Scrolling by way of social media could be considerably predictable generally…there’s the everyday collection of memes, photos of buddies’ cute youngsters and grandchildren, and plenty of enjoyable pet photos. However for those who occur to comply with Anaïs Hayden, “The Goddess of Colour,” from Atlanta, GA, on Fb or Instagram, you’ll find your media peppered with frequent photos of sensible artwork—gasp-worthy colours and designs, all created on the inconceivable “canvas” of fur.
“I needed to work with canine since I used to be eight years previous,” Hayden shared. “I needed to be a veterinarian, however I’m horrible at math, so I seemed into pursuing my second dream, which was artwork. Fortunately for me, God pointed me within the path the place I used to be in a position to mix each of my true loves collectively and make a profession out of it. It’s laborious work, extraordinarily time-consuming, and the stress is gigantic, however it’s so value it.
“After I first began, I had no concept individuals would need it and would purchase it, and that I might grow to be a canine colorist,” she mentioned about artistic grooming.
Hayden’s distinctive colorwork differs from most of what we see within the artistic competitions at grooming commerce exhibits in that she makes a speciality of engaged on small canine with flat coats. In distinction, the canine within the artistic ring are virtually solely normal Poodles.
“I first began working for The Queen of Colour, Daybreak Omboy, at her pet grooming store referred to as Klippers in Columbus, GA once I was 15 years previous. Daybreak taught me find out how to groom canine and launched me to the fantastic world of artistic grooming,” Hayden mentioned.
That first introduction has taken Hayden to ranges of nationwide recognition. Her work has been seen on ABC’S 20/20, The Anderson Cooper Present, HBO’s Haute Canine, CBS Information and within the motion pictures The Starvation Video games and Triple 9. Her work has additionally been featured in a number of magazines, together with Southern Residing, Jezebel and Groomer to Groomer.
In a current interview on the grooming podcast Sh*t on the Desk, Hayden mentioned that after her look on Anderson Cooper, she acquired a lot of damaging criticism about her work. Not solely do I love Hayden’s skills to design and create the photographs she does, however I additionally applaud her angle in relation to coping with the cruel criticism she receives.
“Folks say horrible issues about me and the colour,” Hayden continued. “I spoke to my grandmother about it, and she or he mentioned, ‘They’ll speak about you whether or not you do dangerous or good, so that you may as properly simply maintain doing what you want.’ I’m going on hate teams now simply so they are going to speak about my work as a result of hate teams unfold it quicker than the love teams.”
It isn’t straightforward to understand how anybody can so vehemently despise artistic grooms. Hayden shared her principle: “Most individuals who strongly dislike artistic grooming simply can’t think about ever having it carried out to their canine. They like their canine’ pure coats and really feel very passionately that different individuals ought to really feel the identical means.”
I requested what it’s she likes finest about artistic grooming, and she or he replied, “How a artistic groom appears to be like extraordinary. I like that it consists of various vivid and vivid colours, and the way a lot thought and creativity goes behind the work. I like most of all how the canine get the additional consideration they deserve after they obtain a artistic grooming.”
Working from her house studio, Hayden’s work consists of a mixture of conventional pet grooming and extra colourful creations for her clients. As a result of her artistic grooms are so time-consuming, she maintains a non-refundable deposit so as to schedule along with her.
“The deposit is between 20 and 40% for artistic and common grooming, relying on the anticipated grooming cost. Attributable to my buyer appreciation coverage, all grandfathered shoppers have this layer price waived,” she mentioned.
Hayden can also be the proud mom of a five-year-old daughter, whom she refers to as her “biggest artistic.” I requested her what her daughter thinks of her work, to which she replied: “She thinks all canine are presupposed to look colourful. Seeing different canine with out coloration makes her surprise why they aren’t colourful but. She at all times compliments any groom I do, with or with out coloration. She actually thinks every thing I do is magic.”
Fortunately, her daughter’s opinion is shared by many! ✂️