David John came to hair by an unusual route. A Wisconsin native, he served in the U.S. Army as a Russian linguist before deciding that styling was far more compelling than spying. He trained at the Vidal Sassoon Academy in Santa Monica, and that foundation in precision cutting launched a career at some of Los Angeles’s most celebrated salons, including Fred Segal Beauty in Santa Monica and Serge Normant at John Frieda in West Hollywood.

He is also a painter, and it shows in his color: an instinct for light, depth and tone that turns into sun-kissed blondes, rich brunettes and reds with real dimension. His cutting is equally considered: shapes that suit the hair you have and fall into place without a fight.

Today David works by appointment from his private studio at Salon Republic in Beverly Hills, where every client gets his full attention from consultation to finish.