I Flew to NYC for an Appointment With Margot Robbie's Hair Colourist—Here's What Happened

"I think I just want what Margot has—like this," I say into the salon mirror as I hold my phone up behind my head to showcase my blonde-hair inspiration picture. It's an uncharacteristically hot and sunny Friday morning in the midst of New York Fashion Week, and I'm sat in Jenna Perry Hair Studio (New York's coolest, most in-demand salon), showing hair colourist, Jacob Schwartz, a picture of his own celebrity client as a reference point.

In my line of work, as a beauty director, it's considered somewhat of a faux pas to talk to an expert about a celebrity client, let alone ask them to recreate their signature look. But I've spent years trying to achieve Margot Robbie's laid-back, California-cool, lived-in, worn blonde, and this is my one opportunity to have her actual hair colourist do my own colour. So, yeah, I'll suck up my pride for that.

You might be wondering how I ended up in this situation, and trust me, it's something I've asked myself a fair few times, too. But it all started with an email. I was flying out to New York for a tour of the Olaplex labs. (FYI, I was the first journalist to ever set foot in the brand's top-secret labs, but I'll save that story for another day—I'm just bragging now.) And, a few days before I was due to fly, I received an email from the brand. They asked if I fancied a hair appointment while I was out there. I needed a colour refresh, I thought—sure, I'll have a quick hair gloss treatment or something similarly low-key.

And then the confirmation came through that my colour appointment would actually be with Olaplex ambassador, Jacob Schwartz. And if you're not clued up on who exactly Jacob Schwartz is and the sort of work he does, let me enlighten you.

Schwartz is, usually, based in L.A., and he is the man behind pretty much every major celebrity hair colour trend that I have in my Saved folder: Daisy Edgar Jones's rich chocolate hues, Bella Hadid's honeyed blonde transformation, Lily Collins's dark suede bob and, of course, Margot Robbie's cool-girl blonde. And given my track record of trying to mimic Margot's blonde on my own lengths, it's safe to say I was already somewhat of a Schwartz fan.

So, when I learned he would be in New York to hang out with me for dinner and then do my colour the next morning, I left my inhibitions on the tarmac at Heathrow Terminal 5 and boarded a flight to JFK, with my phone storage full of Margot Robbie inspiration pics. Playing it cool was simply not on my agenda.

And so, given that I appreciate just how spoilt I am, I thought I'd share my experience with you all, so that you too know exactly what to ask for at the salon to achieve Margot Robbie's iconic blonde hair. You can thank me later.