She’s all that. Jenny Cho is a Hollywood hairstylist whose client roster runs deep with A-listers like Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer Lawrence, ScarJo, and Gen-Z powerhouse Addison Rae. But in between cover shoots, she’s calling her own shots as a collaborator with R+Co, developing products for waves, curls, and anyone with SJP-like locks.

Here, Jenny tells us how she made it to top chair, how she’s helping Addison Rae bring back the ‘90s, and the best way to give feedback without getting fired.

Beauty is a field where you really have to hustle to make it. How did you advance your career without feeling like you were going to blow up at any minute?
I think it was a blessing, to be honest. I got into this industry at a time when there was no social media. It was just me doing me. You just saw your mentors and people above you that inspired you… In my time, I did whatever was thrown to me because I didn’t know anything. You would do anything for free just to get anything done. I wasn’t hustling because I was comparing myself to others. I was competitive with myself. I saw what I wanted and I thought, “Okay, if I just carve something for myself and I just stay true to myself.”… I knew what I loved, and I know what the feelings are when I do something on a client that makes me feel aligned.

When working with brands, how do you point out gaps in their products or campaigns without souring the relationship?
The collaboration between R+Co and I came from mutual admiration. It never felt like one had more than the other. Our aesthetics were very similar and we have mutual respect and understanding of that. I never came into this collaboration thinking I didn’t have a place. They wanted my opinion and it was very clear, so it was a perfect match made in heaven for us.

After giving feedback, how did you go from, “How about this?” to, “Here it is.”
When I had a conversation with the President of Luxury Brand, Dan, he asked me, “Hey, Jenny, are there any products out there that you would love to create?” I said, “Well, I have a couple of ideas I would love to see, and literally I said the name velvet.” I wanted something that felt like velvet, that had a low glow, that was a refresher for wavier hair. That was for me. Dan said, “Oh, that’s interesting. I’m gonna send you these 2 products that were just coming out of testing, and I want you to be brutally honest.” I saw friends here and there who had different textures throughout the year—wavy hair, straight hair, short hair. I used it on everyone for a few months and fell in love with both of the testers. That’s how it came to be.

What kinds of products do you think we need more of?
At a time like the pandemic, I wanted to create products that were for everyone. Maybe you’re Zooming at home, or you need to get rid of bedhead, to refresh your curls, or to redefine… For me, I don’t want to overuse products. I think everybody wants to narrow down their routine of hair, skin, all that stuff. If something works, that works, but I understand that sometimes certain hair textures need layered products to get what we want. That was really important for me, to make sure the products we create were very simple and easy to understand.

When working with a celebrity like Addison Rae, how do you maintain their signature look while also making sure your expertise and elevation are really seen?
It’s a fine dance. Sometimes when you work with a new talent—and then someone who’s definitely a younger generation—I get what they’re channeling. I see it, and if that aligns with me, then I work with them. If I don’t see an opportunity, [or if] they’re not open to it, then there’s nothing I could do. But I understand this generation. They love the ‘90s and I find it really fun and interesting that we’re going back to this place. But at the same time, I’m super into Addison’s hair! She sometimes wants to do something fun, like, “Hey, let’s put a feather in my hair. Let’s do this. This is really happening. I want to bring it back.” She knows her aesthetics, and what she does and shares with everyone that follows her could make a huge impact on what is trending. I’m so happy to be a part of it.

On social media, we’re seeing this wet, slick look takeover. What do you think we need to teach ourselves or brush up on for fall?
For that trend, there are ways to make it fun depending on where you’re going and what the setting is. When you’re on a vacation, you [can push your hair] back into a little knot, or just let it go and let it air dry naturally, or put it into a braid. You could definitely do that and have fun with it. You could use gems or a Hawaiian flower or leaves [to] make it part of your setting.