New Bohemians: THE ENTREPRENEUR
Photography by Tom Winchester

Name: Joy Polintan

Occupation: Hairstylist, owner of Deluxe Salon in Williamsburg.

Years in New York:  Eight.

What do you love about the city?  The possibilities and the endless surplus of options.  Oh, and all the beautiful, stylish, and ambitious people walking around.  Oh, and the pizza! Can't forget the pizza!

What do you hate about the city?  The garbage. It's too much. The rats suck, too, because they're so fearless and in your face. Guess they're kinda like people who live here.

What's your definition of a New Yorker? Well, by definition it's a person who was born and raised in New York. I also believe it's someone who lives in the city (even if they weren't born or raised here) and "gets" the city. Someone who can't imagine living anywhere else while oddly planning their next escape out! But they always come back.  It's an intense place, so people need a break once in a while, especially New Yorkers!

Best or worst NY moment: I'll give you both.  My best New York moment was meeting my greatest love on a street in Tribeca. My worst New York moment was having a guy jack off in front of me on the F train. It was nine in the morning on a semi crowded train!  Yuck!

What three things are you addicted to right now?  Easy. 1) Bronzer. 2) Ramen. 3) Staying in and just watching TV.

What one NY job would you want to do if you weren't you?  I would want Patricia Fields job, for sure.

Where do you see yourself in five years?  Hopefully, living in an apartment that I own, happily with my own little family, and working only three days at the salon.

If God were an animal what would it be?  Does a unicorn count?  I guess that came to mind because God for me is such a mystery and quite magical. You may not have seen it with your own eyes, yet you feel it exists.

What do you think the difference is between faith and religion? Well, faith is the confidence in the truth of an idea, person, or thing.  And you can have faith in just about anything as long as you strongly believe it to be true. You can also have faith on your own. More often than not, when people refer to "faith" they mean faith in God.  Religion is more communal. It's an organized approach to human spirituality through literature, narratives, gatherings, music, rituals, and practice. Religion often gives meaning and structure to life and human existence. However, the components of the same religion can differ culturally.