Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bee. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Bee, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?

At my first salon job, I started while I was still in cosmetology school. So I was a “apprentice” , and had to essentially clean up the salon, shampoo guests while the stylists ate lunch, do laundry, you know. After I graduated, I was promised a growing career, and started taking guests one day a week until that day was booked out for a few weeks – and would continue to apprentice the other days until then. But the catch was, that they didn’t go into detail about, was that every guest I had come into my chair was going to have to be someone that I personally brought to the salon. I wasn’t allowed to take walk ins, or do clients that were already of the salon. So filling that day became virtually impossible as a young, just out of school, hair stylist.

On top of the stress of creating your own clientele, continuing your education, and not knowing what the hell you were doing in the first place being just out of school, I began to take on a “lead apprentice” role, Which was basically putting the job of telling the new apprentices the situation at hand on me. Looking back on it now, I understand how much I was being taken advantage of. But in the moment, I truly wanted to believe that this tiny salon in Indiana was going to take me to great places. Working 9-9, sometimes 7 days a week, so the stylists making 6 figures could eat lunch while I made $7.25 an hour. I lived this life for almost two years.

I was one of a few queer people that worked at the salon. There were two black workers that were at the front desk that both quit by the time I was to this realization. I had several conversations with the owner about how I “wasn’t living to my potential”, how I “wasn’t dressing as crazy as I should”. It took me almost two years to realize I was a token for this salon. They loved to say they were “inclusive”. I was a part of them being able to say that, simply because I was queer and worked there.

Honestly – it took for one of my boyfriends co workers getting killed by a police officer during the Black Lives Matter movement for me to start to open my eyes of the back handed compliments, racism and homophobia that was being expelled onto me.

I received a call after his death from one of the owners saying I “should really be careful with what I am saying on the internet” and that it could “deter people from wanting to be in my chair”. I had shared an article about his death on Facebook.

It took me a few months to leave still after that. But all of these things being mixed together – I knew I had to get out.

This salon experience gave me the unfortunate insight into the hatred and bigotry that still exists in the world, and the hair world specifically. They weren’t inclusive. They wanted to be trendy. And that realization really pushed me to find a salon that was going to truly accept me and push me to be my best, whatever that meant for me, not for them. As well as support me in vocalizing my beliefs. Because honestly, if you’re homophobic, racist, transphobic, or anything of the nature, I truly, do not want you in my chair. ❤️

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Hi! My name Is Bee, and I use they/them pronouns. I’m originally from Indiana but moved to Denver, Colorado in February of 2021. My main goal in being in the hair world is to make people feel as comfortable as they can in their own skin. One of my favorite things I offer is gender affirming haircuts and color. I also specialize in balayage, and crochet dreadlocks.

But what do I want you to know about me? Honestly? Really just that you are safe in my chair. You can come to me at any point in your life, and I’ll be ready to take you in and lend a ear to listen or just a friend to sit in silence with. And I really mean that from the bottom of my heart.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I have two that I get it all the time – “ so what is your full time job? What do you do to pay the bills? Why didn’t you quit when you were leaving your last salon and get a real job?” And also .. “so are you a boy or a girl? Yeah they/them, but which one? Well……

First off –

I do art. I am an artist, through and through. Art pays the bills.

And I understand that as someone that has never been an artist that it can be really hard to comprehend! But I always like to put it in the perspective of I don’t understand why the hell people become accountants. I hate math. But my dad is one! Everyone has a calling – whatever it may be.

Secondly –

I am neither. Always have been and never will be. Again, I understand that as someone that has never had to deal with coming out or being anything other than a cis man or woman – it’s a lot to understand! But really it’s as simple as I don’t question why you DONT use they/them. So why do we have to question when people do? ❤️

Have you ever had to pivot?

When I moved to Denver, 100%. My partner and I moved with less than two weeks notice. We had nothing planned. We got accepted to our apartment a few days before we left Indiana. Neither of us had jobs lined up. When I say we literally up and left – I mean it. But it’s been huge for me as an individual and an artist. I knew no one out here. I basically had to decide that if I didn’t find a salon I loved on the first try – I had to find a different job. Because I couldn’t afford to not have a job. I got really really freaking lucky finding my salon out here. And I think about it often, that if we hadn’t of up and left, I would be a completely different person than I am now. Because I would have an office job in Indiana. I can say with 98% certainty that I would strongly dislike my life if I had gone that route. I had to take the leap.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/chromatic.bee