Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Coreathers.
Hi Melanie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey as a hairstylist is one that did not start like many others. It had many detours, twists and turns to get me to the profession that I love today. I’ve always loved to hair since I was a little girl getting my hair braided in the salon. The whirling of marcels, the smell of relaxer and freshly sprayed hairspray brought joy and excitement to my heart. Walking into the salon, it’s like walking into a symphony to me, just music to my ears. Though this love bubbled in my heart for this profession, it was only something I thought was fun, not something I could live on. I followed a more traditional path. Do what you’re told, make good grades, go to college, get a good job. I followed this plan to the letter. I got to college, though I had fun, I didn’t find what I would love to do as a professional. I did hair on campus, but it was still just something fun.
My journey as a student was long and confusing. I felt out of place and on an unpromising path. Though my degree was in something that is highly requested and favorable, I found no promise in it. With my degree in hand, I walked in the world to get the final checkmark in the plan of life. The job! Just like my college career, my search was long and without promise. I wandered around working menial jobs to make ends try to meet. Seven years passed and I had no money and no promising career. One day, feeling frustrated and like a failure, I hear God ask me one simple question. “What is it that you really want to do?” That was never a question I asked myself before. With joy in my heart, I answered, “Hair.”
At that moment, my phone rang with someone on the other end asking me to do their hair. It was like a light was turned on. This one thing I thought was just a plaything, a fun idea, would now be something that I could have as my very own career. That journey started six years ago. I started cosmetology school when I was not the youngest person in the room, I wasn’t the best hairstylist and there was so much for me to learn, and there’s still is. I realized this time around this is my destined path. You must understand that in life, your purpose doesn’t have an expiration date, nor does it have a straight path. You can run from it, you can plan differently, you can even schedule your life to be exactly the way you want to, but in the end, God’s will for your life will always come to pass. Walk with it. Walk-in it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Pursuing your dreams is always looked at like walking through a field of lilies. The truth is that it’s more like walking in an ocean with a blindfold and earmuffs on. You don’t understand what your next step will be or what the next step after that should be. You can never get comfortable when moving forward because waves that you didn’t see or hear are crashing against you. The ground is not even and it can even deteriorate beneath your feet. Stay in one spot too long you’ll be buried alive. If you move forward too fast in you’ll drown. The beautiful thing is even though this is the most unsure path that you will ever walk, every slip and fall makes you better than the last. It will not be guaranteed but it most definitely will be rewarding.
Many days I’ve cried, feeling like I made the biggest mistake of my life following this journey. I have felt forgotten and felt like a big failure. I have learned to rely on God completely and totally. There is a scripture that says that I have learned to live with much and learn to live with little. I know I’ve gotten a little part down. I’ve learned to trust God even though I don’t understand what is happening. Though the path that I’m on is not favorable or even ideal to me I am learning to trust him even in my unsureness. I’ve doubted a lot about myself during this journey. My skills as a hairstylist, God’s decision to have me move to Atlanta, even the move back to Texas are all things I’ve questioned. These are the ways to push against me. The biggest one of them all is doubt. I’ve learned to walk with God with the doubt and the fear pushing against me. No, this journey ain’t been no crystal stair but it has been worth it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Well, I am a hairstylist who specializes in doing blowouts, color and natural hair. I am not just the one-trick pony, though. I am skilled and knowledgeable in all textures and curl patterns. Though I currently work in a salon and blowouts and color is my specialty, I am most proud of the editorial and session work Ive done.
Throughout my life, I always thought I was more of an analytical person than a creative one. Editorial and session work allowed me to merge the analytical and creative sides together. There is where I’m able to collaborate with a team to create beautiful results. It’s absolutely amazing! I guess what sets me apart from other people in this industry is that I’m a good collaborator. I don’t let my last success crowd any new projects.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
What I’ve learned from the Covid pandemic sticking to the sanitation guidelines that we were taught in beauty school was very important. That we should never deviate from that. I also learned that I must treat my business like a business. There is safeguards that could protect me from closing and protect people that I work with.
Pricing:
- Consultation – Free
- Color Consultation – $30
Contact Info:
- Website: https://melcincolor.square.site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melcincolor/ or www.instagram.com/melcinsession
Image Credits
Jaylene Debenedictis, Sofia Ella Stevie D, Regina Moretto, A Miller Makeup, Jcil white, Alida Bonifaz, Brooke Wood, Stephanie Alday, Abigail De La Piña, Amina Aurdrey, Tiffany Couture, Todd Terrell, Jazzlin Raquel, Aaylá
