Meet Marissa Chandler | Hairstylist & Barber

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marissa Chandler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marissa, why did you pursue a creative career?
I always say hair saved my life. I never thought about being a hairstylists until 6 months before I started beauty school. I hated high school and didn’t want to go to college. I’ve always been unapologetically an artist. I couldn’t write a good essay but I could write a good song. After years of being obsessed with music and wallowing in my “sad Seattle artist” complex I ended up in rehab right after my 19th birthday. Long story short, I shaved a girls head in rehab with clippers and thought it was fun. 6 months months later I was in beauty school. That’s where I really fell in love with hair. I actually liked school for the first time in my life because I was creating with my hands and learning by trial and error and that was really fulfilling to me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Doing hair isn’t a just a job for me, it’s a lifestyle. I’m obsessed with hair and it has allowed me to challenge myself as a creative while making a living. I’ve gotten into other art forms because of hair. I’m really into photography so I’m always creating new looks and concepts for shoots and working with models to make my visions come to life. I also get to work on productions with other artists too, from musicians and actors to fashion designers and photographers.

Probably the biggest factor that sets me apart as a hairstylist is my love for education. I’m constantly trying to find inspiration by learning from other hairstylists and barbers from all over the world. Everyone cuts hair a little different. There are so many different techniques out there. Some things will work for you and some things won’t but the more you see, the more you know and the more you know, the better you get. I’m a better hairstylist today than I was yesterday, and tomorrow I’ll be better than I am today. I’m also an educator. I get to travel all over the country teaching other hairstylists and barbers what works for me but, honestly, I feel like teaching inspires me more than I inspire anyone else – it keeps me hungry to learn more.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I actually love when people visit me in LA because it lets me explore my own city. I’m totally a creature of habit so most of the time I go to the same few places. Thank god for my partner who knows all the best things to do and places to eat in LA because I would be a lot less fun without her. When people visit I always want to take them outside of LA to Santa Barbara because it’s just the best city in California and way more fun than any beach town in LA.

Alright, so let’s jump right in! 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 a person, group, organization, book, etc. that you want to dedicate your shoutout to? Who else deserves a little credit and recognition in your story?  
Anyone that dealt with me when I was in beauty school. I was mess – but that’s where everything started. I’ve had many mentors since then that I owe a lot of my success to, but I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do hair at all without a lot of patience from the staff at my school. Also anyone who has ever sat in my chair and let me cut your hair. Thank you.

Instagram: Marissachandlerhair