By Jordan Rosales
Amid the hustle and bustle of a vibrant downtown, lies an unassuming salon and downtown institution, Interpretations Hair Design Studio. When the current owner, Reggie, moved from Sacramento to Stockton in 1994, he worked as a stylist at the salon. As luck would have it, while the original owner was looking to sell the business, Reggie was looking to start a business. The rest is history.
An Owner with Passion
Interpretations Hair Design Studio has been passionately run by Reggie for 27 years and is still going strong. He started his 32-year long career at The Oakland Institute of Cosmetology. It was there where he discovered his passion for styling hair. Reggie spoke about how he found his passion for cosmetology early on during his education, “I fell in love with the different aspects of it, the fact that it’s so much more than just standing behind a chair all day.” During his time as a student, he competed in hair competitions across the state and won several titles. He loved it so much, he continued competing and winning but as a professional! He has previously taught at The Hollywood Beauty College and with the ROP program for the San Joaquin Country Board of Education, where he not only taught but coached his students to win hair competitions too!
The Perfect Home
Reggie ultimately scored the location because that’s where the original business was, but he couldn’t be happier with where he is. Being in Downtown Stockton has a lot of perks, there’s a ton of foot traffic, it’s easy to find and it’s central. The accessibility is a big plus for Reggie, “it’s very easy to get to, people can drive, or they can come on public transportation, which is very important to me.” But mostly, he said the best thing about Stockton is that it’s quiet but also close enough to bigger cities, that you can get to and from them rather quickly, which is key for Reggie since a lot of his clients travel from the Bay Area and Sacramento. He said one of the biggest misconceptions of Downtown is that it’s dead, but as a local business owner, he knows better. He said of Downtown Stockton, “We’re revitalizing. Thriving. We’ve been here for 27 years. Businesses that have been here before us, are still here! People always go up north to shop, but they should really give Downtown a try!”
Inspiring the Stylists of Tomorrow
Reggie wants Interpretations of Hair Design Studio to be more than just a salon. For those looking into pursuing a career in cosmetology, Reggie offers an apprenticeship program. Reggie never lost his passion for teaching and inspiring future generations, “I really want to target disadvantaged people who need help and don’t know where to go. This could be a stepping stone towards income for them.” To enroll in the program, simply fill out an application through the state board of cosmetology. At only $2,500, the apprenticeship program is much more affordable than traditional cosmetology school, which can typically cost around $30,000. The apprenticeship is a two-year program broken up into two parts. The first year entails two, eight-hour days a week, learning about theory in Interpretations Hair Design Studio’s 2,000 sq. foot facility. The second year is all hands-on training. The hands-on training is a great tool because it allows the student to do practical work with customers and earn an income, while building up a client base of their own. Students can even do their second year at another salon if they get a co-sponsor.
For more information call them at (209) 939- 0686 or check out their Facebook under Interpretations Hair Design Studio.