Get That Life: How I Became a Celebrity Hairstylist
Jen Atkin grew up in a small, religious community, moved out to L.A. at 19, and started her career answering phones at a hair salon. Today Atkin is one of the most in-demand celebrity hairstylists in the world, with a client list that includes Jessica Alba, Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, Sophia Vergara, and the Kardashians. In 2014, she launched Mane Addicts, which quickly became a destination site for all things hair - articles, reviews, how-to videos, and a directory of the best stylists in any city - and in February, Atkin launched her latest venture, Ouai Haircare, which offers subscription services à la The Honest Company and is now available in Sephora.
Atkin shares how she balances working at three salons - in three cities - a roster of in-demand celebrity clients, running two businesses, and spending her days with Khloé Kardashian.
I grew up in a Mormon community in Oahu, Hawaii, and by the time I was in high school, we were living in St. George, Utah. I was the only one [in my community] obsessed with pop culture from a very young age. I loved movies, and Paula Abdul was a god to me. I loved the idea of dress-up and changing my appearance and playing characters. I would only watch movies if there was a shopping montage or a makeover. In high school, I started cutting my own hair, which led to cutting my friends' hair. That's when it clicked for me that I wanted to be a stylist. I wanted to be a part of the glamorous and fun world I saw in George Michael and Madonna videos.
My parents' plan was for me to marry my high school boyfriend and have babies. I didn't know any girls from my high school who were going to college. I felt this need to go and pursue what I wanted to do. A friend and I packed up our Honda Civic hatchback and moved to L.A. in 2000. It was amazing just to get out of Utah. It was very Romy and Michele. My parents were supportive, but I think they just wanted it to scare us enough to come home. We had $300, and we did not know one person. I took clerical, front-office jobs working for a music supervisor and an architect - anything to pay the bills - while I was looking for receptionist jobs at all the top salons.
After about six to eight months, I heard that the Estilo salon was looking for a receptionist [and got the job]. At the time, Estilo was the salon to be at. I met Jessica Alba, who got her hair colored there back when she was doing Dark Angel. I met [celebrity colorist] Tracey Cunningham, who would come in with Bette Midler. And I met Chris McMillan, who was probably the most famous stylist at the time.
A year and a half later, Estilo promoted me to manager. I learned the business of [being a stylist], how to run a salon, and how to deal with clients. It took me two to three years working as manager to save up enough to go to [beauty school at] Abram Friedman Occupational Center. While I was in school, I started working as an assistant to the stylists to get hours toward my [cosmetology] license. I worked in the salon, was a hostess at night, and went to school the rest of the time. I got my degree and license in about a year and a half.
About this time, Chris McMillan opened up his own salon in Beverly Hills, and I went to work with him as an assistant. One of the stylists, Andy Lecompte, was this star on the rise. He was this guy hanging out with Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan, living this fabulous life. But he was always so professional. I became a better stylist watching Andy. He also taught me about being a good person, working hard, and not being dramatic. Andy had just started doing Madonna's hair, and he asked me to assist him. Then he asked me to go on Madonna's "Confessions" tour with him in 2006. I never in a million years would have thought I could travel the world at 26 years old and someone else would pay for it.
When we got back, Chris gave me a chair at his salon, and I started building my own clients. You start as the person who gets there early and stays late. When Andy opened his own salon in 2008, I went with him and still work there to this day.
My first celebrity client was Minka Kelly, who I met through some friends. Then I started working on Amanda Bynes, Lindsay Lohan, and Nicole Richie. I spent two to three years working full-time in the salon and building [my private] celebrity clients in my off hours. I'd work eight hours, then do someone for a red carpet from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and almost always worked on my days off. This is what separates the people who can really make it and those who can't. You have to be available at all times and change plans at a moment's notice. All your friends are going out drinking or going to Cabo for vacation, and you have to have a lot of discipline and stay put and hustle. So much of it is word of mouth. If the right publicist comes and sits in your chair for a blowout and you get along, there's a client.
I had already established myself in the salon world, and I could have stopped there and been perfectly content. But I really want to work the shows at New York Fashion Week. [Jewelry designer and former client] Lorraine Schwartz introduced me to John Galliano, who at the time was the head of Dior. For two years, starting in 2008, I worked with Galliano and did hair for his shows in New York, Paris, and China. Since then I have been working stints in New York whenever I can. I thought it was important to be bicoastal. I had a lot of clients in L.A. who recommended their friends in New York to me.
I've been working at the Rita Hazan Salon in New York City for the past two years, and Belle Femme in Dubai for about three years now, and I still work out of Andy's salon in L.A. I'm in [each] salon in New York and L.A. every couple months. Working at the salon is something I haven't been able to let go of. I've known these clients for the last nine to 10 years, and sometimes they wait six months to get a haircut. The salon is [also] the best place for me to shape and grow my team of assistants.
I first met Kim Kardashian about five years ago through a bunch of different friends. Kim had seen some of the work I did with Sophia Vergara, and she asked me to do her hair for a cover of Cosmo in Miami. I was really excited to work with Kim because what a great head of hair. On set, I met Khloé [too], and she and I were joking the whole time. When she was getting ready to do X Factor, she wrote me the loveliest email that said, "I'm so nervous, can you come?" I've worked with her every day for the past four years. There were definitely people in my industry who were raising an eyebrow. They were like, "I can't believe you're working with the Kardashians." Now those same people email and say, "I'd love to work with the girls."
The success of hairstylists is 30 percent talent and the rest is our personality. We're in people's homes, in their face, starting the day off with them. We're in such an intimate position. We know everyone's secrets. If I were in their shoes, I'd want somebody who was trustworthy and somebody who had my back.
In 2013, I had an idea floating in my head to start a website that's just about hair. I wanted to do inspiration photos and have video tutorials of girls doing their own hair, real advice women could use at home, and a directory of stylists to give them a place to shine. Mane Addicts went online in 2014. I talked to Sophia Rossi from Hello Giggles, Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power from Who What Wear, and Jessica Alba. These girls helped me with templates, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and encouraged me every step of the way.
Running Mane Addicts helped me really connect with consumers and stylists. I wanted to do something that was a unique digital experience. I love technology and any app that helps make my life easier. Going to the store to buy products is so time-consuming. I learned so much watching Jessica Alba [run The Honest Company] and seeing people gravitate toward the idea of a home delivery service for a necessity. I put together a business plan with my ideas for Ouai Haircare. I detailed what I wanted the products to look like, what ingredients I wanted to use, and the concept of hair care supplements, which is what I feel was missing. I was lucky to find investors in people I already knew. The website and subscription service launched in February 2016, and the products are also available in Sephora.
No two days of mine are the same, but in general, I start the day at Khloé 's house or on set to do hair for Keeping Up With the Kardashians or Kocktails With Khloé. Then I run to other clients' houses for their haircuts, or events, or head to set for photo shoots with other clients. Then I work from my office in downtown L.A. taking meetings and calls, doing interviews, product testing, etc. I see clients at the salon all day usually once every three months.
My parents call me Beezy. I love being busy and doing things I'm passionate about, helping people, and I love doing hair. I got married. I'm juggling my businesses, working with my clients, and somehow I'll figure out how to work kids into the mix. It'll just have to be one more thing I do.
Get That Life is a weekly series that reveals how successful, talented, creative women got to where they are now. Check back each Monday for the latest interview.
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