Meet the Stylist: Jen Cortez of Pink Grapefruit Creative Studio

Stylist: Jen Cortez

Salon Name: Pink Grapefruit Creative Studio

Salon City: Minneapolis

Hi Jen! Tell us a little about yourself. 

Hello! My name is Jen Cortez, and I own Pink Grapefruit Creative Studio in the Arts District of Northeast Minneapolis.

How long have you been doing hair and what made you decide to get into it?

I grew up in a fairly conservative small suburb of the Twin Cities, and began experimenting with my hair as a means of self expression when I was 14. It started with bleaching and dying the quintessential 90’s “Goth Money Piece” using Manic Panic Vampire Red. After Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn” music video inspired me to cut my hair short, I became fearless with coloring and cutting my own hair regularly. Not long after, my friends began asking me to do their hair, and I visited Sally Beauty Supply regularly for supplies. While attending an alternative learning high school, I was encouraged to seek Cosmetology training via a PSEO program- Post Secondary Enrollment Options. I was able to spend my senior year in Cosmetology school, and was licensed at 18. 23 years later I still love my career, and am fortunate to have had the privilege to start my profession without accruing financial debt.

What’s your favorite hair style or hair type to work with? What’s your specialty?

Curly hair is so magical to me. No two heads of curls are alike, and each client brings unique challenges and variety to my day that I don’t think I could find anywhere else. In 2004 I was exposed to the concept of cutting curly hair while dry in its natural state, and within a year I was on a path to being a curly hair specialist. I truly adore working with curls, and am passionate about stylists and salons educating themselves so that they can better serve their entire community. So many people with curls have felt like their hair was a burden either to themselves or their hairdresser, when we should be showing them how to work with their hair, not against it.

What’s your favorite non-hair part of the job?

Aside from creating beautiful shapes with hair, one of my favorite aspects of my job is how unique my clients are, the discussions we have, and the things I learn from them. I consider myself the “keeper of odd facts and random knowledge”, and much of my cache is filled due to my insatiable curiosity and my clients giving me nuggets of informational gold during appointments.

Do you have a salon ethos or philosophy when it comes to hair?

As a hairdresser and service provider, my values are simple: You shouldn’t have to feel compelled to conform to beauty standards. A hair appointment should feel uplifting, and is a collaboration with you to get the most out of your hair with your lifestyle in mind.

How and why did you decide to go low tox in your salon?

I started working with plant based/naturally derived products in 2011 when I opened my first salon. When I was younger, the driving force to seek out alternative products was reducing my exposure to “toxic chemicals”. 14 years later I know that not all synthetics are bad, and just because something is natural doesn’t mean it's safe. I am looking to sustainability in a holistic way when I’m looking at brands and products. What is the end life of the packaging? What are the ingredients, how are they harvested/created, what is the environmental impact? Does it perform well, and is the cost per use reasonable for the average curly client with shoulder length hair? This one is incredibly important- a brand could make the most environmentally responsible hair gel out there, but if the average client has to use 1/4th of the bottle to get results, is it going to align with their wallet and be a long term option?

What do you like to do when you’re living life outside of the salon?

When I’m not working with clients I’m keeping my hands busy as much as possible. I collect a lot of hobbies, and find myself rotating through them seasonally. Currently it's been a lot of reverse-engineering sewing. I don’t have a ton of patience for patterns, so I find something visually appealing, and just like breaking down a haircut reference picture, I try to break down how I think something could be constructed. Granted, this probably adds a lot of time to the project, but my brain appreciates the work! I also do punch needle, crochet, random crafting, and baking. Last summer my family bought an A-frame pop up camper, and between two road trips and a few quick weekends away, we’ve popped up in at least 15 places.

Name one thing currently keeping you inspired (can be anything!)

I get so much inspiration from my peers online, honestly! I know the internet can be such a curse, but I also get to see so much amazing and fascinating work from all corners of the globe. I also find so much inspiration and joy from watching my son discover his own personal style. I think because I grew up with so much judgement from others regarding how I expressed myself, it's been really cool to see how someone can shape themselves with full autonomy and positivity. When I do school pickup I find myself always taking note of the way kids are having their hair cut or colored, what kind of clothes they're wearing. I’ve been seeing a lot of references to Anime and Manga, and I love that.

Where can people connect or schedule? 

Salon Website: www.pinkgrapefruitcreativestudio.com 

Instagram:@jencortezhair