Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Sherard.
Amanda, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I always loved doing hair and makeup. I was a sheltered child and I did not have any kids in my neighborhood I could play with. I would always play with makeup and do my hair in my room for hours at a time even into adulthood. I ended up moving to Texas at 19 and it opened my mind to the world and gave me a sense of self. One of the jobs I worked was at Chili’s and one of my coworkers asked me to do her hair. She came to my apartment and I straightened her hair.
As soon as we went outside it turned into a frizzy mess. That moment could have broken me but instead of being defeated, I asked myself “how can I make it not frizz the next time?” I went on to do a couple more coworkers makeup not knowing that these humbling opportunities would spark a very rewarding career. I ended up moving back to Connecticut and attending Paul Mitchell. My mom became my first real client which meant a lot to me because we did not have the greatest relationship growing up. She would encourage me, tell me that I was improving and genuinely supported me. She is the real reason why I even have a career in the hair industry.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Smooth?! Tuh! Starting out it was great until my pride took me for a spin. I was very arrogant. I’ve always been a smart kid so I swore I knew everything. My cosmetology teachers disliked me and had every right to because I was rude and my work was never done. What’s funny is, I was always busy, but I was busy doing what Amanda wanted to do vs. what I was supposed to be doing. Reality set in right before I was supposed to graduate Paul Mitchell, my poor attitude got me suspended. Honestly, who gets suspended from a cosmetology institution? Not too long after, my mom informed me that she had cancer. I was confused because I would have never thought it would happen to my family. The lesson here for me was humility. I could not allow my mother to see me fail at what I loved doing so much so I pulled myself together and finished cosmetology school strong. I would advise others to stay humble at all times. Even in the career you love so much, there will be times that you find yourself doing things you do not want to do. Those are the moments that will make you stronger and more diligent. You have to know how to follow before you can lead.
We’d love to hear more about Hot Comb Assassin.
I am a hairdresser, of course. My focus is healthy hair. Hair coloring is a main area where I strive to shine. I love to challenge myself everyday. Education comes first for me. I HAVE to know what I’m doing so then even when I make a mistake, I can target where I went wrong and fix the mistake so it doesn’t happen again. I am proud of my growth when it comes to not taking everything so personal. I was sensitive. I wanted everyone to like me, which is still a goal I strive for, but I realized this is not reality. Everyone is not for me and I am not for everyone but those who love me appreciate me for going above and beyond to make sure they’re happy. This includes constantly upgrading my products and tools, constantly seeking knowledge to stay on top of color trends and most importantly standing my ground on keeping the integrity of the hair. These things set me apart from other hairdressers.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
Keyword for this is “Confidence”. I was bullied growing up. There were girls who threw sand in my hair, smashed cookies in my hair, called me ugly, it was a lot to deal with. The times I felt confident was when my mom took me to get my hair done or when I would do it myself. The salon was a safe place for me. I used to sit patiently as I read the magazines and listened to “grown folks business”. When I left, I would feel happier than when I walked in. We so often get told that our confidence should come from within, which is true but we can not deny that when you look good, you feel good. I know that when a woman has her hair done, she feels like the best version of herself and I am beyond grateful to be apart of that experience.
Pricing:
- SilkPress – $75
- Traditional Sew In $165
- Color Services start at $145
- Blonde Services start at $185
Contact Info:
- Address: Image Salons
11693 Westheimer Rd - Website: ExPress Beauty has invited you to book your next appointment on their booking site. https://squareup.com/appointments/book/YWJEFVBDC3HY0
- Phone: 2037470941
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/hotcombassassin?igshid=oks54a1bpcnn
Image Credit:
@hotcombassassin_
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