angus continued. “Each head is shaped a little differently so I take into account where the individual’s ears and eyes line up to create a cut that looks right for each person.”
The loss of his father inspired Angus’ philanthropic work with PanCAN, a foundation dedicated to advancing research, supporting patients and creating hope for anyone affected by pancreatic cancer. Angus was also an advocate for environmental research and preservation. In 2007, Angus generously donated a historic coastal property in Hawaii, valued at $6.5 million, to the Nature Conservancy, in hopes that Hawaiians will see it as a place of serenity where they can also walk in history. From there, he would continue his father’s legacy of sustainability and giving back through many efforts during his life.
We would like to share our heartfelt condolences to his incredibly close-knit family including his wife Mara, mother Jolina and his son Dylan. We would also like to send our love to his entire Paul Mitchell family at this time.
