Meet Jamie Hollis

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jamie Hollis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jamie, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

Experience! I’ve been through a number of things in my life that should have broken me beyond repair. There have been several times where I truly believed I was irreparable. I also understood that I write my own book, that I alone decide. No one is coming to save me, to rewrite a chapter or two for me. I could easily succumb or I can decide to kintsugi myself back to life and little by little I found resilience and realized how truly capable I am. Hard times give incredible perspective and education. And I don’t just do it for my current self, I do it for the little girl I used to be. We need to pay attention to and take care of our younger selves, they’re still in there and they still need us. Life is strange and brutal and confusing but it is also so beautiful and I refuse to sink. So, deep breath, chin up, eyes forward. I can do hard things.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Twenty-three years of hairdressing is a lot to cover! I can proudly say I’ve created some incredible opportunities for myself over years, although it never quite feels like enough. I’ve always had such a drive to see more, do more, be better- not just for myself but the people I surround myself with. That’s a tough mindset to sit in but it keeps me humble and shoves me into uncharted realms constantly and I’m grateful for it.

This is a fantastic industry and it’s taken me all over the world, I think 15 countries and counting. The work I do when I travel is something I am especially proud of. Working backstage at Milan Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week countless times has kept me sharp, grounded and connected me with some of the greatest minds in the our industry. One of the most interesting misconceptions about this world is that it’s superficial, and that could not be further from the truth! Each runway or presentation show brings together some of the most creative humans, all with their own vision, working their asses off together to bring a physical and emotional world to life. It is a beautiful thing to watch.

Connections I’ve made through NYFW especially have given me the chance to work endless hair shows, editorial photo and video shoots and turned industry greats into very dear friends for life. One particular hair show I take great pride in is called NOISE. We put on NOISE in some of the most amazing cities around the world, there is nothing out there quite like it. Think loud, underground, aggressive, no-holds-barred creativity. No boring talking or lectures, no product pushing or sales pitches, just raw, unadulterated creation without rules. Each group chosen to present has 15 minutes of freedom on stage to do anything they want. The visions that come to life in that environment light a fire in every soul and it is such an honor to be a part of it. Its my favorite thing we do despite it being the most, by far, grueling and difficult thing. I can’t begin to describe the level of that work goes into each show, the hours are mind-numbing, the scars are plentiful and the repeated urges to give up are numerous. Not once has the reward of pushing through and pulling off each show not been worth the blood, sweat and tears it took. Being pushed to my edge makes me feel alive and I wouldn’t turn it down for anything. This year we’ll be in Taipei, Taiwan, Shanghai, China and Sydney, Australia.

As much as I love that aspect of what I do, I’d be remiss to not make clear how much being behind the chair with my clients on a daily basis means to me. They are everything. Their loyalty, support and patience with my schedule are priceless. They keep my feet on the ground and I am so grateful for every single one of them. Through good times we’ve celebrated together and through some of my worst times they’ve held me up. I owe them everything, they make it all possible.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Curiosity is number one for me. It’s everything. Textbook memorization means absolutely nothing without curiosity, digging deeper and asking questions. Read everything you can get your hands on, start with Beautiful Anarchy by David duChemin. Be brave enough to ask the questions others are thinking but won’t ask. On every project before you, crack every angle wide open and don’t be paralyzed with the false notion of perfection. Stay porous and stay curious.

Find your people! I can’t stress this enough. Cast your net as far and wide as possible, absorb as many experiences and personalities as you can and I promise you it will become clear as day who your people are. You will feel it when that work flow clicks into place. Choose the ones that elevate you, that push you and support you. Once you do, provide them as much value, in all forms, as you can muster. It’s irreplaceable.

Constantly check yourself. Check your bravery, your skin’s thickness, your work ethic, who you actually are vs who you think you are or who you’d like to be. Life is tough and not everyone has time for your feelings, know exactly who you are and become unshakable. Once you trust yourself on that level you can take the biggest of leaps without crumbling and it won’t matter when you land on your face a few times. Its the only way to find your capabilities.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

In life, my father, immediately and unequivocally. The man embodied acceptance, love, forgiveness, knowledge, hard work and generosity. I owe him for all the good that I am. The universe took him from me last year and I haven’t quite figured out how to do life without him, I only know that he’d want me to keep pushing and remember to be still and go fishing once in awhile.

In our industry, I have to give absolute credit to two very special people; Peter Gray and Matthew Curtis. Individually, they have given me the strength, education, support and courage to navigate my own journey. They began as mentors to me and quickly progressed to family, I couldn’t begin to express how much they each mean to me. Because they trusted and believed in me, I’ve accomplished things I’d have never thought possible. My debt to them is great.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ovosalon.com/pages/Jamie-Lee-Hollis
• Instagram: @jl_hollis @halascreative @roadtoaurora

Image Credits

Carley Brumbelow
Saeho Kim
Leah Evans
Codey Vargas