News - Hair Industry Mourns Joshua Galvin

Text by Jamie Harrison // Published Friday 6 May 2011

MyHairDressers.com sends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Industry legend Joshua Galvin who lost his battle against cancer on the 27th April 2011. Tributes flooded across the web from leading hair industry figures as news of his death spread around the hairdressing world. 

The news was reported on the Joshua Galvin Central Academy website, with a tribute from Martin Kolton, Chairman of the Central Training Group, "I had the pleasure to first meet Joshua when he had a salon in the West End. Aware of his passion for education, his creative ability and knowledge of the industry, together we opened The Joshua Galvin Hairdressing Academy back in 1986. True to his love of education, Joshua would regularly visit the students at the academy delivering motivational speeches. He never forgot a face and would speak sincerely to them leaving the students and academy staff on a’ high’. He was an inspiration and a fantastic mentor. I speak on behalf of the Joshua Galvin Academy & Central Training Group, when I say he will be deeply missed and never forgotten for his pioneering work, enthusiasm, optimism and great sense of humour."

Joshua was the founder of the British Hairdressing Awards and worked for over 58 years as both a hairdresser and educator. He was pivotal in developing the Vidal Sassoon look of the 1960's including the famous geometric shapes that became the company's trademark and shaping the longer men's hairstyles that were so evocative of the period. His celebrity clients through the years include Judy Garland and Julie Andrews, Michael Caine and Terence Stamp. In 1967 he opened the Vidal Sassoon School in Knightsbridge that sparked a revolution in hairdressing education that still lasts today. His passion for education continued with the opening of his own school, the Joshua Galvin Academy, in association with Central Training.

Among his many awards, Joshua was the first to win the prestigious Fellowship for British Hairdressing Gold Award in 2006 and he was respected for his dedication to the Fellowship and to Alternative Hair, of which he was Honorary President.

MyHairDressers.com contributor Tim Hartley told the HJI, "Joshua to me was a real pioneer of modern British Hairdressing and an icon in the true meaning of the word. I will miss his wicked sense of humour and his legendary stories of the early Vidal Sassoon years. More than this, his star quality, integrity and talent will remain in our hearts forever." 

Vidal Sassoon said, "Joshua Galvin was the very best manager that I had the honor of working with, and one of the best men I have known.  His experience was invaluable to the growth of the Vidal Sassoon Company and his loyalty and graciousness was admired by all.  We have lost a very special human being, but his influence will always be with us. I loved him dearly." 

Founder of Alternative Hair, Tony Rizzo paid tribute on the Alternative Hair website, "Joshua was a giant amongst his peers; someone who was passionate about his craft, something that was visible in every part of his career. We have fond memories of Joshua's achievements spanning 29 years of`dedication to Alternative Hair since its inception. Relentlessly his support every year assisted change for children and helped the organisation raise over £8 Million for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. Our condolences to his family and all that were close to him. I will miss our respected colleague and dear friend very much; God Bless."

Joshua's brother, the renowned colourist, Daniel Galvin OBE said, "Joshua was my guiding light in my early career, and it was on his advice that I made the decision to specialise in hair colour, so in that respect, and a great many others - I owe to him all my achievements in this industry. His passion and dedication to our craft was remarkable. He also had that very rare knack of truly getting the best out of people. He was immensely proud of the British hairdressing industry, and surely no one worked harder in flying the flag for British hairdressing. He loved teaching and would always make time to talk to any young hairdresser, giving them his wisdom and knowledge. I don't think anyone could have had more friends in this industry, or touched more hearts. He could walk into any hair salon, in any major city anywhere in the world and know someone! 

As a brother he was always a pillar of strength. I will think of him every single day and will never stop missing him. He had kindest and most enormous heart, he is truly irreplaceable as an industry icon and as a brother." 

MyHairdressers.com's Stacey Broughton told us,"Joshua was inspirational to many people and was a huge influence to so many within the hair industry. As an educator he did so much to raise the standard of hairdressing not just in the UK but around the world. He was a true pioneer of our craft and will be sorely missed."