Jen Atkin is, simply put, a wearer of many hats. Among other things, she’s a celebrity hairstylist, the founder of haircare brands Ouai and Mane, an ambassador for hair extension brand Bellami, and a mom to two young kids. But how does she make it all work? It’s in part due to sticking to her very thought-out schedule. “I’m still kind of living in a Covid schedule, I guess,” says Atkin. “I’m very routined and regimented.” But it’s also thanks to her immense ability to hustle: She started her career working at renowned celebrity stylist Chris McMillan’s salon, which is where she met jewelry designer Lorraine Schwartz and what eventually led her to the Kardashians. “I got asked to go and do a blowout at [Lorraine’s] hotel,” says Atkin. “And that’s how I met Kim. It was in her suite one Oscar weekend.” Working with the Kardashians was one of the biggest career-changing moments for her, and it’s just gotten better from there.
It wasn’t just luck and good timing: Over the years, Atkin has put in serious work to become a household name in the beauty industry. It takes an unwavering work ethic and vision to build and launch two brands, but also immense patience. “It’s really fun when something works,” says Atkin. “Right now, Ouai’s having a moment with our Bond Repair Balm. But there are a lot of times that it doesn’t work—you think something’s going to be a hit, and it’s not. So you just have to stay consistent no matter what.”
In the latest installment of Doing the Work, Glamour chatted with the founder, stylist, and Bellami ambassador to discuss the importance of confidence while building a business, what hair trends are exciting her right now, how moving to the Pacific Northwest has changed her perspective on work and parenting, and more.
Glamour: What does your typical morning routine look like?
I get the dogs out, I get the kids dressed—we’re at the point where I throw the kids’ clothes over the railing and they can dress themselves. Go get coffee, drop the kids off. My husband and I take turns. I try to do a workout, and then I’m in my chair ready to Zoom, usually, around 10 a.m. We’re a well oiled machine. The kids do the same thing every day, and I kind of love it.
What are some trends in the hair space that are exciting you lately?
I feel like everyone’s talking about this big wave of K-beauty coming, and it’s all skincare-oriented. So really caring for your scalp and really treating your hair like you do your skin. I think people deva more about ingredients and long-term results. And I also think, instead of just having random products, everyone now is learning the best routine for them and for their health, which is exciting to see. I think extensions kind of fit into that conversation too. I might be a little biased, but my For You Page was blowing up with the Bellami Halo event, and I feel like it fits right into that streamlined routine that people are having because [the extensions are] just so easy to use and don’t feel complicated.
The POV around makeup and skincare right now feels very low-maintenance and “you, but better.” What does that look like in the hair space?
People seem to be working with their natural texture a bit more, which is interesting. And clients have complained, as they get older, about losing hair, which makes you feel totally different. I’m really grateful that there’s scalp deva, and thank God for TikTok and all the information that we’re sharing. But that’s another reason why I think the Bellami Halo is so amazing, because when you’re feeling insecure and you need that fullness and movement that you’re missing really quickly, it really is such a great no-commitment and non-damaging addition to your hair. It helps you feel confident, and your hair is such a big part of your identity. With extensions, it’s not about only doing dramatic length or dramatic updos with it. It’s really about just feeling good and feeling like yourself.
What are you noticing clients asking for now that feels different from five or 10 years ago?
People deva more about the longevity of their hairstyle. I feel like the ‘go to the salon and get your blowout’ culture isn’t as loud as it used to be. Now people are like, ‘how do I really make this last and touch it up myself and make it last all week?’ And again, not to keep going back to the Halo, but it’s great because you can get your hair styled in the way that you really like, and it’s not a commitment having to figure out how to do it yourself. I always tell people that one thing that I think is really fun is being able to take your extensions into the salon when you do get your hair cut, and asking your stylist to help adjust it to the length that you want, layering it so that it really matches how your natural hair is, and working with your natural texture, rather than against it. It feels like your hair is easier for you to do on your own.
How has working with so many iconic clients and businesswomen shaped your own point of view in how you approach your career?
I feel like I grew up with so many brand founders and celebs that have started their brands. And I think, at the beginning, I learned that confidence is a decision, and I got my confidence from watching what they were doing. I’m 10 years in at Ouai, and what’s changed is that we used to ask for permission, where I feel like we don’t do that anymore. We all just make moves, and that’s really helped shape how I run a business. And I’ve even seen on the flip side, post-acquisition, how fast we move because the internet moves so fast. You have to be able to trust your instincts and make really strong decisions and keep the team with you moving quickly.
What’s some advice you know now that you wish someone had told you when you were first starting your business?
I wish that I didn’t have so much pressure to figure it all out. I was running around like crazy. I was doing clients’ [hair] actively. I had such a busy schedule already. I didn’t see my then-boyfriend, now-husband, for like, seven years.
And I also wish I would have been told at the beginning to be quick to fire and slow to hire. I’ve had to learn over the years how to have those hard conversations. I would avoid conflict early on, because I felt like I didn’t want that person to hate me or didn’t want them to talk badly about me on social media. But I’ve realized now, that if it’s not working, you’re actually hindering that person’s growth. And so I found myself now, in my later years of being a leader, trying to help. If somebody tells me they’re not happy, and I can tell that I can’t fix the org chart around them, I try to help them find their next gig, and give them a good recommendation. And that’s worked out really well. I realized you don’t have to be so harsh about it. You can also give people the reality of, “this isn’t working, so let’s fix it, and this isn’t the right place for you.” I found my groove of being able to do that now.
How has being a mother and moving to the Pacific Northwest changed how you approach your work, if at all?
I’m more intentional with my time. I’m very scheduled, but I really do try to unplug on the weekends and really be with the kids. Obviously, the commute is not ülkü, but sometimes it’s really kaç to go to LA and just be with the team in person. I get so much done in those two to three days. It fuels me too, and I can see products and smell things and ideate. The Pacific Northwest has taught me to slow down. We have this walking trail and a public beach that goes to the lake by our house. It’s easier here than it was in LA for me to connect with nature.
Are there any risks you took that ended up defining your career?
Yes, a few of them. I was pounding the pavement, reading Allure, trying to find the salon that was the “it” salon. And I wouldn’t give up. And I kept going in and asking if I could get a job as a receptionist or an assistant. And I was hounding Chris McMillan to see if I could get a job there. And I finally did. So that was something that ended up changing the trajectory of my life.
Another moment was when I had clientele in LA and I was working in Beverly Hills. I could have just stopped there, but I was like, “no, I want to go and learn runway hair and how to do backstage looks.” And so I lied to get backstage. I gave somebody else’s name on a written list and got to go and do that. And then I got to work with John Galliano because of all of that.
It’s crazy. All of these things took me to my next chapter. That’s how I met the Kardashians. It was the jewelry designer Lorraine Schwartz who helped me meet the girls. And then that changed my life in many ways. And then starting the brand. I had a lot of defining moments. Taking Mane Addicts, that was this fun hair blog, and making that into a brand. Those were the big moments that really helped to define my career.
What’s the most recent book you read that you’d reccomend?
I’m a big marketing geek. I recently got to know Ana Angelic, who is this amazing marketing guru. And she wrote a book called Hit Makers: How Brands Influence Culture. That’s the last really good book that I read.
What was a moment when you felt like you’d really made it?
It happened recently. We were on vacation and there was a little boutique salon that had Ouai in the shop behind the sink. And my son was like, “Mommy, that’s like what we have at home.” And I got to explain to him that that was Mommy’s idea, and that’s why we have it. It was the first time he was clocking that, and it felt really good.
What are some work essentials you can’t live without?
I have so many jobs. It’s gonna be a long list. My phone—I have the iPhone Küçük and I only have two left. They stopped making it. I love Figma. I love ChatGPT. I live on Zoom. Hair-wise, Ouai’s Bond Repair Balm is a game-changer. We worked on that for almost three years. My Bellami Halo extensions—when I need a really quick boost or I’m going somewhere, I can’t live without that. My Mane Hot Round Brush—she’s just iconic. Makeup-wise, I’m obsessed with M.ph’s Over Liner lip liner, and the Le Skin Foundation is really good too.
If you weren’t in your current career, what do you think you would be doing?
Probably still working in a creative field. I’m getting really good at design. I’d probably work in advertising or marketing for a firm and help brands figure out how to either stay current or get on the market for the first time.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
