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I grew up in Kyoto, Japan, and when I turned 20, I looked around and asked myself, "Is this all there is?" Although Kyoto is a relatively small city, because it attracts a lot of foreign tourism, I had the opportunity to observe people from all over the world. The foreigners fascinated me— their clothes, their hair color, and the languages I heard. I realized there was something bigger out there and I was determined to fi nd it. I saved up my money and traveled to Los Angeles. Even though I didn't speak a word of English, I landed a job in a Japanese restaurant. One day when I was making a sushi delivery to a hair salon in Beverly Hills, California, I was struck by the studio's glamour. I was totally inspired and realized I was destined to work in a salon. After graduating from the Vidal Sassoon Academy, I got a job as an assistant where Stuart Gavert worked, which as fate would have it, was the salon where I had made my decision to become a colorist. I was obsessed with his talent and eventually I went to work for him. Luckily for me, he had been traveling to Japan to teach, and he took me with him as his assistant and translator. He was my mentor, and through observing him, I learned how to teach. When Stuart opened his salon, I became a colorist and I started to teach Japanese straightening there on a regular basis. When Stuart suddenly passed away, I was also in the process of getting a divorce. Losing both my mentor and my marriage at the same time made me want a fresh start, so I went to work at nearby Neil George Salon. In 2014, I broke my shoulder in an accident and couldn't work for more than a month. I did a lot of soul searching and realized how precarious my ability to earn a living was because it was dependent on my being on the fl oor. It was then that I began to entertain the idea of opening my own salon. In 2016, I opened Salon Kazumi in Beverly Hills. At my salon, I was able to introduce Japanese aesthetics and philosophy—they are key to the salon's success, and in Japan, customer service is huge. I also wanted to create a space with positive energy where my artists could be uplifted and inspire each other. Teamwork is very important at Salon Kazumi and I want my staff to feel supported. I love to mentor people, and train my assistants to eventually move to a chair of their own. This way I can continue to work with them as they grow and perfect their talent in a nurturing environment. Additionally, I travel to Japan several times a year to teach color techniques. Traditionally, color was never a big part of Japanese hair care, but with the advent of Instagram, clients there are getting more adventurous and want to replicate what they see in the West. However, there is a lack of knowledge as to how to achieve the desired results, so I now work with a Japanese hair care company giving seminars. I fi nd myself providing encouragement, guidance and motivation. As a group, Japanese stylists are incredibly driven and hardworking, but need reinforcement of the fact that they have a valuable skill. I want to be a bridge between the hair industry in the States and in Japan; in particular, I want to encourage Japanese stylists to dream bigger. —As told to Kamala Kirk Live & Learn/ POV 40 | BEAUTY LAUNCHPAD | OCTOBER 2017 Celebrity colorist and salon owner Kazumi Morton talks about bridging the gap between her native Japan and Beverly Hills, California. East Meets West TOP: COURTESY OF SALON KAZUMI; BOTTOM: JQ WILLIAMS Kazumi Morton Morton works on a client in her salon.