Ken Paves of Beauty Changes Lives: Five Things You Need To Know To Succeed In The Modern Beauty Industry
BE HUMBLE — Never think you are the best and never think you’ve reached the top. Compete with yourself to continue to grow and be better. I have been at this for nearly 30 years. I think this philosophy keeps my head and heart and ultimately me still in the game!
As a part of our series about “Five Things You Need To Know To Succeed In The Modern Beauty Industry”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ken Paves.
For nearly 30 years Ken Paves has remained one of the most sought-after and arguably one of the most recognizable hairstylists in the world. Oprah Winfrey has called him “the big Kahuna of Hollywood hair.” His work has graced the covers and pages of Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Allure, Glamour, Vanity Fair, Cosmopolitan, GQ, In Style, O Magazine, American Salon, Modern Salon and many other publications internationally, many celebrating Paves himself.
In fashion and entertainment, he has created signature styles for David and Victoria Beckham, Eva Longoria, Tom Brady, Retta, Celine Dion, Lady GaGa, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, Kerry Washington, Julianne Moore, Taylor Swift, and Marc Anthony to name a few.
Dubbed the “hottest hairdresser in Hollywood,” Ken was a regular guest, performing breathtaking makeovers for 12 years on The Oprah Winfrey Show, 9 seasons of The Biggest Loser, as well as America’s Next Top Model, The Today Show, Oprah Winfrey’s network OWN and, Style and in Fashion Mob, a special Ken created, produced and starred
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I grew up in a working class family in Detroit Michigan. Although I was always interested in “beauty” I did not have any role models in the beauty industry. My parents worked factory jobs, so dressing up wasn’t a part of our usual routine. However, when my mom would get ready (usually for a family function or wedding) I would sit outside of her half bathroom and watch her get ready and it was the moments where my incredibly selfless mother saw her “self” in the mirror that I appreciated her self recognition; I would encourage her and tell her how beautiful she was, and I realized how much this meant to her. I was honestly a little unsure about choosing this path, as you know beauty school was somewhat looked down upon compared to going to college, but also haircuts where $5 and $8 where I grew up. We also could not afford beauty school at the time, my parents had to cash in part of their retirement fund for the down payment for my school and we paid payments for the rest (which we were often late on). However, I am so happy that I followed my heart. While I was growing up, I watched both of my parents work so hard to provide a good life for us, and it is their work ethic I have taken into my career.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
The most interesting thing about my career is how it has given me a voice, that people care about what I have to say, and not just about beauty. Because of this, I have been able to raise awareness for so many causes dear to my heart. I have benefitted more times than I can count from the grace of another person, and it has always been a life goal of mine to give back. I have lent myself in any way possible to any cause that came to me. I gave a free wig to any woman in the world in medical need with my faux hair line Hairdo. Up to a million dollars a year for 12 years! I raised $2.2 million dollars in 10 days, whicht I gave away on The Oprah Winfrey Show to continue research at Stanford University for Epidermolysis Bullosa, a rare children’s disease. These are just a couple examples of the incredible purpose this career has given me.
Are you able to identify a “tipping point” in your career when you started to see success? Did you start doing anything different? Are there takeaways or lessons that others can learn from that?
It’s actually all the failures that are the greatest takeaways! I have accomplished things that were unimaginable to me. I was a spokesperson for Chrysler for 2 years with my “Convertible Proof” hairspray (from my line Paves Professional which launched in 12,600 stores in 2004). I am the first hairdresser ever to be hired by Disney to help create a character, and ultimately change history by changing the way they illustrate hair. I am the largest selling brand in my category (faux hair) on both HSN and QVC, on a recent appearance I sold $2.2 million dollars in 38 minutes, which seems like an immense success, however this was at the height of Covid and most of the product had been manufactured poorly and therefore returned by many of the consumers. That was very difficult for me, less because of the financial loss, but more so because I pride myself in being honest and standing behind products I believe in. I had even flown to Indonesia to check the product being made but never imagined how a global pandemic would affect the production. It’s great failures and losses like that which I find I have grown from the most.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person to whom you are grateful who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
My mom, dad, and I grew up in a tough working class town, racing motorcycles and working on cars. I hid my love of beauty for a long time unsure of how people would respond. It was my parents’ unwavering belief in me and support that gave me the permission to follow my heart and pursue my dreams! They encouraged me every step of the way! And then there was the time Oprah said my name live on-air for the first time, I would go on to appear on her show doing makeovers for nearly 12 years, more than any other beauty expert. That was pretty cool!
Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. The global beauty industry today has grown to more than a half a trillion dollar business. Can you tell us about the innovations that you are bringing to the industry? How do you think that will help people?
One of the first things I want to highlight is a new campaign that I’ve been working with Beauty Changes Lives to launch, Know Beauty Secrets. The goal of this campaign is to empower people to see the beauty industry as a first career option. There are so many opportunities within the beauty space, and it’s time that everyone realizes it’s not just a “fall-back” career.
In addition to that, I have some very exciting projects that I can’t mention right now but new products and I am also producing a couple new projects. Stay tuned!
Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the modern beauty industry?
- Not to be a broken record, but the Know Beauty Secrets campaign is something I can’t talk enough about right now. It’s reinvigorating my love for the industry and gets me so excited to think about how we’re going to be able to help introduce so many new people to a lucrative and rewarding career in the beauty industry. I am so excited to witness the perspective that the next generation brings!
- I am so happy to see not only the diversity in our workforce but the diversity in our work and helping people to embrace what makes them unique and bring out their true inner beauty.
- When I was new to the industry, I used to drag around a big leather portfolio with images of my work to in-person meetings; I am so excited how technology has made finding emerging and deserving néw talent so much more accessible.
Can you share what most concerns you about the industry? If you had the ability to implement a way to improve the industry, what would you suggest?
First off, the beauty industry, as many others, lost a significant part of our workforce due to COVID. Meanwhile, there are so many jobs to be had. That’s the good news! You know we hear about layoffs and job uncertainty daily in the news. Here is an industry with so many opportunities, and we’re ready to welcome everyone, as well as help fight off the stigma that was previously associated with the industry. The beauty world is a GREAT choice for a career!
You are an expert about beauty. Can you share a few ideas that anyone can use “to feel beautiful”?
Don’t compare yourself to anyone else! I learned this from my mom! A beautiful 5 foot, Filipino and Portuguese woman who was mighty and strong, uniquely herself, and the most beautiful woman in the world! I did makeovers on The Oprah Winfrey Show for 12 years, 9 seasons of The Biggest Loser, America’s Next Top Model and so many more. What I always wanted for the men and women was to look in the mirror and love what they saw, their unique self! Oprah Magazine quoted, “There are hairstylists…and there are hairstylists. And then there’s Ken Paves. Part shaman, part therapist, he works a unique kind of magic on his subjects, spending an uncommon amount of time talking with them before he even touches their hair.”I really want to help people accept and celebrate their natural assets.
Believe in yourself and the world will see how beautiful you are!
Learn all aspects of your field. Although you may not become an expert in every field, you always want to be able to serve everyone who sits before you.
I am a cutter and a stylist, I don’t do color, but I do work with all hair textures and types.
Here is the main question for our discussion. Based on your experience and success, Can you please share “Five Things You Need To Know To Succeed In The Modern Beauty Industry”. Please share a story or an example, for each.
BE HUMBLE
Never think you are the best and never think you’ve reached the top. Compete with yourself to continue to grow and be better. I have been at this for nearly 30 years. I think this philosophy keeps my head and heart and ultimately me still in the game!
WORK HARD
This career may look fun and fluffy from the outside, but I promise you it is more work than you have ever imagined! The hard work brings great rewards but the hard work is the truest accomplishment! The year before Covid I traveled around 260 days for work, mostly to Asia and Europe, dragging a lot of bags and living out of a suitcase in all different time zones, and working around the clock… I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I am proud of my work ethic.
ANTICIPATE FAILURE
I appreciate that people recognize my successes but I am most grateful for the failures that taught me the biggest lessons. Early in my career I had a product line that grew very quickly into 12,600 stores in 6 months (in the early 2000’s this was a huge feat) but ultimately failed because we could not manage the intense growth. The line won CEW’s Beauty Breakthrough Award and had rave reviews. In retrospect, I would have contained our excitement and would have said “no” to expanding beyond capabilities at the time. I received respect from the industry for creating an innovative product and learned an invaluable lesson, so overall still a win!
Embrace and learn from your mistakes.
SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED
I assisted Oribe and took courses at Vidal Sasoon and Martin Parsons. I also assisted an amazing hairdresser Kenny McDonald before I left my hometown in Michigan. I learn from my Mom and all my family and friends who let me learn on them along the way, and I learned from every person who has sat before me and every stylist who has worked alongside me. I wouldn’t be here had everyone not shared with me, and my work wouldn’t look like it does if it wasn’t for everyone who taught me, my clients included! Sometimes our clients teach us the most! I still love to share clients or work on projects with other stylists, we continue to learn from each other!
NEVER FORGET WE ARE IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY AND BE PROUD
We become successful when we provide a good service. Without our clients or customers, we don’t have a business. As I mentioned, I am so proud to be in the service industry!
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
Kindness. The thing I love most about this career is that I am in the service industry. My job is literally to make people feel good, and that in return makes me feel good. Be authentic with your intentions, don’t put yourself first and use people to make you and your work look good, put your clients first, be kind, listen to them and do your best to help them recognize how beautiful “uniquely you” can be!
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
My greatest life lesson is to constantly be learning, and strive to be better at my craft, but also learn about myself and other people. I always want to be able toshare myself and receive what others want to share. We are the threads of the most beautiful tapestry all woven together! This is the industry to celebrate that!
How can our readers follow you online?
Readers can find me on Instagram @ KenPaves
Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational, and we wish you continued success in your important work.
