CHIP PERRY, Artistic Director, stylist |
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In his 20 years in the industry, Chip has had a variety of personal and professional character building experiences. He opened his first salon, Salon Indigo in 2000. With a group of 11 this small start-up was driven with a mission to be the counterculture of the traditional upscale salon in Charlotte. “We wanted to be the best of the best without the attitude. We wanted to create a salon of excellence where the focus was truly on the experience and joy of each client.” In 2003, Salon Indigo had outgrown their space in Elizabeth and decided to make the unheard of move of merging with a sister salon, Proteges, creating Fuze. Chip believes that education is empowerment and has trained thousands of hairstylists in cut and color as his way of returning the favor to his countless mentors. Working as a Platform Artist for Aveda and a National Performing Artist for Redken, he has had the joy of teaching in amazing venues like Radio City Music Hall and the award winning Redken Exchange in New York. “Working each month at the Exchange was one of the most gratifying experiences. To be around so many stellar facilitators in an environment of total creativity, everyone sharing and growing can’t be described in words.” His facilitation at the Redken Exchange focused on corrective color, which is one of his loves in the salon. In addition to his role as Artistic Director at Fuze, Chip owns a graphic and web design firm, Quirk Visual in Charlotte. With a passion for giving back to the community, Chip has served on the Board of Directors for Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN) and on the Board of Advisors for Pinnacle Institute. He is currently on the Board for Time Out Youth where he is the Vice Chair of Marketing and Fundraising and is also on the National Speakers Bureau for the Rape and Incest National Network (RAINN). Chip and Caleb, his partner of 9 years, share a home in Plaza Midwood with their two dogs Nelly and Nici. Your favorite places to eat in Charlotte? Your best advice? Favorite cocktail? Two cosmetic items you can’t live without are… Favorite piece of technology/ website you love the most is? Your guilty pleasure you’re just the tiniest bit embarrassed to admit to is? What makes you feel the most grateful? If your house was on fire and you could only grab one nonliving thing, what would it be?
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| STAFF |
From his earliest memories, Chip Perry wanted to be a hairdresser. “I would ‘borrow’ my neighbors’ dolls and style their hair. I would spend hours trying to twist the two inches of fiber into different shapes.” Growing up in Eden, NC, it wasn’t customary for men to go to cosmetology school so at 17 he moved to Charlotte to attend UNC-Charlotte where he studied Psychology. While in college he got a job as a receptionist at a large Charlotte salon where his passion was re ignited. After the four years of undergrad he quickly registered for classes in cosmetology school. “It seemed so right. I had been cutting hair for all of my residents as an RA in college. I would make appointments on Wednesday and Thursday nights and for $5 each I would knock out 8 cuts each night. It was enough to put gas in my car and get me into the clubs on the weekends.”