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

Hi Romi, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

To be honest, I never wanted to be a salon owner, because I never wanted to be the guy everyone hated. Previous salon owners I’d worked for were always a little relentless… work work work work, no days off, because every day, was a ‘day on’.  So I struck out on my own and became an independent stylist in my late 20’s. The freedom to choose my own hours was invigorating. I moved from Seattle to LA in 1993, and commuted back and forth every 6 weeks to see clients, for over 6 years. I rented a chair during those years at various salons on Melrose. In 2000, the owner of the salon where I was leasing,  had a confrontation with one of my clients, and I knew the writing was on the wall. I had to face my fear and began looking for a location to create a boutique salon. I wanted to create an art filled space that was tranquil and an escape from the high pace of LA. I looked on Melrose, Fairfax and Larchmont Blvd… Larchmont was less trendy at the time, and the rent per square foot was more affordable. When I found a former medical suite with small examination rooms, I knew I’d struck gold. The building had been in the same family for over 80 years, so the ability to connect with the owners was more favorable. It was less corporate and more ‘mom and pop’. They allowed me to make the alterations to the space to fulfill my vision… that was in 2001.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a 4th generation self taught artist. It’s my understanding of color theory, that has helped me be the Haircolorist that I am today. I began my hairdressing journey at 15 when a neighbor mentioned she was going to cut her own hair.. I made some suggestions and she said, ‘why don’t you cut my hair?’ I said, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing’ and she said ‘neither do I … how bad can it be!” So I grabbed some sewing scissors and my journey began. That said, creatives get bored. That’s where the trajectory of coming to Hollywood to be an actor began, which then parlayed into the Interior Design Program at UCLA. Afterwards, rental properties and home renovations took front stage for a decade, as well as international travel to see art exhibitions. I was so intrigued by what I’d learned about the history of 20th century design, that I began painting wall murals in the renovated homes, as a rouse to teach art history. That translated to multiple DIY videos on YouTube that have amassed over 2 million views. My salon tagline: Where Art Inspires Beauty was hatched in 2015, as a true reflection of what motivates me. I’m visually driven and I have a thirst for color and the myriad of ways it’s used. My husband Recio Young works in television, so together we created a show called ‘Artful Living’ which explores 120 years of design, and how it’s relevant to the world today. I feel passionate about ‘connecting the dots’ of color and design over the decades, because it truly enriches the lives of those who have a deeper understanding of the world they’re living in.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Eighteen months ago I found my biological father who didn’t know he had a son. Him and my new mom came to LA 6 months ago from Ohio, his first visit to California since he returned from Vietnam in 1965, and her first visit since the early 70’s. I wanted to show them the best LA had to offer, so we began in Beverly Hills, toured Rodeo, and had lunch at Il Pastaio … dad’s Italian, and I wanted to make a great impression. Day 2 was Malibu Beach and lunch at Paradise Cove, with a walk on the pier. Day three, Paramount Studios for a studio tour, and the chance to hold an actual Oscar statue. Of course we popped by my salon while in the vicinity of Paramount, so they could see the ceiling mural I’d painted, inspired by Francois Boucher’s ‘The Rape of Europa’. The next day was the Petersen Automotive Museum, because where will you ever see an amazing red exterior like that! We also went to The Motion Picture Academy to take in the ‘The Godfather’ exhibit. Had dinner at Osteria Momma, which had the family raving. There was also a group dinner at The Formosa Cafe because I wanted them to see the lavish Chinoiserie interior, and experience superb Chinese food. And When our bestie Natalie Marletta, the GM of the Pearl Resort in Fiji, comes to visit, we have 3 faves: The Polo Lounge, the Sunset Tower Hotel (because they don’t have zig zag modern deco like that in Fiji) and the Bar at the Bel-Air Hotel. The latter is such a hidden gem, the vibe is elegant and tranquil, and the gardens with swans aren’t to be missed.

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?
Actress Sharon Lawrence has been a loyal client for over 30 years, and has introduced me to so many women in the Hancock Park Community, as well as the Entertainment Community. She continues to sing my praises and often makes hair color referrals to this day. Another shout out goes to Ms. Leigh Kilton-Smith. She began as my acting teacher 30 years ago, introduced me to Sharon Lawrence, as well as a huge roster of actors and actresses. She’s always encouraged her students to dream big and take risks outside their comfort zone. Lastly, the Larchmont community has been extraordinary. The loyalty clients have shown me over the years, especially during the pandemic, was remarkable. When clients began writing large donation checks to make sure I stayed in business during the covid lockdowns, I was touched beyond belief. That’s when I knew I was a valued part of the community. When I was asked to join the Larchmont Boulevard Association (LBA) last year, I jumped at the opportunity to give back to the community that has so generously supported my boutique salon. And as the Business Representative of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council (GWNC) I now have an even larger platform to help other small businesses. Life has gone full circle, and I’m so grateful that I walked through the ‘fire of fear’ to find out what I was truly capable of. I now revel in sharing my wisdom, and encouraging others to chase their dreams and make the most of their lives. Sometimes our mindset is our own biggest obstacle.

Website: www.romicortierdesign.com

Instagram: Romi Cortier

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romicortier

Twitter: Romi Cortier

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/romicortierdesign/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/romi-cortier-design-los-angeles

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/romicortier/videos

Other: www.romicortier.com for my design portofilo www.whereartinspiresbeauty.com for my blog.

Image Credits
Kim Bajorek Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.