Twenty Five

I wish I could say that was my age but it isn’t.  This year marks my 25^th year in the beauty business.  WOO HOO!  When I attended high school, I was enrolled in the cosmetology program.  For two years, I attended school for half of the day and then went to a private cosmetology school during the second half.  I also held a job at the same time.  We had eleven  girls in our class and, today, I think only four are still in the field.  While in school, I practiced perms at home on family and friends and recruited people to come to school to get haircuts.  As a wrestling stat, I even cut hair for the wrestlers in the wrestling room before matches.  This was necessary because they would be disqualified if their hair wasn’t the proper length.

I enjoyed what I was studying and there were very few times when I passed up an opportunity to practice or learn.  After graduation, I went onto barber school.  I was licensed in cosmetology by then, but wanted to learn how to cut men’s hair better.  Also the Ohio State Barber Board is a good deal.  Once one graduates and gets licensed, one becomes an owner and operator.  No other license is needed.  This means NO limits. I can work in any  barbershop in Ohio. The first barbershop I worked in was in an upscale area.  I got lucky to work in such a shop and pulled in $500.00+ a week.  I had clients right away because the owner had overflow.  Not bad for being 19.

By age 26 I was the owner of my own business, which was great.  Flexible hours were the best because I then had a child.  I was a one woman show doing all types of salon services.  My clients have been wonderful over the years.  I enjoyed chatting with them and loved what I was doing.  By age 33, I began doing commercial makeup.  Although I had been providing bridal makeup all along, I started to travel out of state to NYC and Chicago for makeup workshops to up my game and make the switch to the new career I craved.  On my 37th birthday, I had the biggest job of my career up to that point.   I did the makeup for the sports anchors of ESPN during the Cavs vs. Spurs Championship Series. That was one amazing birthday!   I met many celebrities and watched the game in the very press box I had only imagined years before that moment.

After that event, the fun continued as I networked and landed jobs for President Barack Obama, Jennifer Coolidge, Cheryl Tiegs, Cobra Starship, Patricia Neal, Eddie Levert, Russell Simmons, and so many more.  One might say college is the way to go, but the trades are a great route to take as well.  Computers can’t do what I do.  In today’s ever changing world, they may be able to do so someday but not yet!  I am still thrilled 25 years later that I took this path on my life’s journey.  I have no regrets about any of my choices and feel blessed in my chosen profession.  How many people can say that?  Can you?  If not, what’s stopping you?  If you love it, pursue it.

1987

1996 with my first daughter

On set with Dan Patrick 2007