David Blackstock and Salon Six 9

David Blackstock and his team at Salon Six 9 in Ft. Worth, Texas

All Photos:  Alan Mercer

David Blackstock is a celebrity stylist and owner of Salon Six 9 in Ft. Worth, Texas.  He is a stylist and hair artist to clients across the US, including Hollywood legends Mamie Van Doren and Ruta Lee, while counting among his friends Gennifer Flowers, Ruth Buzzi and Debbie Reynolds.  His talent has also garnered him opportunities to work with many other entertainment personalities including Carol Channing, Phyllis Diller, Stefanie Powers and JoAnn Worley.

Furthermore, David's career was influenced by his longtime friend and mentor, Mr. Blackwell, who always supported David's journey to becoming a celebrity style consultant.  Now David celebrates twenty years in the field!

David's work can be seen in a variety of media opportunities such as on Broadway and on television including CNN's 'Larry King Live,' NBC's 'The Today Show,' HBO's 'Politically Incorrect' as well as The Biography Channel and celebrity news program 'The Insider.'

David also celebrates philanthropy , including The Thalians, a Los Angeles based organization who's mission is to educate and enlighten the world about mental illness.  He believes in giving back so that others may find opportunity to realize thier individual potential as well.

I met David Blackstock through my friend Mamie Van Doren and we had an instant rapport.  It just happens that David and his partner Tony live less than ten miles away from my family so I get to see them routinely when I visit my family in Texas.  We have worked with Ruta Lee, Carol Channing, Gennifer Flowers and Ruth Buzzi together.  I'm sure there will be many more in the near future!  Also pictured is a model with hair by David and his staff at the Salon. 
  

David Blackstock

AM:  You're a celebrity stylist, and you've had your Salon for two years now.  Are you loving it? 

DB:  Yes, it's fabulous! It allows me the flexibility to express my own creativity according to my own rules.

AM:  What is the difference between working in a Salon and owning it?

DB:  The responsibilities are greater, of course, but the rewards are also better!  After over 20 years in the celebrity style genre, I have a relatively good understanding of what it takes to accentuate a clients individual beauty. As a salon owner and a working stylist, I also have the opportunity to help new hair stylists build a career in this very rewarding industry.

AM:  How did you decide on the name, Salon Six 9?

DB:  I have a love affair with the Sixties, and the year sixty-nine is my favorite year.  Everything that inspires me is from the Sixties; from the hair to the fashion.  A lot of the ladies I know in Hollywood come from that era.  I wanted to pay homage to them, while creating a little bit of glamour in this pocket of Fort Worth. 

AM:  How do you take Sixties styles and apply it to 2011?

DB:  I just use the hair styles from the Sixties as inspiration, updating them to work in today's fashion genres.  Fortunately the hair styles that are popular now are a lot like the Sixties.  I am so inspired by that era. I use that inspiration as a foundation for my creativity every day. 

AM: Is big hair coming back?

DB: Yes. Big hair is very dramatic, which is why it never goes out of style in Texas!

AM:  Has Fort Worth responded to Salon Six 9 the way you thought it would?

DB:  Yes, the community has responded very positively. In fact, the salon was selected as "Best salon for a lady to get that color touch up," by the staff of  Fort Worth, Texas magazine after being open our first year. That was quite the compliment for a relatively new salon.

AM:  Is it true that you are one of the only Salons in the area that is integrated racially?

DB:  Yes. My manager, Dana, and I decided we wanted all kinds of people; not just all Caucasian, or all African American, or all Hispanic. We wanted a variety of beauty experts like you would find in Los Angeles or New York.  After all, hair is hair. 

AM:  Do you have any other goals right now?

DB:  Expanding and continuing to build the Salon Six 9 brand name is a continued focus of mine. For example, I recently joined the team of TasteMakers at MoxieQ.com. I write a weekly blog which inspires the everyday woman to bring out the celebrity in herself.

AM:  Are you going to have your own brand of products?

DB:  Definitely. My team and I are working on that project right now.  We're in talks with a lab in California. 

AM:  How long does it take to go from discussing private label branding to introducing actual product?

DB:  It can take at least a year. There is a significant investment of time and research required to insure that the final product meets the expectations of both myself and my clients. When you put your name on something, you own the results as well.

AM:  Do you have any celebrities that come into your Salon?

DB:  Definitely.  Ruth Buzzi and Ruta Lee are regular clients. Both have homes in Fort Worth.  Gennifer Flowers, who is not only a client but one of my best friends, also comes into the salon if my schedule doesn't permit me to go to her home in New Orleans at the time. 

AM:  I know you come out to Los Angeles routinely to work on different clients.

DB:  Yes I do. I spend a significant amount of time in L.A. I think of it as my home away from home.

AM:  Who are some of your Los Angeles and other celebrity clients?

DB:  Debbie Reynolds, Joan Collins, Julie Newmar, Sally Struthers, Anne Lockhart, Joanne Worley and Lorenzo Lamas, to name a few. I also did Anna Nicole Smith's hair a couple of times.  That was one of the highlights of my career. Additionally,  I've worked with Joan Rivers at Casa Manana, in Fort Worth. She was such a lovely lady. And I have worked with both Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette at Billy Bob's Texas.  I've been very fortunate to be able to work with the women who have influenced me. 

AM:  What have you learned from these women?

DB:  You have to be strong and confident in any job you do, especially if you are a public personality because you are under such scrutiny all the time.  These women can rise to the occasion when they need to. 

AM:  You and I worked together on Carol Channing as well!

DB:  Yes, we did. And oh what fun that was. She was such a childhood idol for me!  She has the sweetest soul and the best disposition. She is so giving and so loving, and makes you feel like she has known you your whole life.  That is such a gift for someone to have, and to give. I'll never forget that day. I'm glad you and I had the opportunity to share that experience together.

AM:  Me too.  Do any men inspire you?

DB:  Of course. One man who inspired me was Mr. Blackwell.  He was willing to risk popularity by saying what was on his mind. But he never said anything negative about a celebrity's style unless he liked them. His criticism was always delivered with love and respect. I don't think many people knew that about him.

AM:  Would you ever open a Salon in Los Angeles?

DB:  If there was a clientele base and a need for it, I would definitely consider the possibility. Salons are like family. You have to give them lots of personal attention and love if you want them to be successful. Fortunately, as you build a team of talented stylists, you create opportunity to begin the process over again in other locations.

AM:  Is there any other city you would like to open a Salon in?

DB:  Austin, TX, would definitely be one consideration. It's becoming the entertainment capital of Texas and is such a progressive city. I could see another Salon Six 9 being very successful in that setting.

AM:  What is your philosophy regarding hair?

DB: That you need to wear the hair, the hair doesn't need to wear you.  You can wear your hair anyway you want as long as you have the confidence to pull it off. 

AM:  Do you have any final thoughts regarding the celebrity style business?

DB:  You don't have to be a celebrity to look like one. Finding your individual look, and then bringing it out in a way that compliments who you are and who you want to be, is perhaps the most difficult for some people. Equally important though, is change. Change is good. Take risks with your style, and be true to yourself. Celebrities often set new trends into motion. More often than not though, these trends are picked up from the street. That means that anyone can set the stage for upcoming styles by simply being themselves. It happens all the time.

To learn more about Salon Six 9 visit their web site http://www.salonsix9.com/