Meet Henry Graham III | Hairstylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Henry Graham III and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Henry, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
My success is directly supported by the people that trust my craft and allow me to create something specifically for them. I am beyond thankful everyday to create functional, wearable hair for the person who sits in my chair. I’m not just cutting hair that photographs well, but hair that works with them, for their specific texture, and their individual lifestyle. I can honestly say, being fully present and listening to the person who shows up for me, and being consistent in that practice, is a huge reason I’ve had continued success. ‘My brand’, is all about my clients. Making sure that they are heard, and that the process feels like a collaboration, instead of me just giving them a haircut.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a hairstylist that creates for the individual in my chair. This means I approach hair in a way that customizes a cut specifically for them by creating the desired shape, and then adjusting it to perform the way that best suits them and their unique hair and physical characteristics. After 17 years of doing hair, it has been a long and ever evolving road to get to where I am today. I continue to learn, and grow with my craft and would never say it has been an ‘easy’ process. I embrace ‘the hard’ and recognize growth can come from it. Every person I’ve met and every haircut I’ve created has been an opportunity for me to learn and grow my knowledge of hair and my industry. Every day has evolved me into the creative I am today. The biggest lessons I’ve learned over the years has been to have trust in myself and my process. As a creative, I find it’s easy to be my worst critic, and to question most things I do. Learning to slow down my process, and continue my education and knowledge of my craft has only strengthened the trust I have in myself and the work I do.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of my favorite things about LA is the diversity of food and how close you are to being in nature. I would probably start every morning like I do most days, with a dog walk along the LA river, or a visit to one of many dog parks, and then coffee in east LA at ‘Mystyx Kafe’. Breakfast would be a snack from ‘El Gallo’ bakery or a full vegan breakfast from ‘Delicias Bakery and Some’ in highland park. A hike up Griffith for a view of the city, or a stroll through Elysian would be next in line, followed by lunch somewhere outdoors to enjoy the weather we are so lucky to have majority of the year. I love driving friends out of the city and taking day drives to locations and towns like, Angeles Crest, Pine Cove, Joshua Tree, Julian, and Ojai. Exploring the smaller towns outside of LA, you never know what type of gem you will find. Dinners would be a mix of my favorite taco trucks/food stands or restaurants like ‘Botanica’, ‘Bar Restaurant’, or ‘Salizar’. Checking out one of the many botanical gardens, and some of the more quiet beach locations would give a good rounding to sights to see. Sometimes planning everything out leaves little room to take a detour, so plenty of space would be allowed to check out anything that finds us throughout the visit.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am beyond thankful to every client that I have had the opportunity to cross paths with. Without their trust in me and my craft, I wouldn’t be where I am today. As a creative that enjoys human interaction, thanking my clients is a given. To all the mentors that have helped shape me in how I approach my craft, they are constantly reminded and know I am forever appreciative of their continued inspiration. The real heroes lately have been other professionals that have helped support me in the areas of business that I didn’t specialize in. Finding the right people to help guide me through the ‘back of office’ formalities gave me the structure I needed to ensure I can continue to create and do what I love.

Website: www.voidofhair.com

Instagram: @voidofhair

Image Credits
Henry Graham (taken with phone and camera)