Jesse Gray- Hair Camp
Jesse started making hair better in the 8th grade (in basements and kitchens ). His serious passion for the hair industry began thanks to a good friend who shared his love of education within the industry with him. As an educator with Sebastian and Wella, Jesse loves that his job gives him the ability to teach excellence in all things hair, and also love people well. When Jesse isn’t teaching, he’s behind the chair at High Five Salonin Cincinnati, OH.
Summer Camp is the greatest place on Earth and we heard you got into some shenanigans there as a kid…
Yes. I went to one summer camp when I was about 9 years old. Our camp counselor cabin person who’s name was Don was hilarious and always pulling pranks on us while at camp. There was one night he was trying to get all of us to be quiet and go to sleep one night. We keep saying his name and asking for all kinds of silly things so we could stay up. He said if one person says my name one more time we would have some privileges taken away the next day, so I started singing ” Don Da da Don, da don Doooooon” he got up, left the cabin and said I can’t do this anymore. We were all laughing
Your Hair Journey in 3 sentences or less…
My journey started when I was in 8th grade when I decided to cut my own hair because I had long hair and wanted my own style, which continued until I was about 25. I met my now best friend and mentor Josh Wagner, who was cutting my wife’s hair and encouraged me to explore the hair industry as a career. I followed his advice and fell in love with the education aspect of the hair world and now I get to travel the US educating, sharing my passion for people and hair, as well as work with my clients behind the chair.
If you could go back and give yourself advice in cosmetology school, what would it be?
Trust the process of learning. There is an anticipation of wanting to be the best as soon as you pick up those scissors, which is a great feeling but you can sometimes miss the simple things. The greatness will come!
What are you seeing that is scary in the industry? How would you fix it?
The lack of education with clippers in cosmetology school and even after school. I say clippers and not just men’s hair because clippers can be a great tool for men’s and women’s styles. It blows my mind how many cosmetologist that have had their licenses for years that 1) have never used clippers or 2) just have no idea how to use them or are so uncomfortable with them they just put them down and give up the fact it’s an impossible tool to use. I want to help change that through my education throughout the US.
Why is education so important to you?
I love people. I love connecting with people and building relationships. I get to fulfill that need through education. People need to feel connected with others. They need and want feel confident behind the chair. Education fuels that confidence and connection!!
3 hairdressers dead or alive you would love to work with…
Vidal Sassoon
Martin Parsons
Omar Antonio and Anthony Cole ( I know it’s four but I would love to to just spend hours learning from these to special people)
Which educator are you most excited to see at Hair Camp?
I’m super pumped to connect with everyone, but I’m excited to meet Gerard Scarpaci and pick his brain about the hair industry! I’m a hair nerd like that and think it’s important to learn about the industry as a whole.
Tell us a bit about what you are going to be sharing/teaching at Hair Camp.
I will be teaching the Foundations of Fading. Merging the cosmetology and barber worlds together. I will be covering Consultation, Tools, Techniques, and Styling. It will be an up close and personal look into building confidence as a person and a stylist that can pick up a pair of clippers and have no fear, even if you are a seasoned stylist. They will learn the foundations, skills, and techniques to efficiently create smooth results that will spark creativity!
I knew I was a Hair Nerd when…
I was the only boy in 5th styling their own hair in school and when I saw Anthony Cole on stage in Tennessee cutting and styling hair!! Will never forget that moment!!
Where can people stalk you? Insta, etc. Upcoming classes, website…
The gram @jessegraystyle is the best place and I love stalking. My love language is words of affirmation so feel free to comment on all the beautiful pictures I post. It make my heart and soul feel good. Although I’m not good and accepting compliments in person. Haha
I will be teaching @hair.camp and reach out for classes for men’s and women’s cutting and styling for @sebastianprofessional and @sebman which is a new full line of men’s grooming products for the undefinable man, which includes the Foundations of Fading, building your confidence with clippers for any hair type!
You can purchase tickets for Hair Camp here.