Building a Future in Grooming: Meet Jaheim McRae
Meet Paragon Certified Groom Tech Jaheim McRae! Based in Greensboro, North Carolina, Jaheim discovered dog grooming as the perfect way to turn his lifelong passion for animals into a career. After serving in the military, he decided to pursue grooming alongside his girlfriend, with dreams of one day opening their own salon and competing together in grooming competitions. Through Paragon’s Groom Tech Certification, Jaheim embraced every challenge, honed his skills, and built a strong foundation for an exciting future in the grooming industry.
His mentor, Elise Anderson, shares:
“Jaheim came into the program excited and ready to go. He’s always been honest about his work, and his submissions have consistently gone above and beyond! I’m proud of everything he’s accomplished and can’t wait to see what he achieves next.”
Why did you choose dog grooming as a career?
I’ve had a lot of pets throughout my life, including bearded dragons, snakes, ferrets, birds, cats, dogs, and turtles. I’ve always had a huge passion for animals. My girlfriend is also a dog groomer, and after getting out of the military, we made plans to one day open our own salon. We also hope to earn medals competing together in dog grooming competitions.
What did you enjoy most during your coursework?
I definitely enjoyed being challenged the most. Working with different dog breeds and having the opportunity for hands-on experience, along with guidance from my wonderful mentor through Paragon and my salon lead at Petsense, made the learning experience incredibly rewarding.
Where can we see your work?
I don’t have any of my work posted yet, but my girlfriend and I plan to launch an Instagram page together soon. We’re waiting until I gain more experience and continue developing my haircutting skills before sharing our work publicly.
What are your future goals?
My future goals include traveling the world to participate in grooming shows and agility competitions. I also plan on continuing to grow as a professional groomer.
Any advice for aspiring groomers?
Don’t give up. Grooming is physically demanding and can be exhausting, but it is also incredibly rewarding. When you feel like quitting, find a sweet puppy to remind you why you started. Sometimes a few puppy kisses are all the motivation you need to keep going.