Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamara Perry.
Tamara, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve always been drawn to hair design.
When I was 11, my family moved from Los Angeles to Copenhagen, DK. I was energized by all the Danish punks and hairdo’s. It was a pivotal time for me, I chopped my hair off, bleached it and discovered rock and roll.
As a young adult, I had taken an interest in pursuing hair professionally.
I applied for an assistant job at Gamine Salon in Silverlake around 2007. I assisted the owner, Julie Rosenberg and her team of stylists. I’d never seen anybody cut hair like Rosenberg. I was completely in awe.
She became a mentor to me, as did Ezra Black, a seasoned hairstylist at Gamine. They passed their knowledge down to me.
Through an apprenticeship, I learned the Vidal Sassoon approach to hairstyling; a refined and geometric way of cutting hair. I can’t express enough how vastly different this was from my rebellious nature.
Looking back, I can say this experience grounded me, I had to be disciplined and consistent.
Enter Vanessa McGrath. We met at Gamine. She was head colorist with past experience at John Freida & Sally Hershberger. Vanessa colored hair in such a precise way with effortless results. I assisted her and the crew for 2 years and then began taking clients of my own. I was yearning for more. I wanted to work for myself. I wanted to create a universe. After 8 years of working with Vanessa, we opened our salon in 2014.
We envisioned a space where we could bridge hair and other creative outlets.
We surrounded ourselves with hairstylists possessing likeminded sensibilities.
We opened up shop in Frog Town, a small community alongside the LA River.
We’ve been tremendously supported by the neighborhood and can’t thank our clients enough for the loyalty.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Vanessa and I know our strengths & weaknesses so naturally, we split the salon operational duties.
A valuable lesson I’ve learned is that if I don’t know how to do something, hire somebody who does! Like a bookkeeper! I know hair and I’m pretty good at it. I’m still learning the ropes of owning a business. But some things, you must leave to the pros… like BANGS, PEOPLE. Haha!
It’s been a smooth road for the most part.
We get to be creative all day. We laugh a lot and teach each other a lot.
We have a strong team of hairdressers who support one another.
Hairdressing is physically demanding. You have to be “ON” all of the time.
I joke it’s like speed dating, in terms of the number of people you see and meet in one day.
The social aspect is very cool, I’ve made close friends along the way.
For people who are starting their journey, the worst case scenario is not trying.
It’s worse to stay put. If you go for something and it doesn’t pan out, switch gears and try something else.
But staying at a job where you’re unhappy is worse than the unknown.
The unknown can feel scary but it’s worth it.
What should we know about Perry McGrath Salon? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We specialize in precision and textured haircuts. We offer classic and modern hair-color services. We accommodate men and women, in fact, we have a pretty solid male clientele. Every few months, we host pop-ups which feature various artists, designers, and jewelers. It’s a total blast opening the space to different mediums of art, other than hair. This is something I’m really passionate about.
I’m most proud of pulling this off, and I’m proud of Vanessa! We had no idea how to start a business or if we would be any good at it. The skill level of everybody is through the roof. I learn an insane amount of techniques watching the other hairstylists work. I’m proud of them too.
We hear over and over that the energy of the studio is nice and welcoming, that never gets old.
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
The reality is women have always been at a disadvantage, especially women of color.
Most industries are male-dominated, even hairdressing.
I take pride in being in a position where I can employ, pay and treat people equally.
There are endless opportunities for us women, we just have to work harder for them.
If you’re reading this and feel discouraged to start your own business or go after something, take the leap.
In the current political climate, there is no room to stay put. You have a voice and may be surprised at the number of supporters behind you.
I do believe there was a particular woman who was well positioned to be the president of the United States of America but in the end, a man got the job. We have a long way to go, but I can feel the shift.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2019 Riverside Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90039 - Website: https://www.perrymcgrathsalon.com
- Phone: (323) 913-5942
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perrymcgrathsalon/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Perry-Mcgrath-Salon-311488162340417/
Image Credit:
Jessie Cowan
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