Over the next 4 weeks following stylist appreciation day, we will be running a series of blog posts featuring interviews with a few of our ‘veteran’ hairdressers – many of whom have been with Paris Parker for 10+ years!
Today we’re excited to share interviews with Adam Cosgrove (Haircutting Specialist), Shanna Latino (Haircutting Specialist), Rachel Burke-Kelly (Haircutting Specialist), and Jeannine Plaisance Barth (Haircutting and Hair Color Artist) of our Lakeside and Mandeville locations.
Q1: Why did you choose your career?
Adam: I chose hairdressing, so I could express my creative side and make people feel good about themselves.
Shanna: I have always been into the beauty aspect of what we do. I remember when other kids pretended to be teachers, I was pretending I was doing hair. It seemed like the most natural thing I could do. I went to beauty school right out of high school.
Rachel: I believe hair chose me. I have always loved hair even won Best Hair in 8th grade. Honestly believe that is where my hair journey began. I used to have visions of what I wanted my hair to look like and my hairstylist back then would always make my visions come true. She inspired me. The relationship between us grew and it was pretty magical. I evacuated to Tampa for Hurricane Katrina and got my haircut at a local salon. The stylist there told me I look like a hairstylist. From that day on, I knew if I looked one, felt like one, and thought like one I might as well be one. I believe everything happens for a reason. I am so thankful hair chose me.
Jeannine: I fell in love with hair and make-up before I could even walk. My older sister Angelique was dancing. I would watch my mom curl and braid her hair, paint her eyes blue and her lip red, and I couldn’t wait until it was my turn to get my hair and make-up done and be on that stage. I always loved hair, makeup, and expressing myself with art. So when it came time for me to choose a career no one was surprised when I choose hairdressing.
Q2: Why have you chosen to live in Louisiana?
Adam: I’m originally from Louisiana and why not? New Orleans, it’s the best city in the world.
Shanna: I was born and raised in Louisiana. My family is here, and that’s important to me. I’m not originally from Mandeville, but the Lakefront was a big draw to the area, and Paris Parker, of course.
Rachel: I grew up Metairie and knew I wanted to be in the city. Even though there is a whole world out there; there is no place quite like New Orleans. It took me several years to truly embrace and love the culture in the city. After 10 years at our Magazine location, it felt like home. Something about it just makes you feel alive. Now that I have moved more than an hour away—it will always have a piece of my heart. I don’t think I could ever give it up completely.
Jeannine: I grew up down the bayou as we call it. In a small town called Golden Meadow. It’s where all the Cajuns like me live. My mother was from New Orleans and my father was from the South Lafourche area. They met in college and decided Golden Meadow was where they would raise my brother, sister, and me. I couldn’t have picked a better spot to grow up. It’s a place where everyone knows who you are and what you been doing. I feel like I always knew one day I would move to New Orleans. My grandparents and cousins lived in New Orleans. We would come to town to visit almost every weekend and I was so jealous when we went home they got to stay. I moved here in 2001 and enjoyed living here from day one. My mom taught me to love everything about New Orleans, the music, the art, the food, the soul, chocolate snowballs, Mardi Gras, just the feeling of being here. Now I’m raising my 9-year-old son in mid-city and I’m teaching him everything there is to love about this place and it definitely feels like home.
Q3: How long have you been working at Paris Parker Salon?
Adam: 13 years.
Shanna: In September, I will make 20 years with Paris Parker Mandeville.
Rachel: 11 years.
Jeannine: I started out at Paris Parker Lakeside on my first day at Aveda beauty school as a front desk worker. My first day of school was my first day of worked here. I was 20 years old and this year will be my 18th year at Lakeside.
Q4: What is/are some of the highlights of your career?
Adam: Seeing Vidal Sassoon at serious business and having the opportunity to work with the Saintsations ( Saints cheerleaders).
Shanna: One of my favorite memories of my career was the Eve Hair show Neill put on in Miami. I will never forget the amazing women that blew me away with their talent and stories on stage.
Rachel: Building relationships with so many different types of people is the most rewarding part of my job. I just don’t cut their hair, I become a part of their lives. Continuing education and learning from those around me is definitely a highlight of my career. Growing together and truly caring for one another.
Jeannine: I would say the highlight of my career learning for my mentor Micheal Barnett. He thought me everything I know about cutting hair and I loved learning from him. No question was ever a stupid question and he was always willing to help. He was everything a mentor/teacher should be. Another highlight and where I would say I grew the most was when I went spent a summer in Santa Monica, California. It was there that I attended Vidal Sassoon academy for a 6 weeks hair cutting course. I did 62 haircuts in that 6 weeks and I loved every minute of it. I had been cutting hair for about 6 years at that point and learned more there than I could ever dream. It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done for my career and life in general.
Q5: What does being a Daymaker mean to you?
Adam: Daymaker to me is simply what the actual words say, changing and making someone’s day better by doing a simple thing.
Shanna: I’ve had the honor of being there for clients and their families during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives as they were fighting cancer. I’ve been humbled and am grateful to have been there for them when it was time to cut their locks short, and eventually shave their heads. So, for me, being a Daymaker sometimes means being able to be a part of something profound. Additionally, I like to paint rocks and give them to people. Sometimes, being a Daymaker means just making someone smile and feel cared for.
Rachel: Being a Daymaker is just being there for my guest. No matter how big or small everyone is going through something. I like for them to escape while they’re with me. It may only be for an hour but sometimes that is the only time they get for themselves.
Jeannine: Being a day maker means treating everyone who sits in my chair like they are worth a million bucks. I want to make them feel good about themselves. I try to look my best for them every day and give them my undivided attention, and I want to create the best look for them and be the best part of their day. It truly is the best feeling.
Q6: What do you feel is next for you personally or professionally?
Adam: Possibly exploring other avenues within my own career.
Shanna: My hope is to continue to build my clientele. I love my personal relationships with my customers, and their referrals are also helping me attain my financial goals.
Rachel: Professionally I’m trying to grow my business at our Mandeville location. It will take some time but I know it’ll be worth it. Until I am able to fully commit to one location full time I will continue to commute to the city and work at both locations. For this keeps me being a Daymaker more times than none.
Jeannine: Personally I’m trying to raise a nice sweet young boy. I enjoy everything about being his mom. Watching him grow into a young man has been the highlight of my life. Professionally I hope to continue to grow as a hairdresser. Continue to learn for my co-workers and teach new hairdressers what I have learned along the way. I remember when I told my Doctor Dad I didn’t want o go back to college and I wanted to be a hairdresser. He looked and me and said, “Jeannine it’s not what you do it’s how well you do it.” His words have stuck with me all these years and I will continue trying to be the best I can be.
