Meet Perry Meeks | Salon Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Perry Meeks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Perry, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
“Sticks and stones may break your bones but words may never hurt you.” Sounds good – but WORDS CAN HURT! Someone can say something to you or about you that not only hurts, but also leaves a permanent scar! Things that were said to me in my childhood I’m still recovering from. Before therapy, poisonous words that I held on to for years stunted my growth. It’s hard enough recovering from the negative words we tell our own selves – let alone someone else’s negative comments. That’s why it’s so important to be around people that speak positivity into our lives. 

What should our readers know about your business?
The Grain is the first openly accepting LGBQT luxury salon in Atlanta. It’s located in the heart of Buckhead across from the most expensive restaurants & retail in the city. This is a huge accomplishment for a young, black entrepreneur and is something we take pride in as a salon team. Established in 2016, The Grain became the buzz in the gay community because most have felt intimidated and in some cases estranged from strait shops because of toxic masculinity. Usually in barbershops, the conversation and fraternity-like environment tend to make a queer person feel intimidated and uncomfortable. No one wants to feel uncomfortable during what should be one of the most spirit-reviving times of the week (getting your hair done)! Word-of-mouth made our salon an over-night success and we’ve been ecstatic that people have supported our movement over the years – to have a safe, comfortable and equal space for everyone including the salon staff who are meshed with both queer and very strait people.

At our salon, we make sure every client feels welcomed, seen and heard. We believe what makes us stand out beyond most is that we are a family. I always exclaim to the staff, “What comes from the heart reaches the heart”. When clients see us getting along, enjoying the salon space and loving one another, it will reverberate. Everything starts at home!
Some have jokingly called our salon a “House” because of our loyalty to one another. I believe this feeling of home is the gravity that continues to pull people in. An excellent haircut is just the cherry on top.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When I want to show someone a good time in ATL, I always start with a Skyline view. Atlanta is so gorgeous at night with the buildings glowing against the backdrop of a setting sun & rising moon. The Westin hotel has the best view of the Georgia sunset with it’s panoramic restaurant view, you can see everything from Stone Mountain to Buckhead to Six Flags! After a bougie dinner, hit the nightlife at Boogaloos. It’s not every day adults get to swing…I’ll explain when we get there -*wink*. Morning recovery would be at Breakfast at Barney’s or Platez two of my favorite black-owned brunch restaurant bars. It would be a sin to come to the Black Mecca without experiencing the black success everyone raves of! After that we’d walk it off with a trip down the belt line leading to the beautiful & historic Peidmont Park and Midtown district.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Every Color Matters – It’s a Cancer foundation that auctions art and other goods to raise money for people fighting cancer that do not have medical insurance to cover their treatment. A client of The Grain, Barney Jackson is lead in the company and deserves ALL the support from us. If you have lost anyone due to cancer, its especially important to support this cause. You can find Barney at @meetbarneyjackson on IG or email at everycolormatters@gmail.com .

Website: https://instagram.com/thegrainbuckhead?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Instagram: @thegrainbuckhead

Facebook: The Grain Buckhead

Other: Email: thegraingroomingstudio@gmail.com

Image Credits
I own the credits