Brad Johns, Celebrity Colorist Known for 'Chunking,' Dies at 70

Brad Johns, the renowned colorist famed for creating the 'chunking' technique, passed away last week at his Los Angeles residence at the age of 70. His impactful collaborations included models and actresses like Christy Turlington, Kate Moss, and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. Vogue revisited its July 1995 feature on Johns, titled 'The Color Czar,' penned by Vanessa Friedman, which chronicled his journey from a Pittsburgh housing project to becoming a leading figure in hair coloring. Johns began experimenting with hair on troll dolls as a child, later styling his mother and sister, Shari, before leaving New York University for beauty school. In 1973, he became a colorist and later joined Oribe Salon as chief colorist. His innovative chunking method, inspired by a childhood memory of his mother, gained widespread recognition when he and Turlington introduced it in 1990. Known for his distinctive views, he often dismissed shades like Nancy Reagan blonde and beige, working at a rapid pace of 30 to 40 clients daily, four days a week, for ten months each year. His clientele included Claudia Schiffer, Meghan Douglas, Jon Bon Jovi, Brooke Shields, Tatum O'Neal, and Ivana Trump. His guiding principle was, "My mission on this planet is to make people's hair look good."