Ageism In Beauty

I was contacted recently by the Hollywood Reporter, who asked some fellow colorists and I about our thoughts on the recent chatter regarding 46 year old Alexandra Grant and her glorious hair. Of course, I had to ramble about a few other things that were bothering me about this topic. 

I recently had a new client disclose that the reason she booked an appointment with me was that she knew she would be safe and be seen in my chair, because she saw other women her age reflected on our Instagram page. It was feedback that made me exhale, because, as a colorist who is also a woman of color, I know what it feels like to feel invisible and erased. I also recently read a New York Times interview with Katie Couric on ageism that stated the alarming statistic that only 15 percent of all images in media are of people over the age of 50. That number gets smaller when we focus on only women. And it gets downright abysmal when we focus on women of color.

Myka and I have been so buried with getting this business off the ground that our posting in general has fallen off big time. So here are just a few recent clients that have visited us at the atelier. These women’s titles range from- in no particular order- playwright, actress, writer, producer, mother (most of them!), renowned photographer, business owner, novelist, show creator, show runner, celebrity stylist, Vice President, talent manager and film and television executive. Like Myka and I, they just happen to be all over the age of 40. Some incorporate their gray when I color, some don’t. One doesn’t touch it at all. The point is, they’re all freaking fabulous, and they do what makes them feel good while they go out and run the world. So let’s not pretend they don’t exist ok? Cool. Next subject;)

All styling by Hector Garcia and color by Kadi.