g tournai

the visionary behind the studio

 
 
 
image30827.jpg
 

Hello, friends.
I’m Georgia.
Or ‘G’, for short.


I know we just met, but I’m going to get a little personal. Eventually you’re going to tell me about your life, assuming I’m lucky enough to be able to have you in my chair and earn a connection with you. So it’s only fair, right?

Upon graduating high school, one of my trans-identifying friends wanted to shave their head to better match how they truly felt. Growing up as a queer kid myself, of course I supported their decision and embarked on the quest of finding a salon to cut their hair. We visited multiple salons, and to our dismay, were refused service. Ultimately, this led to the crazy notion of doing it ourselves. So we purchased clippers, set up in their bathroom, and we shaved each other’s heads. It was such a pivotal moment for both of us and as I watched clumps of hair fall to the floor with each pass of the clipper, I felt a sense of solidarity and freedom. It lifted a burden for both of us that we weren’t fully able to comprehend and it was at that moment I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

I knew I needed to do this.

So I enrolled in hair school and after years of continuing my education, exacting my craft, and excelling in my career, I took another enormous step and bought my very own gender non-conforming barber shop in the town of Brush, Colorado; a rural, agricultural town of less than 6,000 people. I was only 23 at the time, but after just two years I was able to grow my business by over 80% and was hiring more stylists and barbers to work while I was also off designing and executing runway hairstyles as a new front-runner of hair fashion in Colorado. I also began working for editorial photo shoots as a concept designer, and even film work with Michael Lauter, an Academy Award Winning director.

After traveling and having the opportunity to educate other industry professionals, do hair for various magazines, New York Fashion Weeks, and off-Broadway productions, I wanted to really just find my roots again. After seven years of ownership, I sold my barber shop to my former manager in the summer of 2019 and in 2020 (right before the pandemic hit) was able to take my runway career international by leading hair for a designer in the Paris Fashion Week shows. My partner, our copious amounts of pups, and I made the bold move to Palm Springs, a community that we’ve adored and wanted to be a part of permanently for years. This is where we know we want to place those roots.

And I guess that’s where the studio comes in.

 

Me + Tabby Tabs (my mentor, Tabatha Coffey) the last time we saw each other in person, 2022. (Also, don’t call her Tabby Tabs.)

 

What’s Happening Now..

For this studio, G TOURNAI Hair + Creative Sturdio, I was the curator of all things I felt like I couldn’t get my hands with complete and utter confidence before. Owning a barber shop in a small town, I did what I could to make it a more open and inviting space, but I still felt like I was locking a piece of myself away, almost that I had to hide who I was because I was afraid of what people might think in a small, rural community. In this space, I’ve truly been able to have it be an affirming space for me, and in turn hope that it’s a genuine feeling for everyone that walks in it, no matter who they are. This is my love child, between myself and my Craft, and what better place to put it than here in Palm Springs. With the help of my amazing wife and completely fabulous mentor, Tabatha Coffey, I’ve been able to actualize a space that I’ve been dreaming about for years.

I specialize in everything cut, color & hair enhancements, with special emphasis on clipper cutting techniques, customized colors, tape- & k-tip extensions & wig customization on everyone, and pricing is not gender specific.

When I’m not behind the chair, I travel as a conceptual hair lead for a clothing designer, Darkm0th Industries, who I most recently was creative lead for Thailand and Paris Fashion Week. I’ve also lead hair for multiple Denver and New York Fashion Weeks, and worked for Fashion Week Studios for New York, Paris, and Milan shows. Since runway, I’ve taken a dive into education with the product company Matrix as well as independent consulting and mentoring, all the while under the guidance of my mentor, Tabatha Coffey. I’m excited to give what I’ve learned in the industry to those around me.

I’m available for educational opportunities, guest speaking, special events, editorial and shoot styling, film & theatre, and behind the chair. If you are interested in a mentorship, contact me today!

I’d love the chance to get to work with you, behind the chair or otherwise. So let’s take that leap together and get to know each other!

Remember, it doesn’t matter how we define ourselves, just as long as we are ourselves.

 
 

"
Patient, reassuring, and extremely welcoming! A true professional, one that you do not find in other salons.. G is an artist! We finally found a salon worth going to and the money is very well spent there. Thank you for making my daughter smile for the first time in months and making her feel beautiful!

/  very Satisfied guest  /

 
 

FEATURED IN..

modern salon magazine
canvas rebel la
voyage la
visit palm springs
american salon magazine
Volant magazine
NOCO MAGAZINE
BEAUTY UNDERGROUND MAGAZINE
shoutout colorado
Voyage denver
Denver luxury magazine
303 Magazine

ADDITIONAL CREDITS

#3 COACHella valley’s best salon
runway designer & coordinator, not another second benefit palm springs
Barbtailer and partner to barb products
Matrix educational artist
IMDB CREDIT
Grammy celebrity hair
ROCK PAPER SHEARS BRAND AMBASSADOR
PAPER FASHION SHOW DESIGN TEAM 2018
THE KYT BRAND AMBASSADOR
FEATURED COMMERCIAL FOR NOCO MAGAZINE
ELEVATE HAIR GUEST ARTIST
COMPLETED TIER 1 OF THE BEN MOLLIN PROJECT
2018 GREELEY’S #1 HAIRSTYLIST
2019 GREELEY’S #3 HAIRSTYLIST
2020 GREELEY’S #3 HAIR SALON
DARKM0TH INDUSTRY CONCEPTUAL HAIR LEAD
FASHION WEEK STUDIOS HAIR LEAD
andis guest platform artist & educator
Andis #2 clipper ace challenge 2017
97.5 bob fm fort morgan