Today we’d like to introduce you to Maya Smith.
Hi Maya, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started doing hair when I was 12. Of course, it was for free and of course, it was for fun. I spent my middle and high-school extra time practicing on my friends and family. After high school, I wanted to pursue nursing and I did just that. Went to nursing school but kept doing hair on the side. I had gotten so good at braiding that I was charging my friends and it actually helped me pay for college classes. Halfway through nursing school my husband and I had a serious conversation about passion. It touched me so much to know I wasn’t living mine. I truly believe anything you can do for free is absolutely your passion. I instantly dropped nursing and went to cosmetology school. My husband got a 2nd job while I went to school from 8am-8pm. We had 3 kids so this was no easy task. I got family and friends to help out as much as they could and by the grace of God I finished. Got my Master’s cosmetology license and went to Ulta Salon to work as a stylist.
Within nine months I was promoted to Salon manager. I organized and ran Salon conference calls, learned payroll, how to hist interviews and grow a business, and even trained all of my stylist that worked under me. I worked at that corporate Salon for about four years. In the middle of covid upper management decided to take a turn and get rid of the salon manager position as a whole nationwide. Alot of my peers were devastated. I wasn’t, I know I had a bigger plan and this was a way to push me into greater things. I decided to start over at a salon suite where I currently work. It was the best decision of my life to work on my own. My clients have tripled since then and now I can run my own salon. With the knowledge and skill I learned from working in a corporate salon I am set for life. This journey although tough at times was so worth it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Transitioning from Nursing into hair full time. Getting married and having three kids (1 set of twins) was challenging but with my husband’s full support I was able to be as successful as I am today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in silk press and extensions. Although I started out braided I have branched off into different layers of cosmetology.
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?
I’ve learned the importance of keeping a clean salon at all times. Protect yourself and the client with PPE. Also I’ve learned that even though the world shut down at times, my clients would write me special notes expressing how thankful they were to have a stylist like me and how they couldn’t wait to get back in the salon chair.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Mksdynamite.com
- Instagram: Mksdynamitehair
- Facebook: Mksdynamitehair
- Other: Linktr.ee/mksdynamitehair
