A passion for all things beauty was instilled in me at a young age...probably too young
--a fact I highly accredit to the early 2000’s cultural obsession with stars like Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie (I still have every season of The Simple Life if you guys want to binge later). I was obsessed with doing my makeup, and I wanted it to look exactly the same if not better than the photos I saw of celebrities online and in the tabloids. This obsession carried me through high school, doing my friends hair and makeup for photos, even getting some extra cash in college when girls wanted to look their best to try their fakes out at local bars. And yet, I wasn’t ever viewing it as a viable career path.
Unfortunately, the stigma of working in the beauty industry was very real for me growing up. Academia was encouraged by my peers, and I was great at the whole education thing. I graduated high school and went on to college where I studied politics and public policy, with a concentration in American politics and homeland security. I kicked college’s ass; however, the reality of working in the field for the rest of my life upon graduating caused some serious existential dread. I started to look to my creative outlet, makeup artistry, for an escape. I figured perhaps a part-time gig to enjoy on the side might rescue me from the mundane 9-5 routine I was currently facing. In New York, makeup falls under the umbrella license of cosmetology...and I wanted this to be as legitimate of a career opportunity as possible. I threw my hat in the ring, enrolling in cosmetology school to expand on my self-taught knowledge of makeup and hair design.
It didn’t take long for me to realize the opportunities available for me in the field. I quickly fell in love with the concept of working as a hairstylist, no matter what anyone else thought of it (though I will say, I am so happy the stereotype of the ditzy hairstylist has come such a long way in recent years). I was fascinated by the visual aspect of creating a shape with my shears, with the science of color work --all of it. I was able to build a professional foundation and kick off a career working in the best salons in the capital region.
It took a little while to find where I really belonged in the beauty industry. I began pursuing work on film sets as a hair and makeup assistant --but that environment and lack of creative freedom wasn’t right for me. I found out that I am happiest when I feel challenged. I need to be behind the chair, creating the perfect color, cut, and style for my clients. I specialize in all things blonde. Balayage, foilyage, a little blonde, a lot of blonde. I love doing it, and I pride myself on my ability to create dimensional color hand-tailored to each client. Every client is a new project, and I can honestly say it never feels like work. Except you know what does feel like work? Learning how to build a website. xx
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