Today we’d like to introduce you to Joselyne Ortega.
With 14 years of hairstylist experience, and a graduate from the well-known Toni & Guy Academy, Joselyne “Jawz” is a born and raised Boston native who first discovered her passion for hair care and styling at the young age of 14 where she assisted clients at her parent’s salon. The exposure to this business environment created a passion and fascination for hair within her.
Not only is she an entrepreneur in the hair industry who provides elite services but is also an artist who utilizes her creativity in the hair world. In addition to her renowned hair art, she specializes in natural hair care, braiding techniques, and protective styling. Being able to incorporate unique, distinct, and exclusive artistry in the hair industry has gained her celebrity clientele over the years from NBA Boston Celtics player, Gerald Green, Boston Red Sox’s Infielder, Deven Marrero, well know Muralist; Don Rimx, to the upcoming artist, Xavier Wolf, as well as Patriot players; Danny Shelton, Brandon king, and Geneo Grissom. In 2017, the ‘ByJawz’ hairstyling business was featured in the Boston Herald newspaper and in Man Magazine, one of highlighted topics was her creation of the Boston Celtics shamrock clover braid that made ‘Jawz’ drop, all over the internet.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
To take nothing and make it something because there is a need. I learned this earlier in my life as a young dancer, primarily specializing in break dancing. As a female breakdancer, better known as bgirl, a lot of creating and concept building go into play. It’s finding the loop wholes and creating a purpose for it – in your movement, steps, ideas, etc. and doing it all as one purposeful movement. As I transitioned into a full-time hairstylist, I embodied all my prior experience on creating and wanted to make sure everything I did was intentional! That I trusted the process and knew that it wasn’t meant for everyone, but that I needed to express it to be able to move forward onto the next creative process – or forever I would be a prisoner to it.
I use my foundation in braiding and crocheting techniques in all my editorial/avante guarde styling because it’s important to me for people to be inspired by the idea that you can take something, develop it, fine tune it, etc. and before you know it – turns into this extraordinary piece. It’s learning to allow yourself to flow completely and trust that at the end it will all come to life as that need naturally will become fulfilled. I want people to understand it is 100% expression and self-discovery. That with every piece created you unlock another part of you, you didn’t even know existed. To know self, is to live in a world as an open book …so create your chapters, fill in your pages and know each paragraph will have its mark.
How can artists connect with other artists?
Always be open minded! Community over competition. Use healthy competition to inspire you and keep you aware of trends, growth and development in your field of choice, but never be driven by it because you’ll always be chasing a high and forget why you started in the first place! Stay grounded and above all self-discovery is key in all you do – the more you know you, the more the exterior won’t label nor frighten you, but just exist so you have the choice of embrace or neglect things as you see fit.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Check my website or Instagram out for updates and event post to stay updated with upcoming projects.
Contact Info:
- Email: ByJawz@yahoo.com
- Instagram: Byjawz
Image Credit:
@geordenewest
@adamavidphoto
@g.ortizphotography
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
