Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Odiari.
Hi Samantha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in London, initially I had taken a hair apprenticeship in my early teen days. My experience however wasn’t so great the older ladies that were teaching me didn’t treat me so nicely; I honestly felt like they had some sort of complex, honestly it tainted my want to be in the hair industry so when I finally got to the United States for college I had no plans of doing hair. My roommates were consistently asked me who was doing my hair, and time and time again I would tell them that I was the one that was doing my hair. I would make wigs for myself and install them on myself and keep my natural hair flat twisted. They consistently asked me every week to do their hair and I would refuse because I felt like I wasn’t good enough. Over time it got too much and I finally gave in… Once I started doing their hair, people started asking who was doing a vars too and they told me, Sammy you can really make a side hustle out of this again I was doubtful in my talents but one November when I went back home to London I asked (Twitter) if you want me to do your hair when I come back to Georgia Southern you can talk me with this link. Before I knew it, I was booked two weeks ahead of time before the semester had even started and from that, it was a snowball effect. I moved to Atlanta my last semester of school and started doing hair out of my apartment, initially I was really scared to go to Atlanta but I had so many clients coming in from all ends of the states I thought that maybe it would work out for me. Before I knew it, I just was booked and busy… I kept on posting clearly and after some time, my name started to spread
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I definitely wouldn’t say it’s been smooth sailing, if you live in Atlanta then you know how cutthroat the hair industry can be in Atlanta. People talk to you like you’re the bottom of their shoe and for a long time, it really broke down my self-esteem. I was automatically put in the box of being an Atlanta stylist and so all the horror stories that had come with the stylists before me was instantly put on me before I even knew anyone it took a while to break that stigma but now I barely have any problems my clientele is pretty boujieour… it’s not for the weak being a stylist anybody that tells you it’s easy it’s a liar. At one point, I did get sciatica and I did have two herniated disc‘s. I remember waking up one day and honestly being paralyzed while feeling paralyzed at least I had to take a month off working just to get my body back…The only thing that kept me going was God and my mother and my partner at time.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am known for my glueless technique with Lace, I can install any frontal glueless any closure without any got2be spritz gel none of that stuff and I don’t do baby hairs. That is no shade to anybody who does baby hairs. I actually do baby hairs on myself so they do look cute. I just prefer a more Victoria’s Secret luck on my clients. I do get a lot of women who are trying to go for the more refined natural look coming to me and I love it; it comes out so high-end, the more natural the better. In order to achieve such looks however it’s required that I have the best products and that’s how I came about having my own hair company, girls at my college with consistently asked me where I was getting my hair from and I’ve only known to wear Raw Hair or virgin hair… it only made sense to start a business I’ve had my own hair company for a few years now my clients are hooked, once you shop it’s like crack you just keep coming back. I am also finally opening up Scahlp Studios which is a hair extensions store, beauty bar and suite host all in one. So look out for that this summer
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I think one person that really has been one of my biggest supporters is Janice Francis, I see her like my big sister she actually has a nonprofit called Teen Mom Initiative and it’s inspirational might I say. She knew that I was here alone in the United States. I didn’t come with any family and as soon as she met me she took me under her wing, she’s always there to support me, whenever I need help she’s there she’s always telling me how well I’m doing…I don’t know what I would do without her in so many situations.
Contact Info:
- Website: Drscahlp.com
- Instagram: Drscahlp /scahlp studios
Image Credits
Samantha odiari
