¶ Transitioning From Salon to Set
I'm Tammy Williams and this is Naturally Brown Woman . This is a natural resource for , and about women of color . So you've always wanted to work in the film industry . You want to work in the hair department , the hair and makeup department . You're trying to figure out how do I get started . How do I go from salon to set ? Who do I need to meet ?
Who do I need to talk to ? What do I need to do ? Well , today we have somebody you've got to know that you need to meet . The show today is all about how do you transition from salon to set , how do you get in the film industry ? So welcome to Naturally Brown Woman , demi Dixon , who is a beauty coach and celebrity hairstylist . Welcome , demi .
Thank you so much , Tammy , for having me .
Oh , it is a pleasure . You have been doing so many great things in the film industry and we know , let's see you have worked on the upcoming Coming to America 2 . Yeah , so we're looking forward to that . Yes , the Trap . Yes , what else green ?
leaf , green leaf , um , boomerang . I have worked on a movie with jack black and kate blanchett a house with the clock in its walls . That was a great movie . Um , yes , you know just so many things that have been filmed in Atlanta in the last 10 years . It was just it's . You know , it's a limitless amount of things you know . So , tv and film , definitely .
I've worked on a lot of major things here in Atlanta , greenleaf being the longest run , for about four years .
Yeah , yeah . And isn't it amazing how the industry just boomed here in Atlanta just get , providing a lot of opportunities for people to work in the film industry ? So and you've been doing this for a while Now you didn't just kind of start in the film industry so you started in a salon .
You're in a salon , so tell us what sparked your interest , what made you say , hey , I've been been doing , I've been in the salon for a while now .
I want to transition from salon to set what piqued your interest honestly , I'm gonna be totally honest my , my entire interest , my interest the entire time of my career , was to work behind the scenes or with celebrities .
Um , from the moment I knew that I was going to be a hairstylist , I kind of fixated in my brain that I wasn't going to always be in the salon . So one day I went to the movies and I think I was 17 years old and I saw Baps the movie .
I remember that , yeah , I think that was like 1996 or something like that , and I was like I'm going to stay to the end of this movie because I need to know who did the hair for this movie , and at that point , at 17 years old , I knew that my work needed to be on that level for some reason .
Yeah , and you know it didn't happen right away , but ultimately I kept that as my vision and my plan and it came into fruition and manifested .
Yeah , so how did you make that transition ? I mean how ? I mean , first of all , how long did you work in the salon ? How long were you behind the chair ?
I was actually behind the salon chair for a total of 17 years . I basically transitioned , being at least after about five years into my career in the salon . I started to make a transition where I would start doing small projects , music videos , photo shoots for entertainers and comedy shows .
So that's how I got my feet wet and I did that for a few years because the film industry in Atlanta wasn't as big as it is now . And , mind you , I was someone who I am a native of Columbus , georgia , so I was traveling back and forth , doing a lot of work as needed while I was in the salon and transitioning .
So the transition it probably took about a good 10 years to happen altogether .
Oh , wow . Well , let me ask you , as you were , you know , I see you made a lot of sacrifice just to travel within itself , but also working on those small independent projects . Did all of those projects actually pay ? Did you find yourself volunteering just to get some of the get some experience in the other area , or you take low pay . How did that ?
pan out all of that absolutely , um , there were many times , because I wanted to build relationships and network with people , that I would take jobs that you know were either unpaid or I was assisting the main person or very low pay .
So there were times where , yes , I made financial sacrifices from taking clients in the salon where I knew I could make money , um , as opposed to following the desire of doing what I knew that I was truly wanted to do . So I've , I've , I've worked a lot in the past for um comp , um time for for print .
All of those things I've done them yeah , and the goal is just to get the experience .
You were willing to do what you had to do to build your resume , um , to go into the field that you , you know , desire to go in , to go into absolutely so um , and you talked about , you know , in the film industry it's like independent contractors , freelancers , and , you know , working , working to get your next gig right .
So was that very different from from you ? Uh , for you , as far as being in salon and maybe you had a , you know , very steady clientele versus okay , okay , this is something different .
Yeah , absolutely it was . It was because if you have a clientele built you , you can pretty much manage out your schedule for at least a month . In in transition , or in in starting to transition to work into the film industry . You may work two days and don't get a call back for a month .
So those are times where you really have to start prepping yourself and your clients for a more flexible schedule so that you can , you know , get on a faster track .
Was that tough in the sense of you still had your salon and you're trying to go out there and do freelance and having to reschedule your clients ? Did you , was everybody understanding , or did you lose ?
very tough . It was tough sometimes because for me , um , I always wanted to do , you know , great big things , and when you come from a small place , and these are people that I truly love , but sometimes they don't understand a vision that they don't see . So they we , where I'm from , you didn't see celebrities , you didn't .
This wasn't something you had access to . So it was really hard to break free from my clients . It was really hard for them to break free from me , but most of all it was it was just tough juggling the two life , you know , the two schedules .
It was I still had a saline schedule that I had to , you know , kind of accommodate , and then over here you're going to take a chance . So it was . It was a real struggle at times until I figured it out . I created a system and figured that thing out .
Well , and we're going to talk about that system for sure , I'm a hairdresser's daughter , okay . So my mom ran a salon and was behind the chairs for years . She's now retired , but I know how loyal clients can be . I mean , the hairstylist is like your personal , becomes your personal friend and just so personal , someone who does your hair .
You want to hang on to them so I can imagine , uh , when you're like you know , it's like wait , where you going ?
you know because it's like no , and some of them feel like because for a while yeah , up until two years ago I serviced my clients still on the weekends . I had such an attachment to my clients , so I had to learn . I just , I just had to put my best foot forward and say sorry , guys , this is how it's got to be . So it was a . It was a stronghold .
Yeah . So let's talk about when you finally made , and you said about 10 years . Now I want you to clarify is 10 years as far as being where you are today , with a pretty regular schedule , or , like you said , you did some work here and there , but 10 years as far as your your ? I guess your your final destination ?
Well , I would say this for the last 10 years I have had a very regular schedule in behind the scenes as well as in the salon , but prior to that I count the moments where I knew that I was making the steps into the direction that I was trying to go in . So that was early on in my career .
So with me , you know , still having a clientele and juggling two things . Yes , it took that amount of time simply because I still had a business to run set .
¶ Celebrity Hair and Makeup Work
What was that experience like for you ? The first time you're in that trailer and you're working with a celebrity . You know what was that like for you .
It was very scary because when you're working with clients , you kind of have a little bit of control . When you're working with the celebrities , now , you you relinquished it've relinquished it and everything is up to them and you're more accommodating . So it was scary , but it started to come natural .
So , you know , it was the best feeling , though I remembered having thoughts about that feeling and how I would feel when that happened , and I was like you know , my work has truly paid off . I'm where I'm supposed to be .
Yeah , yeah . So tell us , and there's no better place to kind of know that this is where I'm supposed to be , and I think there's added confidence in that when you know where you're supposed to be . So what are the do's and don'ts in working with celebrities that you've discovered ? What are some of the do's and don'ts ?
Because we're talking about actors and character in and out of character . What do you say ? Do you call them by name ? You call them by their character name . Do you just be quiet , just in case they need to ? They're processing . What are the do's and don'ts ?
Well , one of the first do's that I would say when you get into that position is to make sure you have a good consultation with that person , because they're still a client . So in that consultation you'll learn things about them that you don't have to try to wait to figure out . You'll learn if they're chatty , you'll learn if they work out .
So learn some things about your person first , because that matters when someone is sitting in your chair . I mean , it all rings the same to me . When I'm touching someone's head , when I'm with the client , I treat it the exact same .
So I make sure that I find out about them so that that will give me conversation when it's time to talk , when they feel necessary time to talk Because , like you said , as actors and talents are preparing and reading their scripts , they don't always want noise .
So you have to get to know them first so that you can at least know that they don't want that and ask questions of what people like . So that's always the first thing I tell people . You know , one of the things that you should do is consult , talk with that person so that you know how to assess , moving forward .
One of the things I say not to do is ask them about personal things that you probably read on the tabloids or instagram I have seen that happen .
Oh my god , I can imagine yeah so don't do that , don't do everything you read and see on the internet is not true and people you know they're , even though they're actors and they're in character , and sometimes we look at tv and we think , oh , she's this or that they're .
They're not that person always in real life yeah , yeah , yeah , so that's a huge don't in my book yeah , don't get too personal .
And don't , don't get too personal , you know keep it real , surface and professional .
You know it's a way to keep it fun and professional at the same time . You know you want to always make , you want to always make sure that they're comfortable . The trailer is light . You know you want to create a vibe that they want to wake up at four or five in the morning and be happy to come to .
Yeah , that's part of the hair and makeup job is setting that tone so that the character you know , the talent , can come into character .
Yeah , yeah . And you also have to work with producers and directors . You know you have to work with that side of the crew as well people on set and and the things such as you know , consistency and making sure that whatever scene that was shot yesterday and they're shooting the scene over again that day , that the header and all that is consistent .
So tell us a little bit about that production side of working in the , the hair , working with hair on what I would say , um , as far as working on the production side is learn the politics , learn the things you need to know the lingo , the language , the etiquette that you need to know in order to learn how to properly interact with producers and directors .
Because a lot of times as artists hairstyles and makeup artists . They don't understand our jobs , you know , and it's not their jobs to understand our jobs . Our jobs , you know , and it's not their jobs to understand our jobs to the capacity that we understand it .
But what I do find a real confidence in is learning the language so that I can properly , you know , relay it and help them to understand what it is that we do . So that's one of the biggest things , you know learn how to properly communicate outside of hair , in our mind yeah , those production terms , you know production .
It's a different , it's a whole other world yeah , it's a whole nother world and uh , uh , yeah , yeah , learning those terms and uh , that's just so important .
Yeah , because they called for certain things on set and you know from learning what their true vision is , and that just comes from being a visionary and an artist .
Yeah , and also the , the research that's involved . If someone says , okay , this is a 1950s time piece , um well , you know , researching and finding out what , what did the hair look like back then ?
and it's a lot of homework and a lot of prep work that goes into this side of it , because you can't get to work in shampoo , blow-dry , style and do all of that . You have to have it prepped so that when they come in the trailer you ready to rock and roll . You know it's a whole , it's .
It's a different and a faster pace yeah , and you know what Demi , we talked about . Uh , set hours . You know you and I've had this discussion before of being on set . You know the at well , typically production . You know 10 , 12 , 11 hours , but in hair and makeup those hours you know are far , far beyond that .
Talk about how many your average hours on set well pre-covid .
You could sometimes spend 15 up to 16 hours on set in a day . usually you can spend up to 16 hours on set , being that you sometimes will have a two to three hour pre-call , which means you have an earlier call than the rest of the crew , simply because you have to get the talent , hair and makeup ready , and sometimes you know that takes a little while .
So we have earlier calls and , of course , hair and makeup is there until the end of the night because we have to make sure the looks are consistent up until the very last shot , until they say wrap . So our hours are typically long , based on having to come in earlier to prepare for them to go on camera and then having to stay with the talent .
So they can get pretty gruesome , and that's something that you have to , you know , make sure that you're aware of , because there are not many eight hour days in the film and television yeah , yeah , and you
¶ Maintaining Family Life and Transitioning Salon
know .
And , speaking of that , how do you maintain a family life , because I know you're married with children , um and being on set , you know , prior to COVID , like you said , um was long hours . How do you manage a household , you know ?
I'm so , so , so , so , so grateful . God has truly blessed me . I have a great support system . I'm not going to lie , but what I did I didn't . I came into this portion full throttle after my children were old enough to at least stay at home by themselves sometimes . So that's one thing that I'm grateful that happened .
But other than that , my husband and my mom and my sisters have been the biggest support system that I can ever imagine . So I always tell people if you have a family , that is a very huge factor because you got kids at home , you can't be out 15 hours a day , every single day , and you have to have someone you know to support that .
So it hasn't been always easy because as you have children with events and functions . My children were in activities . You have to find time to still be a mother and go to activities .
So , there , there will be times where you have to decide if it's going to be this or that , and so that's been part of the journey and sometimes part of the ups and downs yeah , yeah , um , yeah so .
So let's talk about a little bit about how the industry has changed that . You've seen it change now because of covid .
You know how are you guys protecting yourselves Because you know the film industry has started , you know , picking up , especially here in Atlanta you know productions are are going on , and how do you , how do you work in on set and working with celebrities ? I know a lot have changed , so talk about that .
Yeah , a lot has changed . Actually , I had the opportunity to be one of the first people to go back to work for Tyler Perry Studios when , when he decided to be the first , when he decided to be the first production to open back up , and I did that because I just wanted to see what it would be like .
You know , now having to work and I can honestly say you know it was worth all the protection you know , because imagine if we always protect ourselves and others that way . So I felt like it was 100 necessary , the way that he you know it was really , really laid out . Ppe is on point . Guys , let me tell you yeah , yeah yeah , and now I'm .
I haven't worked since then and that was the early part of August , so I'm just getting back to work . Um , starting next week , I have a department head job in Charlotte for a new own series called Delilah , and we have had at least four COVID tests already . Okay , um , we will have three times a week COVID testing while we're with the talent .
So that's a difference . You know , at least three days a week while you , if you're around talent , you have to have a COVID test and you know it's just a lot of different precautions that we weren't doing in , you know , prior to COVID , simply because you know we didn't have this issue going on .
So now we're having to protect one another more , be more cautious , stay away from people , and so it's going to make for a smaller crew because they have to have less people on set and things of that nature . So I'm excited to see what it's going to be like for a full length show .
Yeah , um , to just kind of , you know , have a better judgment of how things you know are looking yeah , now , when you were , um , you like you , you mentioned having to do COVID tests .
You know a couple , you know three times a week that type of thing . Um and when were with TP studios . I don't know if you can , if you can share having the test , but did you also have to wear a shield when you were with ? What are some of the things that you had ? Yeah , we had to have a test .
We had to be tested every single day and put a wristband on . Before we went to set . We had to wear our N95 mask mask . You can't just wear any type of mask when you're around town . You have to wear a certain style yeah um , and you also have to wear a face shield .
So you're having on a mask and a face shield , um , and just depending on how , what you know , whatever the situation is , you may even have to sometimes put on a gown you know okay . I didn't have to , but some people did , okay , um , so it's definitely something taking .
It's going to take some getting used to , especially in exterior , wearing your mask outside , things of that nature . Yes , um , that's going to be a little different and that's something that I had to , you know , kind of just to like , okay , we're outside , let me take this mask off , but no , we're filming , so it's a difference .
Yeah , so , and all that protection is definitely worth it . Like you said , we've got to protect each other and protect ourselves as well . So , Demi , as we you know , come to a close here . I know you're doing some amazing things in continuing to train people . I know you're doing some amazing things in continuing to train people .
I know you have workshops , you have classes and hopefully you and I are going to be doing some special things in the future as well . Yeah , and talk a little bit about your transitional salon . I want people to know about that , that you recently opened a transitional salon . So what is that and how can someone get involved ?
Oh yeah , that's something that was birthed based upon how I needed to transition personally . So , basically , as I was transitioning , which started more than 13 years ago , I ran into some some obstacles , like you know , the first obstacle being you know who's going to take care of my clients when I'm not here .
So that was one of the reasons why I decided , you know , to have a salon that would cater to a hairstylist flexibility , so I teach people how to transition from the salon to behind the scenes without leaving money on the table , which simply means you don't have to leave your business behind .
I've seen a lot of salon owners and hairstylists once they get into the film and television industry , they leave their beauty business behind , and I found out that , you know my business could still thrive even without me being there .
So I created a system that meant that , you know I was able to help other people transition while I was transitioning and Ultimately , ultimately , my salon became a space where people could come and work if they needed a flexible schedule .
If you need to work one day a week or five days a week , I provide the opportunities , because I know how flexible you have to be when you're transitioning and sometimes you know you have to make last minute changes . So the first thing I tell people is prepare your clients , because they don't understand that .
You got a call yesterday for tomorrow and they already had their appointment booked for two weeks . So the transition has to be .
You know , going into the transition has to go in steps and phases if you plan to keep your business and that is the purpose of my salon for people who truly do want to keep their beauty business but they also want to work on set , because sometimes you have to do both financially . You know set , because sometimes you have to do both financially .
You know it's something you have to do until you get to where you're , you know , having a steady um , until you're working more steadily behind the scenes , so that was pretty much the reason of my um creating that salon , because I knew the need of the people , because it was what I needed .
I needed a space that I can just go in do my clients one or two days a week and be done with it . And so I created a space like that and since I opened in January it's been doing amazing , even after COVID . You know people wanted that . They wanted to be able to not have contracts , not be in long-term agreements .
Hey , I have clients today Can I come do them in your salon ?
And more than anything .
Some of my celebrity stylist friends have been able to come to Atlanta and work in my space because they have clients here . You know my client , my friend Kim Kimball , from LA , comes here to do her clients and now she has a space to do them .
You know what ? I think ? You've hit on a gold mine right there . I love that idea a new way of doing a salon Really love that . So last question , demi why do you do the things that you do ? Why do you work in hair ? What's your passion with hair ? Because there's got to be a passion there to do that .
As long as you have , you know what's your driving force .
Well , I , honestly , I love doing what I do , which is being a hairstylist . But , deeper than that , I love people . I do . I'm a people . I love making women feel beautiful on the inside and outside . I grew up my mother was a foster parent , so I saw the need of young girls needing to understand beauty to the core . And I do it .
That's the passion that's behind it , because I love people , I love women , I love making women understand how important it is to be beautiful from the inside and the outside .
So that keeps me going more than anything the motivation , the inspiration and encouragement that I can give to people , just based on my own personal things that I've gone through and professional , and so it gives me hope that people actually listen to some of the things that I say and apply them and come back to me and say , hey , demi , or hey , demetrius , that
truly worked , thank you . So now it's time to get to the next , you know . So that's how I , that's what keeps me going every single time . I understand that you have a book , you've written a book , so tell us about your book and then tell us how we can connect with you .
Okay , great , for people that needed a quick guide or a quick reference on information that they needed to know . I decided to write a book . I decided to put it in paper so that they can have the blueprint without you know having to search here . It's in one place .
It's the blueprint , and it gets you a jump start on the things that you need to know in order to transition your career successfully from the salon to behind the scenes . It's full of information , tips that will really really help you , and the reason I did that is because I felt like people needed a handy dandy guide with them .
It's also in an ebook form , so if you'd like to be on your phone or your pad , you can just pull it up on an ebook . So , basically , you can reach me at . My website is wwwdemibellabeautycom and my Instagram is Demi Bella Beauty and my Facebook is Demi Bella Beauty as well . Thank you , guys . I have really , really enjoyed this interview .
Tammy , I appreciate you for having me today .
Oh , thank you . Thank you so much , and we will . Guys , thank you for joining us . Please share this video with your friends . If you know anybody who wants to work in the hair department in film and television , share this video with them . Let them see and hear what's going on and how to make that move . Thank you for joining us .
Thank you , you , you , you .