Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Robinson.
Hi Jamie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started as an apprentice at Alchemy in Orlando in 2001 and worked for them over six years. I became a network educator for bumble and bumble through the salon and was also trained in the beginning stages if my Loctician career. Back then, the method was not very good for dreadlocks styles. I was trained in Knotty boy a Canadian company. I always had a love for the look however it was a very small community at the time. I focused on education and editorial hair. Somehow I always found my way back to Dreadlocks since I truly admired the style/look and was determined to find a better way to create what I saw in European trends. I seemed to be the only one in my area at the time doing crochet work on locs and was still determined to find an educational path to prefect my craft.
After opening my salon years later in 2016 I became known for doing the Crochet Method for Locs along with specializing in Permanent Waves on brushable hair. After researching for sometime I had found a Company in Australia called WeirdSistas. Unfortunately they didn’t have the education I was looking for. Feeling down about it I continued to search the internet for education over seas. They I found Anne Marie the owner of Seienstyle! She answered ne right away! Even though it must have been very late in Sweden. I traveled to Bromma Sweden to study under her and took her course to become an affiliate. I truly feel so blessed to have meet her! Since then I have worked with other amazing Locticians in the constantly growing community. I know have a fantastic team that I am thankful for everyday! We have incredible clients that come from all over! The furthest stopped in from Australia! We are constantly changing and striving for the best education in Hair and hope to work more with the lgbtq community. We are venturing out with Wigs, more sythetic dreadlock extensions, vividcolors and editorial shoots. We are working on some big things in the coming year which we hope to announce shortly! Thank you so much for your interest and we look forward to making the world a much more beautiful place one hair at a time!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely! First I found that working with friends would be awesome however it was very hard to be taken seriously as a boss/mentor. Although I loved them all, it just wasn’t the right formula for my vision. After going through countless employees that were not trained in an apprenticeship by me it seemed to fail. Now we have a program in place that is most helpful with that my first true apprentice is a true product of that. She is my Super star! Taylor is my rockstar! I had other bumps in the road with money start ups since in did it all by my self in the beginning. Without financial backers I definitely was poor. I did preserve however! Another bump was getting the other side to my business. We took over the other half of the building after I became certified in microblading and we were also looking at a female tattooist and piercer. This all fell through after inspections and renovations the city of maitland told me they don’t allow it within their city limits and since we are on the borderline of winter park we couldn’t proceed due to our zip code. This was an extreme blow to my wallet and ego. Since then we have decided to make it a boutique and I am looking to operate as a microblader elsewhere.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I primarily do dreadlocks and dreadlock color, dreadlock extensions, synthetic extensions (most of which we make by hand in house both human hair and sythetic). I do lots of hair cutting as well. I love our salon because we have all walks of life! We have clients from age 3 to 70 and we pride ourselves on having a relaxed and creative environment. I do specialize in dreadlock creation, dreadlock maintenance, dreadlock extensions, dreadlock color including corrective color and synthetic dreadlocks. I am most proud of our photoshoots, my time working with the Ann Marie in Sweden and for a short time working with the Dreadlock Artist Collective. I think what sets us apart from others is the fact that we are in the Loctician community and we are not a sterile salon. We are colorful, relaxed, well educated in our craft and share the love or hair and just have fun with our clients.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
For those starting out all I can say is be humble. When you first get out of school you still need to do a great apprenticeship or find a mentor with the specialty you wish to conquer. You never stop learning. Education is power and it is definitely so important in this industry. Have fun! Without it it will be a long lonely road. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day it takes time to be a master at your craft. This industry is always changing whether it is a new trend or social media, stay true to what you love and the money and success will follow.
Much love,
Love , peace & hair grease
Contact Info:
- Email: Bookhairmaiden@gmail.com
- Website: Hairmaidenorlando.com
- Instagram: @hair.maiden
- Facebook: Hairmaidensalon
- Other: IG: @dreadshedorlando
- @dread.shed.boutique
- Tiktok: dreadshedorlando
- Pintrest: hairmaidensalon
Image Credits:
Ahvry Watkins photography
Taylor Broomell
Make up Jamie Robinson
Dreadlocks and Wigs Merri Barber, Vivid Color, Brittany Epping, Box Braids
Models Ian Wright, Marvin Hosea
