Meet Trailblazer Adriana Zamudio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Adriana Zamudio.

Adriana, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always had a passion for hair. In 5th grade, I was already cutting my own bangs and had love for hairspray and curling irons. I had my full-time job of eight years at a doctor’s office as a receptionist but I always wanted to work at a salon. At the doctor’s office, I use to always do my coworker’s daughter updos for homecoming, prom, etc. It was funny because I would even style my coworker’s hair during lunch sometimes as a little side hustle. But without a cosmetology license, I couldn’t do more than that. After eight years of being with my Cobb Pediatrics family, it hit me. That if hair is my passion, I have to go for it, stop being scared, stop making excuses and start making moves. I finally took that step, put in my notice (one of the hardest yet best decision I’ve made) enrolled in a hair school full time, knocked it out in ten months and became a licensed cosmetologist. In less than a month from receiving my license, I was offered a job at the salon I said I’d be working at one day. It was literally like a dream, a miracle, I couldn’t believe it. How I took a leap of faith and made it happen just like that. It made me realize how we really shouldn’t hold back from what we want in life, how we really just have to go for it, follow and work for our dreams and own it.

Now, I have my own business, I have a salon suite and I couldn’t be happier. Other than having a passion for hair, I am truly passionate about helping other women feel confident and happy about themselves. I am all about my boss babes, my mothers, my single mothers, my teachers, my lawyers, I can go on and on. These hard-working women deserve to take time aside to get pampered. I’m all about helping them leave my salon feeling beautiful and confident as they should always feel. I truly love what I do.

Has it been a smooth road?
Honestly no, definitely not a smooth road but well worth the fight. You know, in high school, I always had good grades and a passing GPA but I was always a poor test taker and because of that, I failed my graduation test and I wasn’t given a diploma. I didn’t get to walk with my class. I was in tears and heartbroken. After high school, my goals were put on hold. I had my daughter at the age of 19, she was my priority and all my focus was on work and making money to take care of us because not only was I a parent, I’ m a single mother. It wasn’t easy but I wanted the best for us. When my daughter was around the age of 7, it hit me that I really have a passion for hair but can’t even enroll in hair school without that diploma. One day, I made a call to my old high school, visited a couple other places and every one I reached out to didn’t want to take the time to help me, told me to just go get my GED that I can’t get my diploma anymore. Nothing against a GED at all what so ever, but I felt it was unfair because I finished school with good grades and a passing GPA so why can’t I get my diploma? It was easier for them to say “just to get your GED”. I sign up for GED classes and stopped going after a week. Something didn’t feel right, I knew there had to be a way to get my diploma, so I put my foot down and didn’t give up. I told myself “I’m fighting for this, I’m getting that diploma”. I go to my old high school again and found a councilor that listened to my story and immediately wanted to help me. He said I can retake the tests but that I’ll be in the room with the high schoolers and I said “sign me up!”.

So, there I was, a 25/26 year old in a room full of juniors taking these tests. It was hard and stressful, being out of high school for years and going back to study and take tests but I wasn’t giving up, I wanted this diploma more than anything! I failed the tests a couple of times had to keep going back, but I finally did it and received my diploma. Tears of happiness! That same week, I toured hair schools, enrolled in a hair school, ten months later graduated, went to state board, got my license, was offered a salon job, and now, I’m my own boss and have a salon suite. Just like that back to back. Wow! Just saying all this really makes me think about how far I’ve come. So I share this story because I want to encourage others to fight for what they want, what they want to be, no matter how many “No’s” or “you can’t” you get, DONT GIVE UP! If I would have listened to the people that told me I couldn’t get my diploma, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today doing what I love, hair.

We’d love to hear more about Artist A Hair Studio.
I specialize more in color and styling. I work a lot of events/weddings and create updos. I would say I’m known for my foil technique and round brushing. I love working with foils and round brushes. In hair school, they would always call me the round brush queen, ha. I truly love helping other women feel beautiful and confident when they leave my salon. I’ve had clients leave in tears because of how good they feel and how much they needed that “me time” to just get their hair done. Making others happy about themselves makes me happy, let’s me know I’m doing my job. What I’m most proud of is how far I’ve come, how much I’ve improved from when I first started and how I don’t stop learning. Continuing education is key. I think what sets me aside from others is that I don’t compete nor compare. I support every single hairstylist out there and want us all to be successful. I get along with everyone and I’m always myself no matter what.

We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
Women, in general, get treated differently. We have to work twice as hard to not only prove ourselves and be successful but also to be able to gain support from the industry we choose to build our business in. I stand with and for my empowering, strong, amazing women. We as women can be successful independent and great leaders.

Contact Info:

• Email: artistaglamour@gmail.com
• Instagram: @artistahairstudio
• Facebook: Artist A Hair Studio

Image Credit:
Yessi Reyes, Jayda

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