Jonathan Colombini On Wearing His Pride And His Undying Love For The ‘90s

You likely know Jonathan Colombini through his work with countless celebrities or through his multimedia site showcasing the red carpet and editorial looks he’s created. If you're one of his 154K Instagram followers then you also know that he’s an entrepreneur, a family man, an advocate for women, and proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community. The L’Oréal Paris celebrity hairstylist and colorist can trace his love for hair back to his early interactions with the brand; sitting in his grandmother’s bathroom watching her style her own hair. One day she handed him a brush and a can of L’Oréal Paris Elnett Hairspray and encouraged him to try. It was destiny for him to change women’s lives and also be part of a company that continues to champion their worth every day.

“This year marks 21 years that I have been living as an openly gay man, 20 of those years have been as a hairstylist,” he wrote in a recent Instagram post. “The amount of support, acceptance, love and pride that I have been shown within my #lgbt and beauty industry communities would be unmeasurable.”

And the positive influence that Colombini has had on those same communities is just as immense. He shared with us his thoughts about the idea of “wearing” pride, the advice he would give his younger self, and why the ‘90s—a decade when being out wasn’t always met with acceptance and love—will always have a special place in his heart.

Beauty Magazine (BM): What was the most unexpected reaction you received when you came out to different people in your life?

Jonathan Colombini (JC): Finally!...I think everyone else knew before I did.

BM: We see a lot of rainbow flag homages around this time but what is your go-to beauty look that you put on when you want to show off your pride?

JC: For me, pride comes from within. It’s not an accessory you take off or put on. For me it’s a part of my soul and a piece I always want to represent and also share.

BM: When was the first time you saw yourself reflected in pop culture and what effect did that have on you and your career development?

JC: It’s interesting now that I am at an age to start seeing trends of pop culture come back. I was born in the ‘80s growing up in the ‘90s. For me music is and will always be powerful. When you hear “that song” you instantly remember exactly where you were when you heard it for the first time and usually what your style at the time was. I am thrilled to see the ‘90s surface in such an influential way. I could do a bedraggled and slightly scruff Kurt Cobain haircut or a polished one length bob and bangs Uma Thurman pulled [off] in Pulp Fiction. It would be a huge misstep for me to not pay attention to the current pop culture but more importantly the past trends that impact the present.

BM: What would you tell your younger self about individuality?

JC: Continue being you! The world would be so boring if we all were the same.

BM: Can you come up with a cool saying or tagline that would describe who you are and what being queer means to you?

JC: Trust the Process, nothing happens overnight—nor do we want it to!

This Pride month, L’Oréal Paris will be running a series of Q&A interviews with ambassadors from the brand, sharing their personal stories of identity and how they celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

Next: Val Weisler Talks Representation, Coming Out And Her Go-To Makeup To Show Her Pride

Photo Courtesy of L’Oréal Paris