Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Cunningham.
Jennifer, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I had a very clear picture kind of a premonition, to be honest somewhere around 5 years old, when I saw exactly what I wanted to do with my life. So, for me, doing hair and makeup is a calling – I’ve never imagined doing anything else. Southern California can sometimes be an image-is-everything kind of place, so growing up here, just outside the glamour, grit, and creativity of Los Angeles, probably fed my desire to be someone who might help create some of that glamour.
I’ve always been intrigued by the power of transformation and how people can transform themselves. I can remember how much I loved watching my mom – who always has a great haircut, by the way! – do her makeup and get dressed. I think my love of personal style as a form of self-expression began with her. She was a super smart, tough business woman who always looked great. Her presence commanded the attention of any room she walked into and she had the brains and personal integrity to match. I saw her style and beauty as power. Growing up, she always took me to cool hair salons and to her hair stylist to get my hair cut, and so in the salon, and early on, I found my people. I started working professionally in this industry when I was 17, and I’ve been working ever since.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think for any business owner, especially in a creative industry, there will always be challenges, so learning to be flexible and adaptable is essential. I spent a large part of my career working freelance with designers, celebrities, makeup and hair artists, photographers, and directors in both LA and NYC. I learned how to conquer – (or at least how to keep trying to conquer!) – my fears and insecurities when I was starting out around all this amazing talent; I learned how to hustle for the jobs I really wanted. I also learned very quickly how insanely good you must be to work on that level. It wasn’t easy. It still isn’t easy, but it is rewarding. The learning never stops, the techniques keep evolving, and you must keep pushing and pushing. Even “genius” work needs reinvention. But that’s also what I LOVE about this industry. That’s what gets me out of bed in the morning.
You must evolve with the ups and downs of the market, too, as well as all the changes that come along the way. We’re in a new time now, and personal technology has revolutionized the beauty industry. Sifting through the noise while still embracing social media is a constant balancing act, but in the end, I see all these new outlets as just more great ways to express yourself, promote your business and make connections with amazingly creative, talented and inspiring people. I embrace the challenge of presenting content that showcases how talented my team is and all the many skills we have. I’m learning how to do that with a fresh and creative voice that’s true to my vision. I love applying my experience of working in fashion/celebrity photography to that voice. Art meets Commerce, right?! That’s my vision, my goal.
And speaking of my team, that’s another new experience for me – I have the Gamine Beauty Team I’m responsible for now. But that also means I’m now part of something bigger, and I get to learn alongside these wonderful people. We all feed off each other’s creativity. I’m not hustling by myself anymore, I’m hustling with a crew, and I love it.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Gamine Beauty – what should we know?
At Gamine Beauty, it’s all about skill over hype. I was lucky enough to take over Gamine, a salon already known for beautiful cutting and coloring. The team I have now has just elevated that. It can be overwhelming to find quality people to take care of your look in a city like LA where there are so many options, so we truly value connecting with our clients, creating looks tailored exclusively to them and their lifestyle. We let our work speak for itself: we do great cuts that are unique to the person. Our staff is highly trained, so our cuts wear well, and you can live in them for a long time. We love seeing our guests as often as possible, of course, but it’s also cooling to see how awesome our cuts look even months and months later. We love doing color, and we have some of the best colorists in town, each with their own personal flair. Natural, dimensional blondes and brunettes, you-but-better color. Bold statement blondes and subtle pastels or rainbow hair that would classify as “unicorn-in hard”! We love it all. And, of course, because of my extensive background in makeup and fashion work, we have the capability to prep clients for a big awards night, or a wedding, or any other event, which we do all the time. Our Gamine Beauties get prepped at the salon or we go to them. Whatever the situation requires, we have the perfect team for it. Every guest is high profile to us and we give the same excellent service to every single guest we host. Skill over hype.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Staying flexible, staying creative, adapting to change. I think also keeping on top of trends, while also staying true to your personal artistic integrity and not changing on a dime because of some fad that will evaporate in a year. You really need an inner compass and you need to understand what works for your individual client, no matter the trends of the day. Embracing the drive to hone your craft and make something beautiful, and to keep looking for ways to do that for your clients – to keep it fresh. Find ways to help them express parts of themselves that they need a little help expressing. Also understanding that while we may not be doing brain surgery, the work we do really does have the ability to change a life, transform a person in the best way. Like I said, this is a Calling. The relationship we have with our guests is an intimate one by nature. We are with you in that moment of transformation. Sometimes these outward changes we make can be the catalyst to the best kinds of makeovers in their lives, inside and out.
I love seeing a client’s face in the moment when their hair is being finished, when they see it all come together. We get to make people feel fresh again – there is optimism in a new ‘do! People look in the mirror and see someone new or see a more confident version of themselves – a version with fabulous hair!.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2845 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, Ca. 90042 - Website: www.gaminebeauty.com
- Phone: 9175454744
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
salon shot: Steven Dewall
Action shot of Jennifer: Sean Armenta
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