My great-granddad used to write poems every Christmas for each of his grandkids. The year he passed away was the year I started my apprenticeship. On Christmas that year, my grandma read the first poem he ever wrote me. When she read my poem, everything in my life began to make sense! My poem talked about my love of dressing up, doing hair, painting nails and putting on makeup.
I guess you can say I was meant to become a stylist.
I come from a large family and have 5 siblings, so it was important for me to stand out from a young age.
My passion for hair, nails and fashion became apparent very quickly.
From dress up parties, to makeovers, my life as a child was filled with constant beauty.
I got involved with dance when I was two years old at Augusta West Dance Studio and competed until I graduated high school.
This was my gateway to everything beauty.
The lights, the glitter, the hair and makeup….they all influenced me. One of the team dance moms told me recently that she always knew I’d make this my career. My team would always get me to do their hair and makeup before competitions. #predictable HAHA!
As I got older, my interest in hair and makeup became insane.
I love helping people look and feel like their best self.
I’m super inspired by traveling and the beach, so my aesthetic has always been relaxed, boho beauty with a touch of saltiness…That’s me trying to make a beach joke. LOL!
It’s true though, I’ve had so many wonderful life experiences that have influenced the way I see life. From dance to travel, and family to friends, I have always felt the need to express that on the outside.
From my childhood to now, everything has fallen into place! Being able to share my experiences is what motivates me to grow.
The year was 2014, and I was a junior in high school. I remember it like it was yesterday. Stephanie King had finally let me begin assisting her. I was LIVING!!! I got to work with her in the salon learning the basics like: shampooing clients, blow-drying hair and cleaning the salon after cuts. I also assisted her at weddings by prepping make-up. Stephanie is an amazing MUA and made work SOOOOOO much fun!
I continued assisting Stephanie until the day I left for college at Georgia Southern. I can honestly say that I missed being at the salon when I left for Statesboro…the salon had become my HOME!
My first semester in college was amazing. I met great friends and made memories that would last a lifetime, but something had to change. I needed the salon!
At the end of my first semester of college, I came home for the holidays. This was more than a month of me potentially doing nothing, so my mom asked Brittany Harrington, owner of Studio 285, if I could work for her during the month I was home. Safe to say, I got a call that evening and went to work the next morning.
For the next few weeks, I worked the salon helping stylists and Brittany at Studio 285. One day, Brittany pulled me into her office and asked me a question that would change my life.
DO YOU WANT TO BE MY APPRENTICE?!?! She had been begging me since I was 12, but she meant it this time. I had to answer!
In my head, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. My answer was YES, but now I had to convince my parents, who were against me leaving college to apprentice. Their first answer was obviously….NO! (Isn’t that so rude? LOL!)
So….I went back to the drawing board. I put together a folder over the next few weeks with apprenticeship paperwork, a budget and a list of everything I needed to become a stylist. I was scheduled to start my second semester at GSU on Monday, but after talking to my parents, they hesitantly said “YES” and I showed up to Studio 285 instead.
Excited and nervous, I started apprenticing full-time for Brittany. She taught me everything from hair and clothes, to life and happiness. I owe her the world!
I assisted Brittany 24/7 for three years. We focused on basics and coloring for my first year with her. During the second year, we opened her shopping center and her Atlanta salon. We worked in Augusta during the week, and the ATL on the weekends. The two of us ate, slept and worked together every day. She had become FAMILY at this point. Not only did I learn from her but learned so much from Megan Overton and Dalton Harnage, who I was lucky enough to work beside. My third year is when my apprenticeship officially started. I was on my own, and by the end of my apprenticeship, I had a full clientele list. People my age don’t get this lucky!
My life had fallen into place. I had a great mentor, and never felt like my career was job. I was beyond lucky.
Brittany has always told me that a hairdresser has three options as a stylist:
-a job
-a hobby
-a career
I chose A CAREER!
In 2019, I took my stateboard test and passed with flying colors on my first try. What, what!!! I began 2020 as an officially licensed stylist. It was an amazing feeling.
When I decided to venture out on my own, I moved to Ktroxx & Company. I really love having a private room for my clients. This gives my clients my full attention and allows for an amazing styling experience.
Of course one day I would love to own a salon. It would give me creative control and the opportunity to teach and support upcoming stylists. I want to give others the same opportunity that I received.
Over the years, I have put so much work and time into my craft. I can confidently say that my specialties are COLOR and EXTENSIONS. Though, I want to create whatever you have in mind.
When coloring, I love to use blondes and brunettes to lift and tone the hair while maintaining a natural blend of colors. My certifications include: Daniel M Beauty Color Class (2019) and Blonding Bootcamp Color Class (2021), Level 10 Blonde (2021), as well as my years of apprenticeship.
I LOVE EXTENSIONS! Anything from weft extensions (beaded and handtied) to fusions and tape-ins….I can do them all! Both of the salons I’ve been at have specialized in extensions, so I have tons of experience, but I’ve also gotten certified through: Bombshell Extensions (2018).
Moving forward….
All of my experiences over the years have motivated me to create beauty in each of my clients. My main goal is to create that Pinterest-perfect hair. I want to know exactly what you want, and I WILL make it happen. I never say NO to a customer’s request. Brittany instilled this in me during my apprenticeship!
So…in closing, I want you to get creative with me and let’s make magic in the styling chair. Let’s get the look you have always dreamed of.