Most of you know me and for those of you who don’t, I’m Jennifer Walton, founder, hairstylist, and advocate for HAUS of HAIRROR! It’s been a while since I made that first post introducing myself and I’ve grown as a person. With this relaunch, I want to focus on who I am now rather than who I was when I started this blog nearly two years ago. The reality is that even in two years my perspectives have changed. I’m constantly evolving who I am and learning more about myself. That’s recovery, right?
I live in Toronto with my partner, Shawn, and my cat, Richie. I’m in recovery from an eating disorder and struggle with depression. I spend my time rock-climbing, camping, watching drag race, crocheting or reading. The pandemic also got me obsessed with the Sims 4 and building houses that I’ll never be able to buy while simultaneously living through a carefully curated simulation in an attempt to disassociate from the world around me has become one of my favourite things to do. Kidding! (Kind of… we’re working on it.) I graduated from Marca College in October 2020 and have been working on setting myself up for success for when I start my apprenticeship. News on that coming soon!
Working in the beauty industry and having an eating disorder can be very conflicting, but it’s what drives me to do what I love to do: advocate. I’ve always wanted to help and advocate for people. Before beauty school, I was studying to be a Child and Youth Care Worker to support vulnerable populations in our society. I grew up watching my autistic brother get bullied and teased continuously for being different, and it infuriated me that anyone could be hurt for simply existing as they are. How has that translated to hairdressing? What I love most about doing hair is that I get to help someone feel good existing in their own skin. I love how my client’s face lights up each time they see the end result. I love using hair as a tool to connect with the world and the people around me. I like to believe that the world becomes a beautiful place when people believe they’re beautiful. Working in the beauty industry with an eating disorder may be difficult and it gives me strength knowing that I am working to change standards that continue to affect me.
I created HAUS of HAIRROR because I needed something in a moment of darkness to help me. I needed something to work on and to look forward to. And I am so proud that it has evolved beyond hair. HAUS of HAIRROR represents equality for those with mental health that have been discriminated against and works to set new standards of beauty. We believe in beautiful bodies in every shape, size, colour, gender, and sexual orientation. We believe that everyone is deserving of a life worth living and that you get to decide for yourself what that looks like. I am so proud of everything that HAUS of HAIRROR has become and I am so excited to see how it will continue to evolve.