Megan Robinson is the salon owner and hairstylist at Pearlita NYC! She’s California bred, Brooklyn based, and a genuine free spirit who loves a good time as much as she loves her rest!

Oh man, I recently went to the Rockhouse Hotel in Negril, Jamaica. I absolutely love the Caribbean and have been all over that part of the world, but this place felt really special. The colors—especially after a drab New York winter—felt like they breathed life back into my soul. The flora and fauna, the emerald-ness of the water, and the general laid-back lifestyle had me at such peace. Feeling my feet on the earth and connecting with the ocean, a lack of routine, just feeling the sun on my face. Jamaicans are incredibly friendly and seem so content with their slower way of life, and it was the most relaxing vacation I’ve ever been on while still being so fun and active. It did exactly what a vacation should do—remove stress, and when I got back to New York, I felt so inspired to get back to work and feel creative again. Rejuvenated, even.

I am confident, if anything! I’ve always considered myself a doer. I have lots of big ideas, and honestly, a lot of them come to fruition because I make things happen, all while keeping my ego in check. I do not have any qualms about asking for help. I always say the key to running a successful small business is being able to delegate whenever you can. I’ve been told I have a unique quality that makes people (particularly my clients) feel comfortable and taken care of, which was one of my goals when opening a salon—like you’re hanging out with your friends. There are no pretentious vibes happening.

Hustle culture and status. I appreciate a hard work ethic, I’m a Capricorn but moving to New York I’ve had many eye opening moments where I’ve come to realize you can have all the money in the world, but it truly doesn’t buy happiness. That comes from within yourself and doing the mental work to get there, and choosing joy when you’re able to.

Taking care of myself. I never skimp on self-care—it is sooooo important to me. Setting up preventative acupuncture appointments to keep my body intact for my future. Setting the mood, even when I am alone. I always have a candle lit and low ambient light when I’m home. Chinese acupressure massages. Therapy. Comfort shows and comfort food.

I grew up in a quintessential surf town in San Diego, California. This was the ’90s and early 2000s, so parenting was a little more relaxed back then. We didn’t need nannies—we would get dropped off at the beach at 10 a.m. with $5 for lunch and picked up at 5 p.m.! With that being said, water—particularly salty water (my second favorite body of water is a river)—is essential for my well-being. There are times when I crave being in the ocean. I legit have a car in Brooklyn so I can drive to Long Island in the summer just to get my fix, and I’ve been known to never take a trip unless water is involved. Paris? Not for me—can’t go swimming. I even listen to ocean or rain sounds on my sound machine to fall asleep at night!

Oh my god, getting myself out of bed when I wake up. I used to sleep in really late but for the past month I’ve been waking up around 6am. I wish I was the type of person who would just get up and be useful, but I just lay there, confused on what people do this early.

LOL. A tiny, fluffy, blonde Chihuahua mix, Prada purse, Trader Joe’s flower arrangement, a martini, passport and/or plane ticket, the comfiest bed of all time, carrying a book around like an accessory but hardly reading it, drowsy sleep mask, something leopard print, Tower 28 mascara, orangey-red almond nails. I eat ma po tofu like three times a week. Oh, and a cute dinner table—I love hosting! Byredo candle in Bibliothèque, and Kismet Olfactive perfume in Tuberose Tantra.

I need to regrout this thing.