Today we’d like to introduce you to Ella Cyr.
Hi Ella, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hair has always been a huge part of my life and my expression. It goes even deeper for queer people. I started doing and experimenting with hair and makeup when I was about 8, I really wanted blue koolaid dip dyed hair. I grew up in the acting circuit which could be very fun but, didn’t allow for much outward creative expression with your appearance. I REALLY hated that, as a young nonbinary kid it felt extremely restrictive. I was homeschooled throughout middle school and was left in my own devices very often. That’s when I started realizing that anxiety depression whatever else you wanna call it was going to be a part of my life for the rest of my life. I always found a lot of comfort and confidence through changing my appearance and one faithful day in eighth grade me, my idle hands, and tube of purple hair dye changed my world forever.
Once, I got a little older I was allowed to start dying my hair, and as many highschoolers do I started dying all my friends hair too. I picked up some gigs on the tech side of theatre and realized I loved telling stories through hair, makeup, and costumes. Knowing I didn’t want to go to college at the time, I decided after highschool cosmetology school was the way to go. I really fell in love with hair when I realized I could help people tell their own stories through their hair every day. The fact that people can wear my art and it makes them smile a little harder in the mirror is truly something I do not take lightly! Being able to make people feel more comfortable and affirmed in their skin is a way I can service my beautiful queer community and probably the most fulfilling part of my job!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t call it entirely smooth. Being in a creative field is difficult work. The biggest thing for me has been trying to overcome imposter syndrome and figuring how to leave it at work at the end of the day! When you have a job that you pour your creative self into it can be hard to not to take it home. My best friend and business partner Mikky (hey 🙂 has been a big part of my journey and keeping me sane and grounded in moments of self criticism or the occasional spiral about the lighting, social media, or not getting after pictures ! We met in school and have worked in salons together ever since. it has been so incredible to have someone you can equally work hard and play hard with, I will forever say I wouldn’t have made it here if it weren’t for them. Finding your place in the industry can be hard, every salon is a completely different ecosystem so finding out where to go and finding a team that suits your needs can be difficult! It’s like kissing frogs though, don’t settle and a good one will Come around. Finding a space that would respect my gender identity, and my existence has been extremely important and I’m so thankful to have a space where I don’t even need to question if that’s the case.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an alternative hairstylist. I specialize in gender affirming hair care. I love giving someone their first big chop or their first vivid color. I’ve had quite a few people tell me they’ve found me because people In their area don’t do a lot of what I do and I’m just happy to be able to provide those services and give people the look they’ve been wanting. I do a lot of creative hair including multicolored, razor cuts, patterned hair dye, anything unconventional and a little emo. I do love my occasional long layered highlighted baddie don’t get me wrong 😉
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Honestly this is kinda hard! In my chair I feel like me and my clients get INTO it and we like to get to chatting. I think that’s one of my favorite parts of my job, is the human connection! Maybe that I had a YouTube channel I was COMMITTED to while I was a little homeschooled middle schooler. I was doing vlogs, covers, tags, challenges you name it. It was another really fun creative outlet and is actually how I convinced my mom to let me dye my hair for the first time.
Pricing:
- Pricing for my services very greatly from service to service. My salon offers texting consultations so we can give an accurate quote!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joinblvd.com/b/creaturestudio/widget#/visit-type
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trippytransformationz?igsh=MXR0NHE5bDN5Z2pyeg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: +1 (678) 701-7484
