I'm very proud of what I've accomplished to date. I'm a self employed color specialist, National Educator for Joico/ISO (an exclusive international product and color line), a session stylist for avant garde and beauty photography, etc. I've styled for many local and national publications and will be styling for my first runway fashion show in Atlanta the end of this month. My ultimate goal is to avidly work with photographers and designers for creative shoots and runway shows and to travel to location to color/style for celebrities and public figures. I want to be a household name. We only have one life and I want to make the most of it. I want to be as successful as I possibly can be in this field and there's nothing to stop me from making it happen. I'm driven and motivated and I'm so excited for what's in store for me.
I feel like I'm interviewing for a job or something, lol. With this being my first blog, I just want to give it's readers a little overview of who I am and what I'm about. In future posts I'll get into how and why I started my career and how've I've gotten to the place I am now. I suppose my motivation for writing this is to document my life as a hairdresser to A. share my story with other stylists and to B. connect with artists and potential clients. We're a digital generation that needs to do no more than point and click and link up with people you'd never have the opportunty of meeting otherwise. The internet and social networking sites are the way to go to make connections and open doors for yourself. When I got started years ago I made a Myspace page, started posting portfolio photos and adding people left and right. I know that is one of the sole reasons I have the volume of clientele I have today. These sites make it SO much easier to share what you're about with the public....and it's free! Now I have Facebook page with 1,000+ friends, Twitter, a website, Pinterest and now this blog. It's an awesome way of sharing your talent with the world. I love posting pictures of colors I've done and images from photo shoots. It's great to get comments and compliments from people. It's a total ego boost and confirmation you're doing a good job. And besides, I'm in a visual field...it's all about image. So, if I'm just like "I'm a good hairdresser....I do good work. Trust me", that's kinda iffy huh? I need images to back it up. That's my advice to any up and coming stylist. TAKE PICTURES OF ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO. That's so important.
I feel like I have so much more general information about the business to go on and on about but I don't want to ramble and be boring. I'll have time for that later ;) I'm very opinionated about what being a good stylist entails. Much like Tabitha Coffey...I'm sure you've seen her shows on Bravo. She's all business and I love it. I love her calliber of professionalism. There are so many people in this business that think "Oh this might be fun to do....play with people's hair all day and sit around BSing and making money doing it". It's so much more than that to me. It's an artform and all about making your client feel good about themselves. It's not about you as the stylist, it's not 'your show'. I've heard about some ridiculous things taking place in the salon. Double/triple booking clients and forgetting about them, gossiping, price gouging, making the client physically uncomfortable (burning them or being rough with them), over processing or damaging their hair, preforming horrible cut/color techniques, not really listening during the consultation, etc. When I have a new client come in, I'm always sure to ask "What were some things that you've been dissatisfied with during past hair appointments?". I've heard some nutty things....let me tell you. It helps me set a standard of what NOT to do.
Right now I've really been into diversifying my editorial portfolio. I loooove color and in salon work, don't get me wrong but there's just something about creating some over the top looks for creative photography. It's so fun to me. It's like there is no wrong. You do have to take balance and symmetry into consideration, face shape, wardrobe etc. but ultimately you can be as creative as you're able to be. I've really been into getting these $2 bags of synthetic hair from my local weave shop and playing around with that. It's this really crimped, fuzzy texture and it's really pliable and easy to work with. It's a really neat material. You can get several colors and experiment with the depth from color and the different textures. I'm such a nerd....I just sit around thinking about hair and make-up ideas for photo shoots constantly. I wish I had more than just a couple days a week to mess around with this kind of styling for photoshoots. The only problem with photo styling is that it very seldom pays. That's one of the downsides of living in a smaller town and there not really being an outlet for this sort of thing. Now, If I was in...let's say NYC or LA I could get paid to do this all the time. So mainly 90% of my time is commited to in-salon work with an emphasis on color and cuts. I love color just as much, so it all works itself out. It's also a blast to collaborate with MUAs (make-up artists), photographers, models and designers. The whole process is super experimental and enjoyable for me. Especially getting the photos back and sharing them with everyone.
I have a multi model shoot planned for next Monday. I'm mulling over several ideas right now but sometimes it goes completely in another direction. I've gotten my best looks by just 'winging it'. That's the cool part when working with models on these beauty looks, they don't have the expectations that your normal in salon client would have....like for a wedding or special event. For this shoot next Monday Tiffanie Park is going to be the MUA. I beyond love working shoots with this chick. We've joked that we're a dynamic duo...it seems like we're always on the same page conceptually. The work is always stellar. She's like me though, very busy with a tight schedule and very much in demand with a lot of different people. So, when I get to work with her...it's always a good time ;) The photog is going to be Jessie Field. I've never worked with her but I really like all of her work I've seen. Very soft natural lighting and a really cool high fashion esthetic. The two confirmed models are Heidi Jo and Rose Bridges. Both of which are super pretty and exotic with great skin and long, dark, thick hair. So, needless to say....I'm pretty stoked about this project :)
I think this has been enough for my first blog. I blathered on and on about myself enough for one night :/ I'm looking forward to regularly writing and sharing my story and pictures with eveyone. I hope I wasn't too boring or self absorbed for you. I just really, really have a love for what I do and enjoy speaking on the subject and sharing with people. Thanks for reading and stay tuned!
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