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Arts & Entertainment

I Am Collingswood: Julie Jahn

Patch catches up with Julie Jahn of Bauhaus Salon to talk about beauty trends, "gently modernizing" clients and why South Jersey gets a bad style rap.

During her 11 years in the beauty business, stylist and makeup artist Julie Jahn has developed a devoted following. Patch sat down with Jahn at Bauhaus Salon to pick up some never-fail esthetic tips and find out why she loves what she does.

Patch: Tell me a little about why you entered this field.

Julie Jahn: I was at a crossroads in my life. I had just finished university and I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do. I knew that I wanted to work in a field that was flexible. I knew I still wanted a creative profession because I went to art school first.

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Patch: Who are your personal style icons?

Jahn: I'm drawn to anything that's considered to be more classic. I'm attracted to people like Marylin Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. I think the classics are where it's at!

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Patch: What are the most popular hair and makeup trends right now in Collingswood/South Jersey?

Jahn: I would say with color, because we're going into fall, people are asking for deeper tones. Warm browns, think of food: brownies, chocolate, coffee. And reds, a lot of reds.

I've been cutting a lot of hair off, too. There's been a lot of really clean, soft graphic lines. Like, good bobs with interesting shapes.

Patch: South Jersey gets a bad rap for having trashy style: big hair and garish makeup. Do you think there's any truth to that stereotype?

Jahn: No, I don't actually. I think that's way more South Philly and North Jersey than it is us! As a whole, I think some people are just stuck in things. It's kind of our job to bring them up to par with what is “in.” And it's a difficult subject to approach sometimes.

Sometimes people are not ready for a change. You really have to be careful and of course not offend anyone and do it the best way you can. You can talk about what you're doing and build trust with your client so that you can modernize them.

Patch: Give me two or three of your never-fail, universal beauty tips.

Jahn: Don't wash your hair every day. Let your natural oils build up in your hair. It's your natural conditioner. The second one would be for anyone that uses makeup to use a primer. Always moisturize and always prime. Primer gives you the best base for anything that you're going to put on your skin after: foundation, powder, whatever. And a third thing, be true to yourself in your fashion. If you feel like you look good, know you look good. Don't question yourself.

Patch: Has somebody ever asked you to do something with their hair or make-up that you refused to do because you knew it would look bad?

Jahn: Yes. I won't damage people's hair, that's really important to me, to keep the integrity of the hair shaft in tact. And the other thing that I won't do is a smoky eye for brides. It's just tacky and it's not soft enough. You don't look as beautiful as you can.

Patch: What part of this profession is most gratifying for you?

Jahn: Honestly, one of the most gratifying things is when people are donating hair. They really get a good idea in their minds as to what they want to do and, in turn, they seem to be a lot more open to making a huge change. Helping someone else, I think, naturally makes a person feel great, so they're going to like the result more in the end.

We usually put it in a pony tail, and then we cut it off. You need at least 8 inches to donate to Pantene and the hair goes directly to patients with cancer.

Patch: You have a very distinctive, edgy personal style. Do you also encourage your clients to push the envelope with their style choices?

Jahn: Not necessarily. It's a personality thing, you have to be able to really read someone. Not to say that I wouldn't push people, but I know who I can and cannot push. I honestly think that sometimes I might make people nervous because of the way that I look, clearly. But in all honesty, I'm probably one of the most conservative hair people in this salon!

Patch: Can you tell me about what it's like working at Bauhaus? What is the overall attitude or spirit of the place?

Jahn: I think that everyone here is extremely creative. Everyone tries to think outside of the box. I don't think this is the kind of place where you could get stuck in a rut. I think this salon is hip, creative, fun, modern, but without being too intense.

Patch: How does what you do change people beyond their appearance?

Jahn: You're dealing with their emotions and their overall well-being. Sometimes small changes can be very dramatic for people and that can make them feel a whole lot better about themselves.

To learn more about Julie's work, visit her site and view her makeup porfolio.

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