There’s no stronger bond than that of a woman and her hairstylist. For proof, look no further than the dynamic duo that is Hayley Williams and Brian O’Connor. Williams, the fierce frontwoman of the Grammy-award-winning band Paramore, is known for her powerhouse vocals, vibrant stage presence, and signature bold hair colors and cuts. O’Connor is a 20-year cosmetology vet who has worked with the likes of Sheryl Crow, Fall Out Boy, and even Vice President Al Gore.
The two met in 2006 when Williams went to have her hair done by then-up-and-coming stylist O’Connor. At the time Paramore hadn’t yet become global superstars, so when Williams stepped into the Pink Mullet in Franklin to see a rising apprentice, he had no clue who she was professionally.
“Hayley and Paramore weren’t what they are today. She was like, ‘I do music. I’m in a band.’ I was like, ‘OK, so does everybody in this town.’ And then I was quickly choking down those words,” he laughs.
“He had done my hair a couple of times and we really connected. I loved
