“I am always trying to learn and grow and expand my skill set in new directions to help me push the boundaries of what I can create with hair.”
Kirsten Klontz is a session hair stylist and Hot Tools® Professional Ambassador who specializes in fashion,
advertising and celebrity styles. She often collaborates with notable Canadian designers,
brands and television talents, contributing to magazine editorials internationally for two decades.
With a hair school background and her roots in Edmonton she seeked out workshops and
advanced training to expand her knowledge. Her career pivot point was when she became a
Network Educator for Bumble and Bumble which brought her to New York to train and assist
with several of the best teams in the world. Klontz worked with James Pecis, Laurent Philippon,
Malcolm Edwards, Duffy and many more developing techniques and skills from a vast array of
top artists. Her style is influenced by traditional French techniques that help create her
expressive yet clean concepts.
What is the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?
That’s really tough to say. It’s been important to me to connect with all of my work. My first
Vogue shoot was a really special day for me. Another favourite was a Canada Goose campaign
that was shot in Iqaluit in the Northwest Territories, that gave me the opportunity to meet the
local community and experience the landscape in a way that was really meaningful for me. I’ve
also got another special project being released later this year that really enabled me to push
myself artistically. I’m really looking forward to seeing it.
Do you have a career turning point or big break that has helped your career?
It’s kind of funny. When I was younger I used to think, “if ‘X’ happened it would change my life”…
Then it happened and life seemed the same. So I set a new goal, and then it happened too and
life still seemed the same. I’ve realized that it’s very rare that you have one big momentous
thing that helps your career. One door opening undoubtedly helps open another door, but
building a career is an ongoing and ever-evolving process, and ideally you create a series of
defining moments rather than one big break.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in the business?
Education always has to come first. Focus on your skills, learn as much as you can, because
you can’t fake having great technical abilities, people will see through that immediately. Beyond
that, your kit is so important, make sure that you have all the right tools for all hair types. It’s
important to recognise that the tools you work with are a representation of what you are able to
achieve. Changes often happen on set so you need to think fast and have a full range of tools
to be able to accommodate. Also be present, have fun and take risks!
What are your favourite Hot Tools® Professional Styling Tools?
All of them are amazing. My most used tools are the Hot Tools® Professional Black Gold 1.25 inch Curling Iron
and my Hot Tools® Professional Black Gold Evolve Flat Iron. When I first started travelling for work, I was so impressed by the durability of the Hot Tools® Professional line. On my first Vogue shoot I used my Hot Tools® Professional curling iron with an adapter, they worked brilliantly and ever since then I’ve known that I can depend on them. I rely on Hot Tools® Professional for all my high pressure jobs, they have always given me the gorgeous results that I need on set. There’s always something magical when you see lots of movement and glossy waves on camera.
What new innovative tools can we look forward to from Hot Tools® Professional?
Everyone needs to check out the Detachable Blowout Brush. It has a smaller head that is great
for a lot of different uses. It’s amazing for shorter hair lengths if you need to smooth out that
bob, but it also gives you that extra bounce for longer lengths. It’s great in the salon too, the
detachable head makes it extra easy to clean between clients. Everyone that I’ve
recommended it to loves it, because it allows you to create that perfect blowout at home, which
is great for an effortless, everyday hairstyle that everyone wants.
What is next for your career goals?
I’ve been working on TV and film sets more recently. It’s been a lot of fun and is a new
experience that I would love to continue exploring. I have a few other things in the works too,
but you’ll have to stay tuned for those!
What were the scariest and the proudest moments of your career?
My scariest moment was when I decided to move to Dubai to focus on my freelance work. I
sold everything I owned and got on a plane with one suitcase of clothes and two suitcases full of
hair tools and products. It was very much a leap of faith. I was confident enough in my skill set
and portfolio that I would find the people who would take a chance working with me. One of my
proudest moments was keying all the Fashion ReSet shows in Toronto. It was really validating
to be back in Canada, working with all the Canadian designers. I had an incredible team of
people around me, all proud to be contributing to those shows.
What is the first creative project that you remember?
I believe it was model testing with Mode Models in the very early days of my career. The new
faces would come in and I would collaborate with a makeup artist to create three different looks
to help demonstrate range and variability in each model’s portfolio. Being able to play and see
the different transformations that were possible with a single person was quite fascinating to
watch and come alive on camera. It was a fun opportunity to see how far you could push your
skills, and it was one of the earliest experiences that made me appreciate hair as a creative art
form.
Where to find Kirsten:
Agency Website: P1M
Kirsten’s Instagram: @kirstenklontz
Photography of Kirsten: George Pimentel
Some details about the new detachable brush from Hot Tools:
(1) Hot Tools® Professional, the gold standard for hair stylists, introduces the New Black Gold
One-Step Detachable Blowout. Two brush sizes, the regular size head and a smaller brush and
dryer in one to achieve effortless, salon worthy blowouts on-the-go, in one easy step.
(2) The proprietary, premium Black Gold styling surface is hotter, faster, and beyond powerful.
(3) Perfected with Micro-Shine finish to minimize friction and help reduce damage for
healthier-looking hair.
(4) Direct ION Technology works to smooth over frizz as you work the tool through your hair
leaving behind silky, shiny strands.
(5) Your favorite at-home professional salon blowout tool on-the-go.