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Tabatha Lets Her Hair Down

Tabatha Coffey, star of Tabatha’s Salon Takeover on Bravo, blows out her image’s frosted tips and gives new meaning to the word “bitch.”


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She’s tough, she’s talented, and she might be taking over a salon — or a gay nightclub — near you. Winner of the “fan favorite” award on season 1 of Shear Genius, Tabatha Coffey now gives business makeovers to struggling salon owners as host of Tabatha’s Salon Takeover on Bravo, which airs the show’s second season finale on Tuesday, January 12. Preparing for a special appearance at New York’s Splash on Thursday, January 7, the Australia-born Coffey called from her own salon, Industrie Hair Gurus in Ridgewood, N.J., to cut up with Advocate.com about stereotypical gay stylists, unsolicited sperm donors, and the Boystown salon that brought out her militant lesbian claws.


Advocate.com: Congrats on another terrific season, Tabatha, but don’t you ever get tired of hearing people call you a bitch?
Tabatha Coffey: [Laughs] I guess I don’t get tired of it, but that doesn’t mean that I like it. I have my own definition for “bitch,” because I just think people don’t know what else to call a strong female. So when people call me a bitch, I think of my own definition: It doesn’t mean that I’m being catty and mean, it just means I’m being strong and honest.

You throw out the b word and much worse, which often gets you bleeped more than the salon staffers. Have you ever thought of getting one of those swear jars where you have to put a quarter in every time you curse?
No, but that’s a really good idea. I do swear in my everyday life. When I get frustrated with the people I’m dealing with, that’s when those words start to fly.

In my favorite episode this season you visited Chicago Male, a men-only salon in Chicago’s Boystown neighborhood, and called the staff “gay deer in headlights.”
Well, they were! [Laughs] But I feel I sucked the gay out of them when I went in there.

You obviously have to deal with a lot of gay male stylists. Are they all whiny divas like your show suggests?
No, I can’t say they all are, because I’ve worked with many that are not, but there are a lot of prima donnas out there for sure.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Rene
    Date posted: 1/21/2010 12:32:03 AM
    Hometown: Houston

    Comment:

    Love love love Tabatha! I love her strong personality! She has an awesome personality and she really had helped a lot of people. Good luck to her in the future.

  • Name: Alejandro
    Date posted: 1/12/2010 12:27:24 PM
    Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

    Comment:

    Why do you think gay men are so visible in the hair industry? ... Let’s face it: What gay man doesn’t love to dress up a woman or make her look pretty? From what I’ve gathered from various lesbian websites, the ladies are happy you’re helping quash the stereotype that all lesbians wear flannel and rock mullets. Are you proud to show America that lesbians do have style? I am, actually, so I embrace that support. I once had someone tell me that they didn’t know I was a lesbian because I was so fashionable. CONTRADICTION HERE ANYONE?

  • Name: Tamara
    Date posted: 1/11/2010 8:30:00 PM
    Hometown: NYC

    Comment:

    I absolutely adore Tabatha and have been hooked on her show from the start. It's like Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares but with hair! I've fangirled Tabatha ever since Shear Genius, but I have to say that my respect and admiration for her shot up even more when I saw the episode with Chicago Male. I was cheering her on every minute and loved how she called those ignorant queens on their blatant misogyny. Too often we as women are made to be invisible whenever talk turns to "the community", the "community" for pricks like the owner of that overpriced pretentious barbershop really is code for "people I'd like to bone". And too often gay male misogyny gets a pass, particularly in the mainstream media. I really appreciated what Tabatha did in that episode and I was pleased to see the turnaround in that shop, probably more than any other she's done this season.

  • Name: Eric Mathew
    Date posted: 1/11/2010 8:25:03 PM
    Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

    Comment:

    Tabatha is great! The show is hysterical, but at the same time she really knows what she is doing. She is such an artist and I sure hope Bravo does a third season.. because I know everyone will keep watching!

  • Name: Todd E.
    Date posted: 1/11/2010 2:36:24 AM
    Hometown: Long Beach, CA

    Comment:

    I hope Tabatha will hook up with Locks of Love, which collects hair for making wigs for sick kids. I donated nine inches three months ago, and it takes more than six tails/braids to make one wig. Google "Locks of Love" for more info.

  • Name: Greenlee
    Date posted: 1/9/2010 11:59:52 AM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    Exceptional article, and I enjoy viewing her show. Its nice to watch Tabatha put certain individual's in their place where they belong...but in a professional and honest way. When she starts her cancer foundation, let me know as I would love to work with her...

  • Name: David Michael Conner
    Date posted: 1/8/2010 3:39:49 PM
    Hometown: Washington, D.C.

    Comment:

    Great interview, Brandon! Tabatha does come across as ruthless on the show, but as you said, in real life (and even on Twitter), she comes across as sincere, gracious and respectful. After seeing one particularly vile salon owner this season (the one who drinks and keeps a dildo at his station and shows it off to customers), I tweeted Tabatha that she should have given up on him. She wrote back, "everyone deserves help." And she really means it. I love that Bravo doesn't exploit her personal life; she might be a bit crass sometimes, but Tabatha's show is about helping people without being treacly like "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." <3 TC

  • Name: Doug Johnson
    Date posted: 1/8/2010 3:32:13 PM
    Hometown: d

    Comment:

    I love her! She is full of common sense and isn't afraid to share with those who seem bereft of it. I wouldn't want to be on the bad side of her too often. I'm sure of that.

  • Name: Zak
    Date posted: 1/8/2010 2:18:12 PM
    Hometown: Atlanta

    Comment:

    Go Tabatha! Great article, thanks Advocate. Not only is she great television, she's an inspiration for her business sense. I think she and Susie Orman should run for President and VP.

  • Name: JB
    Date posted: 1/7/2010 10:33:12 PM
    Hometown: Chicago

    Comment:

    It's funny that she doesn't like cats, because she kind of looks like one. Fun interview - she is good tv.



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