Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Gonzalez, Aka SALEM.
Hi Michael, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Michael Gonzalez. I am a hairdresser of nearly 13 years by day, and by night I am a burlesque entertainer by the name of SALEM.
I grew up very attracted to the beauty industry, and also very enamored by the stage. At 7 years old I began taking tap dance lessons and as the years went on I explored different avenues of performance, such as theater and flamenco. I danced from the ages of 7-18 years old. The stage was definitely my first passion.
After high school, I began my career in hairdressing after graduating from Mim’s Classic Beauty College. My first job in the hair industry was at a franchise salon in a mall. A year later, I found myself wanting more for myself and became self-employed after working behind the chair for just over a year. I took a leap that ultimately was the catalyst that impacted the rest of my life.
I began renting a station at Medusa, The Salon where I quickly built a large clientele. After I became stable and established, I found myself missing the stage.
9 years ago I met local burlesque legend Lita Deadly who took me under her wing and educated me on the burlesque world. She put me in my first show and I instantly fell in love with the burlesque and circus world. Since then, I have been fortunate to travel the country performing at dive bars, horror movie conventions, and some of the most beautiful theatres in America.
Fast forward to the pandemic- I felt it was time for a change. I decided to leave the salon I was at for 8 years and open up my own salon along with local film/TV makeup artist Zachry Smith.
We opened “The Vanity Parlor” in 2021 and have fortunately been a thriving business ever since then. Our salon was fortunate enough to survive the pandemic, and we are currently on our 3rd relocation/ expansion.
By day, you will catch me at my salon between 40 and 50 hours a week. By night, you can catch me on a stage near or far performing as SALEM.
I’ve been fortunate to have been self-employed for over a decade, through a pandemic, and still have the time and means to travel and tend to my first love… the stage.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The pandemic was absolutely a tough time for many industries, but especially the beauty/ service industry.. I mean, we work on people’s heads and faces. Clients were terrified to get their services done, rightfully so.
I went from 4-8 appointments a day, to sometimes only 4-8 appointments a week.
I learned how to stretch a dollar, pivot with more economic services and really discipline my spending..
I’m so fortunate to have pulled through and I am beyond grateful for my amazing clientele who was ready to help and support in any way they could.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I would say I am a well-rounded hairdresser, but I definitely specialize in corrective haircolor services. No head of hair is the same, and I definitely enjoy a challenge. Some of these transformations have taken upwards of 8 to 12 hours, sometimes over the span of multiple days and/or weeks. I specialize in blonding on very dark, thick hair.
Haircolor chemistry just makes perfect sense in my head.
On the stage as SALEM, I am known for my “glamour ghoul” aesthetic- think the male version of Elvira. A little sexy, a little campy and a whole lot of glamour.
I am most proud of my debut stage production “SALEM’S Starlust Cabaret” where we sold-out 500 seats at the Empire Theatre. I’m also proud of my new, intimate show “SALEM’S House of Heat” which is currently occurring quarterly at Heat Nightclub.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
You can visit me at “The Vanity Parlor” for a hair service. You can also book me for a live show or private/ corporate event.
For hair inquiries, email me at [email protected]
For performance bookings, email me at [email protected]
Pricing:
- Haircuts: 55+
- Haircolor: $65+
- Highlights/ Balayage: $125+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thevanityparlor.com/
- Instagram: @thevanityparlor / @salemburlesque
- Other: https://thevanityparlor.glossgenius.com/
