Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Grover.
Hi Joseph, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started working in the beauty industry roughly 30 years ago. I was really young (16 to be exact ) and wide eyed when I got swept up in the exciting, creative energy of the mid-’80s and decided to put myself through cosmetology school. It was a vibrant era of change and expression and artists were pushing the boundaries of the music, art, and fashion scenes. It was a time to be bold and fearless, especially in the culture of hair and grooming, and I felt the pull- and like a magnet it drew me right in.
After studying cosmetology, I went right to work in hair salons. I swept floors, washed hair, folded towels, made sure everyone had their coffees and lunch,. whatever it took! At times I was a human hair clip. I knew I wanted to cut and style hair and send people out the door feeling beautiful and sexy. This is where you start, and even though I had a broom in my hand more often than scissors, I knew that day was on the horizon. It wasn’t overnight, but happily, I eventually got there.
I’ve worked hard in many salons and some barbershops since the 80s. I’ve worked in Boston, San Francisco, and now here in Los Angeles. All are very exciting and very different markets that symbolize the chapters of my career. And after three decades, I have a private studio at 8000 Sunset Blvd where I still sweep the floor, shampoo the clients, fold the towels, and all the rest. But I am (also) now the boss running the show, and that feels great. The beauty industry, and my little place in it, is still just as vibrant, magnetic, and rewarding to me today as it was in 1985. There’s just a lot more botanicals… and less Aqua Net!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would imagine that any road taken in pursuit of success and happiness is paved with its fair share of obstacles, but to be honest, my journey has been relatively straightforward. Sure, there were snags along the way, but there has also been growth and advancement, and I’ve been fortunate to work with talented people who’ve helped me improve as an artist as well as a business person. Without question, the pandemic was an enormous challenge. But thankfully, my business survived and is still in good shape. I basically had to go mobile when everything shut down. I loaded up my hatchback with my tools and sundries and went from backyard to backyard. It was a lot of exhausting work, but it was worth it! I’m very proud to have held on and made it through a time that crushed a lot of great businesses. My clientele means everything to me. I wouldn’t let anything jeopardize what I’ve worked very hard to build up.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
You could say I’m a one-man show. I have a micro-business that I built up over the past 30 years. Today I own and operate GROVER HAIR DESIGN LA, a small private hair studio in West Hollywood, but, as mentioned, started as an assistant and worked my way up from junior hairstylist to senior stylist until eventually stepping away from the chair to get experience in salon management. When I later got back into cutting and styling, I returned through the barbershop side of the business with an emphasis on men’s grooming. I’ve had my private studio for ten years now and run every aspect of the business myself. It can be alot at times, but it is also exciting to put to use the experiences of longevity, while also knowing there is still much to learn and accomplish.
Over the years, as I’ve matured, so has my clientele. Our lives have changed as we’ve settled down and built up our families and communities. My studio is very family-friendly. I do a lot of couples and their children and have given more “first haircuts” than I can count! Parents and grandparents come in, professionals and students, and people in all pockets of the entertainment industry. It’s really become quite generational over time, which is great because each demographic keeps me on my toes in particular ways. Obviously, my goal is to satisfy everyone who sits in the chair, but there is something uniquely gratifying about getting the thumbs up from a younger client. Anyone who sits in the booster seat and loves their hair when we’re done truly makes my day!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
It’s funny because there has been a pattern throughout my career of shifting gears every decade (or so). Although I’m happy and proud of where I find myself today, it does feel like a time for something new. About ten years ago, I started working with a great product line from Australia, KEVIN.MURPHY. Today, I retail the line exclusively and recently started using his hair color products, which I’m very happy with too.
Last year, I had the pleasure of getting involved in a side-hustle with another local entrepreneur who launched his own online shop called SPY SCHOOL. The owner wanted to create a scent to compliment its first collection, so together we created a beautiful custom candle which was sold on the site as well as in my salon. It was something neither of us had done before, and there were hiccups, but it turned out great and was a very popular item with our customers. Now we are gearing up to collaborate on a 2nd scent in the new year!
I’d love to get more involved in projects like that in the future. In fact, there is a plan that an investor and I developed back in 2019. Just as we were seeing it take shape and potential, covid struck. Luckily for us, we were at a place where we could put it on the back burner. But, last year, despite now living on opposite coasts, the investor and I reconnected and this could be the next chapter. It’s too soon to get into details about. But it would be a great excuse for me to swing by New York, see an old buddy, dust off our business plan, and if the time is right? This would be another chance for me to utilize my experiences to further build a business and a brand, and be fearless along the way! Stay tuned..
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.josephgrover.com/
- Instagram: grover_la
Image Credits
Eusebio Hernandez
