Meet: Justine Marjan — Hairstylist, Beauty Junkie, & Content Creator
Welcome to the Meet: series. These are interviews with women in media and content who inspire me — whether they're launching their own companies, juggling multiple full-time freelance jobs with their families and social lives, creating beautiful campaign imagery for brands, or anything else — and I'm honored to get to share their stories.
Justine Marjan
Hairstylist, Beauty Junkie, & Content Creator
How would you categorize the scope of your work, and what does your work entail?
Full-time freelance in multiple fields. I'm a freelance professional celebrity hairstylist and I work with brands as an ambassador to create content, host events, teach classes, and build brand awareness. Through this I've had the opportunity to lead the hair for shows at NYFW and on Bravo's Project Runway. I also have a capsule collection of hair accessories that I designed with Kitsch called kitschxjustine.
How did you get into doing what you do now?
I've always loved art, beauty, and fashion, but never knew I could have a career like I have now. I started working at a salon as a receptionist a teenager and realized the potential of a career as a hairstylist. I never knew there was an artist behind the hair of all my favorite looks in magazines, red carpets, and fashion week. As soon as I discovered hair legends like Odile Gilbert and Guido Palau, I knew that is what I wanted to do. I went to cosmetology school and started working at the salon as a stylist, taking advanced classes every few months to refine my skills.
I worked in the salon for 8 years before relocating to LA to start over and pursue my dreams of working fashion, celebrity, and editorial. I got jobs assisting and ended up becoming the Editorial Director of Mane Addicts, an online hair focused beauty publication, when it was just starting. In addition to planning content, hiring writers, copyrighting, conducting interviews, producing shoots and events, shooting content, and doing graphic design for the site, I was also hair assisting, personal assisting, and doing my own clients on the side to make money to survive. Taking a break from doing as much hair to work on Mane Addicts was incredible. I had the opportunity to interview all my favorite hairstylists, ask them career questions, get advice, and shadow them backstage. I also learned so much about social media and producing content.
When my own hair career started taking off, I had to step back from Mane Addicts, but was able to put all the energy I had put into the site into my own projects, which was so amazing and fulfilling.
Did you go to college to study the field you currently work in?
I had a really rough time in high school and actually overslept the day I was supposed to take the SATs, so I missed my shot at applying to a four-year university like all my friends. I ended up finishing high school early and aimlessly taking classes at my local community college. When I was waiting for the bus one day, I noticed a hair salon across the street and decided to go in and see if I could shadow or volunteer to see if it was something I would be interested in.
The manager and owner were not in, so I left a note with the receptionist. I got a call back the next day and they hired me to work the front desk. I loved it so much, I decided to go to cosmetology school. I realize now that going to a traditional college was not the path for me, and had I taken the SATs and gone off to college, I may have never had the opportunity to live the life I live now. I highly suggest people follow their passions and take risks in their life.
What is your favorite part about working in different fields?
I love that I get to work with editors, work at fashion shows, work with clients, and create content of my own. Each aspect of my career is so different and allows me to be creative in different ways.
What's something you wish you knew before taking on multiple roles?
Time management and having an organized calendar are key.
What advice can you offer someone who wants to be an entrepreneur, work for themselves, or just to have a side hustle in addition to their current job?
Don't convince yourself it's not the right time or you're not ready. Just start doing it and be consistent, even when it seems like it's not working or isn't worth it. Consistency is so important.
Who are some women you look up to who embody the phrase #ShesAllThat — on Instagram, IRL, or otherwise?
Ashley Graham, Kristin Cavallari, Serena Williams, Gabrielle Union, Meena Harris, Deepica Mutyala, Christine Bullock, Gwenyth Paltrow, Hillary Kerr, Amber Fillerup Clark
What was a recent #ShesAllThat moment for you?
Launching my YouTube channel was a recent one. I've thought about doing it for years and recently launched a few months ago. It's scary diving into a new space, but I'm having fun exploring a new area. Make sure to subscribe and check it out: youtube.com/justinemarjan
Where can people find you?
