Remembering a Legend

Honouring the life and legacy of renowned hairstylist Jon Paul Holt.

Award-winning hairstylist and salon owner Jon Paul Holt passed away on May 8, 2023, at the age of 73.

Born and raised in northwest England, Holt apprenticed at Peter Collinge, a luxury salon in Liverpool, where he was trained by John Miller. It’s also where Holt met his wife, Julie, whom he married in 1969 (they share three children, Chanel, Spencer and Oliver).

The following year, Holt opened his first salon, Alan Paul, at age 19 with late business partner Alan Moss. They expanded to 10 locations, and the salon went on to become the largest salon chain in England. It was also the first salon group to be listed on the London Stock Exchange!

Holt moved to Canada in the early 1980s and opened his salon, Avant Garde Hair Studio, in Vancouver with his former business partner, Phillip Wilson. In 1991, Holt relocated the salon to Yaletown, where it became known as an award-winning salon that garnered national and international recognition.

Throughout his 50-plus-year career, Holt enjoyed working behind the chair on a regular basis and participating in national and international award competitions. His work has been featured in numerous publications around the world. He also took great pride in mentoring his staff, which has included Contessa award-winners and finalists.

In addition to his work in hairstyling, Holt was passionate about philanthropy. He has helped raise and donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to charitable causes that support children and women, such as the BC Children’s Hospital Cancer Research, Children’s Pediatric HIV research and BC Women’s Breast Cancer Research.

Holt will be remembered as an inspiration and a mentor to so many in the industry, not only across Canada but also around the world.

1970

Opened

1981

Moved to Canada

1983

1991

Relocated Avant Garde Hair Studio to Yaletown

1998

He was one of a kind. The end of an era.

32 years I knew you for. I met you when I worked for Goldwell. You approached me after a show and told me you thought I was one of the most interesting and talented young colourists you’d ever seen onstage. That enormous compliment coming from a man of such greatness meant the world to me. You were always so complimentary, inspired and inspiring. It has been a pleasure to have known you. You will be missed dearly.

You were my idol, my mentor, my inspiration. You were everything I wanted to be in life. You were passionate and hard-working, creative and so loving. You were the only opinion I ever trusted. I’ve hung to every piece of advice you’ve ever given me. You were my #1 supporter by far. I’ve never met anyone who’s ever been so genuinely supportive of my goals and dreams. All you ever wanted for me was to succeed and prove the world wrong. I’m so glad I got to spend the last seven years working next to you. Travelling to London with you and seeing our work onstage. Creating beautiful art, movies and collections with you. You were an award-winning hairstylist and a lifetime achievement award winner. An absolute legend in our industry all over the world. I will continue to work hard and make sure I do my best to continue the legacy of Avant Garde. It’s impossible to fill your shoes but I will take every piece of advice you ever gave me and do my best to be even half the person you were.

He was a legend, a mentor, a father, a grandfather, a husband and not to mention a huge influence on myself as well as most of the Canadian hairdressing industry. He will be greatly missed.

Jon Paul Holt is the most important person in the history of the hair industry in Vancouver. I feel he was the glue that held it all together, just a wonderful, nice, giving man with nothing but time for everyone.

I used to watch his videos and try to do work like him in hair school in the early ’90s. I remember the first time I actually met him. It was at the lab and we were both picking up our slides for our Contessa entries. I was unknown and he showed me his collection and looked at my mediocre work and was nothing but complimentary.

I love J.P. and I hope to one day be able to contribute in any way the way he has to our industry.

I’m still trying to process that the phenomenon known as Jon Paul Holt will no longer be calling about a project, a lunch, a charity event or meeting up at a hair show somewhere around the globe. The man who sponsored me into Canada and lived for the industry and his family with equal passion has gone. Watch out heaven, you have one hell of a guest joining you

40 years ago, this man’s desire for his craft made me want to be better, made me want to discover what I was capable of.

Up until then, hair was something I was good at. The work of this incredible man made me realize that it wasn’t just about making the client feel better. His passion showed me that this medium could make those around you want to be better, too.

Throughout the years, his words of encouragement meant everything to me and played a huge part in my ongoing evolution.

I will miss his laugh. I will miss his smile. But his dedication to our craft and inspiring the ones who come after us is what I will miss the most. The ones you embraced will ensure that your legacy lives on forever, my friend.

Thank you for everything you did for my life.

Rest in peace my dear friend