Name: Paul Gerard Blakes
Profession: hair stylist/barber
Company: Steele salon/ Steele Barber ( Tangletown/ Roosevelt)
Location: Seattle, WA
How did you get started working in this industry?
I started as a makeup artist and doing wigs at a very early age and decided to go to cosmetology in 2012 after a series of health issues. To be honest, my health had caused my depression to intensify and eventually, I made the decision to change what I could to change my mindset.
What evolution within your work have you seen that makes you excited to see more?
The biggest evolution I have seen is that with Covid 19 making it harder for people to get their hair done there has been a shift in my female presenting guest going Grey and natural, and my male presenting guest letting their hair grow longer and realizing that they have really good hair and that there are many styles between a fade and long hair. It’s really awesome to see people enjoy the hair styles that they didn’t ever imagine having.
What role has the LGBTQ+ community had on your work?
Honestly, there are so many creative, stylish and different representations in our community i love to just watch people and get inspired. But the biggest role they have played is opening my mind to accepting that gender is really not important, feeling confident and having a safe place to go and know that they are seen and respected in my chair. I love the growth and education I have received from my community by being willing to be open and hearing their concerns and past experiences of not feeling cared for or heard when they are trying to participate in their self-care.
What advice do you have for our community to utilize what you do even more?
When you are using Google to find reference pictures, be specific about the type of hair or body you have so that your stylist can get you closer to your dream look and be open to compromise so that they can personalize your look.
Who or what inspires you?
I am inspired by my coworkers and their skill and talents. I work with some of the very best in the business and we work as a team, they are always willing to stop and explain or share their knowledge. I learn from them daily and they always encourage me and challenge me to stretch my skills and be better.
When it comes to the entire beauty/fashion/etc. industry, where would you advise someone to start who has never really focused on it before for themselves?
I always suggest that they start by being willing to try on even the things they would never wear, the worse that can happen is that it may look bad, but the best that can happen is you discover that you can wear things you never imagined. The next thing is to take care of your skin, cleanse, hydrate and protect it. Keep it simple at first and build on your skin care.
What is a must-do or a must-have that you think everyone should do/have?
Sunscreen even in Seattle on the cloudy days.
Do you have any simple steps or things that you can recommend for people to do that they can implement into their routines?
Sleep, hydrate, and start small, but caring for your self is not frivolous it’s a simple way to pamper yourself on a daily basis.
What is your biggest mistake (Beauty/fashion-wise), and how did you learn from it?
Worrying about what size I wear, it’s not important, what is important is making sure that everything fits right, no matter what size you wear. Also waiting to buy clothes until I hit my goal weight until I buy new clothes. When you are on a weight loss journey, start to slowly buy items that fit and remove the clothes that are too big, or you won’t see your weight loss, you will continue to see yourself bigger than you are.
