Occupying a conspicuous space at a burgeoning enclave on 7th Street New York is a haven; one that claims to embody the dynamism and trail-blazing spirit of NYC’s East Village. Inside is a fine row of simple but elegant reclinable chairs facing large mirrors; a small reception by the door and several other sections for different hair care routines and processes. Lest we forget, this is the Rogue House, one of New York’s fast-rising hairstyling salons, engendered by passion and big dreams.
Before our visit, a random search on Google showed a 5-star rating by almost 200 reviewers. Driven by curiosity, we set out to find out what this new place offers that makes it unique. Next was a chat with the salon’s founder and master stylist Jamielynn De Leon after a brief tour of the small but well-optimized space in this boisterous NYC neighbourhood. Her charming smile, embracing personality and passionate disposition gave us a hint of the positive vibes the salon offers.
“I come from a Filipino background. My mother was a single parent and she had to work about three jobs at a time just to see that her kids get the best life possible and have a good future. There was no room for dormancy or failure in my home. So, even if I didn’t get to be an athlete or turn out to be a nurse or lawyer like a traditional Filipino family would want, I got the education I needed and pursued my passion for hairstyling diligently”, she begins.
The hairstyling industry, especially in New York, is a pretty competitive one. It takes guts to dive in and fight for a place. However, with preparation and hard work, any player has a fighting chance. But more importantly, are the main ingredients of knowledge and experience. Getting a cosmetology license in high school was a good move, but it was her practical involvement in the industry that truly prepared her for the journey. Her time with some of the best-known hair stylists in the city gave her an edge.
“I moved to New York from LA after I graduated college and, disregarding the expectations of Asian families, I took up an opportunity to work with the renowned Ted Gibson. Then I moved to downtown startup Birds and Fellas where I helped them grow their numbers and clientele, before serving as the first manager of Fox and Jane, another growing salon in the city”, she says. While at Fox and Jane, she would go on to set up an organisational structure that has become the blueprint for the company’s different locations throughout New York’s metropolitan area.
Those years served as the pedestal on which she stood and the motivation to set up her own place. Rogue House was born and Jamielynn speaks glowingly of the support she received from clients and colleagues. Her experiences in the past also gave her an idea of what was missing and how hairstyling could be done better. “My mission was to provide a positive environment where hair stylists and clients are free to express themselves and everyone is excited about the results”, she says.
Rogue House is hoping that three key elements will set them apart in the industry; serving as a place where you’ll find the hair stylist you can trust, pay the right amount for a hairdo, and where modern technology will take center stage. So far, the outfit seems to be doing well for itself. As Jamielynn says, it’s beyond just beauty as every hairstylist needs to understand the business part of the industry- something she intends to propagate in the near future.
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