Interview: Addicted To Style At Janine Jarman's Gothic-Victorian Hairroin Salon

Salon owner, style maven, and semi finalist on Bravo's "Shear Genius," Janine Jarman is an interesting gal in an interesting place doing interesting things. We chatted with the petite powerhouse at her Cahuenga Corridor headquarters, Hairroin Salon and emailed some questions back and forth. Here's what's up with Janine...

Q) How long have you lived in Los Angeles and how do you incorporate the city's constant reinvention with your skills of personal reinvention?

I have lived in LA for close to 6 years now. It really is great being in a big city with tons of inspirational outlets. Museums, the Huntington, great restaurants, wonderful art shows, and ever-evolving music scene. It is a perfect inspiration paradise.

Q) The internets tell us you're an avid traveler. When you're home in Los Angeles, where do you like to be? Local haunts? Favorite parts of the city? Late night taco truck? Secret hiking trail?

I travel to NY for work quite often, but if I'm traveling for fun, up the coast to San Luis Obisbo on the back of my husband's motorcycle is a favorite of mine. I also love Palm Springs. As for locally, a friend of mine took me to a natural waterfall and swimming hole hike out in Altadena and I love the Grilled Gheese Truck and Cool Haus ice cream truck (I had them at my wedding). Favorite food spot on the downtown tip (where I reside) is Wurstkuche sausage kitchen.

Q) In the spirit of Halloween, tell us your favorite hair tragedy horror story. Also tell us about the amazing Halloween touches around the salon. You have bottle of children's tears. Nice one.

Hair horror would be beauty school when I was doing a highlight and the foils puffed up (due to a metallic residue from a previous at home color job). It got super hot, the bleach was dripping everywhere and her hair turned green. Nutso!!! Needless to say I always ask what they have done to their hair previously. As for Halloween at Hairroin, it's one of our favorite holidays and we like it creepy. The displays were inspired from a Martha Stewart magazine (who is my fav celeb and idol). I love neon and apothecary type things.

Q) Hollywood's Cahuenga Corridor has a vital and vibrant history -- how is it being part of the newest wave of revitalization?

Over the last 5 years Cahuenga has changed in front of my eyes. Urban Outfitters in the plaza across from us, as well as countless yummy eating and drinking spots. Im so happy to be nestled in this little Hollywood gem.

Q) Is there a sense of camaraderie and collaboration with neighboring businesses or is it more of competitive as traffic grows?

We independent spots stick together. We do tons of local outreach with the Los Angeles Youth Network. We have done events with What Comes Around Goes Around, K24, and are having our 5th birthday party at The Colony night club just walking distance from the salon.

Q) What are you thoughts on reality TV?

Well it's just that... part reality... part TV. So don't believe everything you see, and remember much of it is edited to be interesting.

Q) Did competing in Shear Genius affect your professional or personal life in a measurable way?

It was great for business and freelance jobs. It gave both my salon and myself a recognition factor in the industry.

Q) How did you come to buy the salon and what is it like to be a female business owner in Los Angeles?

I was working at the previous salon when it went under. I scraped together my savings, got the name from a friend, crossed my fingers, and got busy building the Hairroin brand founded on the idea of a "un-salon" environment. We have and exceptionally talented staff, no attitudes, and the client is #1. So un-LA. :)

Q) Do you have any advice for ballsy entrepreneurs thinking about living the dream in a questionable economy?

Yes. Have a clear vision of what you want your business to be and what you want to be about. The culture of the business is everything and it is how you hire and fire staff. Also, great customer service and excellent product will always set you apart. Stay true to you and your brand and expand as your business allows. Also, have business mentors and successful like-minded businesses that you follow and use as direction and influence.

Q) What's your best trick for calming people down when they get nervous about changing their appearance?

I make sure it's a change the client agrees to and we use lots of picture references. I also make sure to show them how to style it and other style tricks to do with it.

Q) You have a tremendous sense of style and a solid aesthetic in dress and decor . Who were your fashion and design idols growing up and who do you look to for inspiration today?

My dad is a big one; he is an amazing interior decorator and craftsman so a lot of the salon look was inspired and made by him. My friends are huge soruce of inspiration as well. I try to surround my self with interesting things and people.

Q) You are in demand by both civilians and celebrities. You work at the salon, at the theater, behind camera, on the red carpet, print work, commercial shoots, and film, and television. And you just got married (MAZEL TOV!). Um, how do you do all that? And how do you stay so nice in light of massive sleep deprivation (I'm assuming you never sleep)?

I have a ton of help, a lot of energy, and get to do my favorite things every day. My salon team and Heather my manager are the best. They help keep the 100 plates spinning and approach everything with the same intensity and passion as I do. I truly am blessed to have such rad talented people that are as crazy about Hairroin and hair as I am. My husband is also a huge supporter and a major driving force for our blogs, Facebook and much of the web content you see. It's easy to be a workaholic when you do what you love.