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

Demi, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

My hair studio, as well as my business, is named Talking Hairs. This is a loving namesake after the post-punk band, Talking Heads. They have been my favorite band since I was a small child. My parents both listened to them, and their music, along with the solo work of David Byrne and Jerry Harrison, was a soundtrack to my upbringing.

I chose this name because it represents one of my favorite special interests as an autistic adult. The band’s frontman, David Byrne is proudly Autistic, which added even more meaning to the name. I was diagnosed with Autism at age 25, and suddenly their music meant so much more to me. I have made many friends through this fandom, and I admin a Facebook fan group of 15k people!

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.

My name is Demi Rivera! I’m a Cosmetologist from Colorado, and I own and operate a private hairstyling business in Denver, that caters to neurodivergent adults, as well as the LGBTQIA+ community. I have been doing hair for about ten years now, and I started in the Cosmetology industry after I watched my grandmother do hair professionally my whole life. Makeup, hair and combining art with beauty has been my greatest special interest and passion in life.

I was 25 when I was diagnosed with Autism by a team of neuropsychologists in Denver. I had already been doing hair for about six years at this point. I was very unhappy working in a full-size salon setting with groups, noise and lots of bright lights. I wanted to work more privately and quietly, focusing on one client at a time. It was shortly after I moved out on my own, that I began to build a large following of neurodivergent and queer adults and youth.

Many parts of the salon experience are not sensory friendly, and many professionals are not Autism aware or knowledgable. These issues also apply to other neurodivergencies such as OCD, Schizophrenia, ADHD, Panic disorders, BPD and others. I wanted to create a space that I would want if I were a client searching for a peaceful, and sensory-friendly experience.

I specialize in all types of haircutting, and vivid/creative colors. I also do tape-in extensions, special occasion styling, makeup tutorials, professional detangling and more. Currently, I am known widely in the Denver area for my specialty in Alternative haircutting styles such as mullets, shags, pixies, jellyfish cuts and more. I was trained by the Aveda Institute and Sassoon education, which gives my love for spa-like hair services some advantage. I am certified in Aromology, and I offer quick, 15-minute massages for the neck and scalp area. I use Amika products at the studio, but I can suggest products for my clients from most brands.

I have the shampoo area light filtered for brightness, fidget toys and earplugs available, as well as a weighted haircutting shoulder pad I like to use. The private environment gives my client, and myself the ability to focus on our experience, and giving them a comfortable experience. Often times, my clients and I have a lot in common, and we have fun conversation. I also offer silent appointments by request, which simply means we can enjoy the silence while I do the service.

The lived experience I have as an Autistic and Queer adult, gives me an advantage to serve my clients in the ways we actually need to be supported. I understand what they go through, and the pain and discomforts they can feel, because I feel the same way. Getting my hair done as a child was a painful sensory ordeal. I also offer haircutting services to Autistic children and teens, I ask that their parents reach out to me ahead of time so we can tailor the experience to them.

My clients mean the world to me. Knowing that I can give them sensory comfort with their hair, and give other disabled folks the information and independence to do their own hair, is incredibly fulfilling. I love what I do, and how I give back to my communities, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

I want to provide services for my community, and eventually I’d like to provide education and classes to other salons and professionals.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

The amount of bullying, outcasting and othering that Autistics face in their lifetime is enough to drive someone into isolation. Whether its at school, in jobs, in our families or even our friend groups. We tend to be targeted by people who wish to take advantage of us, harm us, take from us or use us. Because of our honest natures and good hearts, we are often susceptible to these things.

I have faces many forms of these forces against me throughout life. Primarily during beauty school and high school. I was bullied a lot. For being the quiet one, for having ‘strange’ hair, makeup and clothing. I thought outside of the box in a suburb where most everyone wanted to look the same. I didn’t often have a lot of friends in high school, I kept to myself, and often spent most of my free time in the Art and Photography rooms,

Since then, I have allowed myself to be the weird, shiny and bright person I have always meant to be. My clients, and current friends prefer me to be myself anyway. It took years to figure this out, but as I did, I became much happier, and let the haters bother me less and less.

Being weird is cool. Don’t let the haters be mean to you, or try to change your self worth.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

For me, word of mouth is extremely valuable. People want to trust that their friends, partners, coworkers and family have had good experiences with a business, and that their recommendation has personal meaning behind it.

It means the world to me when a client sends me a friend, their partner, coworkers, kids, or parents. It makes me feel that much more special, that they would want their loved ones to have an experience they had. I have found that this method has been extremely helpful in growing my clientele base.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Has also been incredibly helpful. We all google things, and having specific google keywords can match you as a business. For example, when people google “Denver Mullets”, I’m one of the first results on google.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/talking_hairs
• Instagram: @talking_hairs
• Facebook: Facebook.com/talkinghairs
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demi-rivera-1201b812a/
• Other: Google Profile https://goo.gl/maps/WCh8J6uH1uF9CscA9

Image Credits
Photography Credit: Demi Rivera