Jen Atkin on Consistency, Confidence, and the Routine That Keeps It All Together
Jen Atkin is, simply put, a wearer of many hats. Among other things, she is a celebrity hairstylist, founder of the hair care brands Ouai and Mane, ambassador for the hair extensions brand Bellami and mother of two young children. But how does she make it all work? This is partly due to sticking to his very well thought out schedule. “I’m still living on a Covid schedule, I guess,” Atkin says. “I’m very routine and regimented.” But it’s also thanks to her immense ability to hustle: She began her career working in the salon of celebrity stylist Chris McMillan, where she met jewelry designer Lorraine Schwartz and what ultimately led her to the Kardashians. “I was asked to go and have a blowout at [Lorraine’s] hotel,” Atkin says. “And that’s how I met Kim. It was Oscar weekend in his suite. Working with the Kardashians was one of the biggest highlights of her career change for her, and things only got better from there.
It wasn’t just luck and good timing: Over the years, Atkin has seriously worked 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,” Atkin says. “Right now, Ouai is having a moment with our Bond Healing Balm. But a lot of times it doesn’t work: you think something is going to be a success, and it’s not. So you just have to stay consistent no matter what.”
In the latest installment of Doing the Work, Charm chatted with the Bellami founder, stylist, and ambassador to discuss the importance of confidence in building a business, the hair trends she’s excited about right now, how moving to the Pacific Northwest changed her outlook on work and parenting, and more.
Charm: What does your typical morning routine look like?
I take the dogs out, I dress the kids – we’re at the point where I throw the kids’ clothes over the railing and they can dress themselves. Go get a coffee, drop off the kids. My husband and I take turns. I try to get in a workout, then I’m in my chair ready to Zoom, usually around 10am. We are a well-oiled machine. The kids do the same thing every day and I love it.
What hair trends are you excited about lately?
I feel like everyone is talking about this big wave of K-beauty that’s coming, and it’s all about skincare. So you really need to take care of your scalp and treat your hair like you treat your skin. I think people care more about ingredients and long-term results. And I also think that instead of settling for random products, everyone is now learning the best routine for themselves and their health, which is exciting to see. I think extensions fit into this conversation as well. I might be a little biased, but my For You page blew up with the Bellami Halo event, and I feel like it fits right into this simplified routine that people have because [the extensions are] just so easy to use and doesn’t seem complicated.
The POV around makeup and skincare currently seems very low maintenance and “you, but better.” What does this look like in the hair space?
People seem to be working with their natural texture a little more, which is interesting. And customers complain that as they get older they are losing their hair, which makes them feel completely different. I’m really grateful that there is scalp care, and I thank God for TikTok and all the information we share. But that’s another reason why I think the Bellami Halo is so amazing, because when you’re feeling insecure and need that fullness and movement that you’re missing very quickly, it’s really a great no-commitment, non-damaging addition to your hair. It helps you feel confident and your hair is an integral part of your identity. With extensions, it’s not just about creating dramatic lengths or dramatic updos. It’s just about feeling good and feeling like yourself.
