Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Sulimay.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Chris. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m a lifetime hairstylist who was brought up in a family of hairstylists. After owning a salon for 18 years in Tampa Fl, I began to work with some major product manufactures as a speaker/educator. That lead to full-time life on the road working with manufacturers such as Keune Haircosmetics, Living Proof, and Redken. During that time, I was able to hold a variety of positions from freelancer, to Director positions in the US and CA, as well as becoming a published author.
While all of this was fun – there is nothing like the one on one experience that comes with being a hairstylist. Having the ability to make people look and feel their absolute best is something that needs to be shared! So, about a year ago, Brian Perdue, owner of the Salon 124 Group called me (I was in Philadelphia at the time). We began to discuss his vision for the growth of the company and its group of superstar hairstylists. After a few conversations, I was in and accepted the role of Creative Director.
It’s an awesome privilege to have the opportunity to work with this talented group of stylists and with a company that has a history of success for the past 28 years in the Greater Atlanta area.
Some of my specialties are: Designing haircuts that accentuate the individual based on Face Shape, Color Corrections and Balayage, as well as Micro Beaded Weft Hair extensions.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As far as the hair part, that has always come to a little easier… but I think anyone who is trying to elevate themselves and those around them would have to admit the struggles along the way (which are for the most part daily).
One of the most trying times in my career (and life) was when my mother passed in 2007, she was truly my best friend and hero. We had a conversation just a few weeks before in which she was sharing some wisdom on living your best life. Her motto was “just be true to yourself”. Admittedly, it took time for that to really sink in. There is such power in that statement. Now, I try to spend every day living up to that ideal.
Please tell us about Salon 124 Group.
Salon 124 was founded by Karen and Brian Perdue in 1991 in a small house off of Highway 124. Since that time, the company has grown to a six salon powerhouse with over 130 hairstylists. A few years into the journey, with the Growth of Gwinnett county the business was busting at the seams, a second location was born as Genesis By 124. In this salon up and coming stylists could work their way up through the company.
Finally, with such emphasis on training and career development the next obvious decision was to open a proper cosmetology school called the Process Institute – eventually to be named Keune Academy By 124. In this full cosmetology school, we graduate over 80 students each year to be licensed by the state of Georgia.
My role as the creative director is to provide opportunity and inspo to the team were needed, and to help them realize the potential inside of them.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Too many things ha!
One thing that I would do differently would have been to not resist the onset of social media. I would have jumped on that bandwagon faster. I have to admit, I didn’t realize it’s power until I was way behind the 8-ball (almost embarrassingly). I remember thinking, “who would be interested in your boring life and what you have to say?”
While it’s never too late for anyone to begin, I’ll say gaining traction takes discipline, commitment and overcoming a lot of self-doubts. If I was to go back and give myself advice, I would tell myself to “Never be afraid of who you are and the gifts that you have to share with the world. Share them loudly and proudly with anyone who will listen.”
Pricing:
- Balayage total look $300
- Micro Beaded Extensions 1250
- Haircut 85
Contact Info:
- Address: Salon 124 Sugarloaf
6603 Sugarloaf Pkwy. Ste. 104
Duluth, GA 30097 - Website: https://www.salon124.com/
- Phone: 770-623-0124
- Email: csulimay@salon124.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissulimayhair/
Image Credit:
Photos by – Dalena Le – @danenatn – www.dalenale.com
Influencers in photos from left t right photo under dryers – @joo.liuh – @meowmalie – @celinekaye – @_.elizabethjune._ – @catcatoura –
Stylists – @chrissulimayhair – @hairbykelleyp_ @Emmapagehairart
Salon Photos from the – Salon 124 Hamilton Mill – Salon 124 Grayson
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