Donald Perry is one of the top hairstylists in the southeast. The Memphis, Tennessee, native, who stars in BET’s new show “Ink, Paper, Scissors,” recently spoke with rolling out to discuss his rise in the industry, his constant grind, and secrets to hairstyling success.
How long have you been in the beauty industry?
I’ve been doing this a long time. I grew up as the neighborhood barber. I’m from Memphis, Tennessee, and I’ve been cutting hair since about the seventh grade, but I really didn’t take it serious until I moved to the A [Atlanta]. When I came here and started cutting hair, it just started popping off for me. When you’re doing a good job on somebody’s hair, it’s like a restaurant that serves good food. People are going to come back.
What are the differences between grooming women and men? Which do you prefer?
I can do women’s hair, but I really don’t do it too much because it takes too long [laughs]. Women will be in the shop for six hours. I would rather do a 15-20-minute haircut. I just like to pop it and get it out. But when I do women’s hair, I just flirt with them and they come back. All women like pretty boys. Guys just want to look good for their girl. I also do a lot of LGBT clients because they always want to look good.
What are some of the downsides of working in the industry that you don’t like?
The one thing I don’t like about being a barber is people become so dependent on you that they become a part of your life. Like when I go out of town, my phone is blowing up because my clients want a haircut. I was at my aunt’s funeral one time and a client called. I was like “Man, I’m out of town at a funeral” and he was like, “What time is it going to be out?” And I was like, “Man, I’m grieving!” But what people don’t realize is that barbers and stylists have lives too.
How excited are you about your upcoming show?
I can you tell that I could not sleep last night. We’ve been trying to get this off the ground for a long time and when you get a couple of no’s you kind of get discouraged. But it’s actually real. I’m actually feeling the realness of it today. Life is about to change and I am humbled by it. There are so many people out in the world that want to do this. But to be successful it takes consistency and excellence.
–milan cassell
