Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara Stewart.
Kara, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I stumbled into this industry. In all honesty, I took a break after high school; I needed to work and I still wasn’t sure which route I wanted to take. Did I want a 9-5? Or did I want something “unconventional”? I settled on working for Ulta; my friend’s mom helped get me the job and I loved it.
I finally realized after being there and being told I’d make a good fit for the hair world that I should go for it. I always knew I loved hair and makeup but I never thought I’d be doing it full time. My intention getting out of high school was to go to a four years college, get a degree in marketing or design and work for a publication. I loved the creative aspect as well as the satisfaction of starting something and finishing it. I weighed my options.
Four years was clearly not for me and I decided to go for my master cosmetology license. But did I want a tech school or a private institution? After a little thought, maybe a week or so after actually sitting and writing down pros and cons, I made my decision. Paul Mitchell Atlanta was my choice. I did my crazy year (and a half if I’m honest) and landed my first salon job in school. Now here I am, six years later at my current salon with the best team, I could ask for. My books have tripled in size and I’m booked for months. I owe a lot to my own determination and creative process, but I’ve definitely had some amazing people help me along the way. I couldn’t be more grateful to be where I am today.
Has it been a smooth road?
I firmly believe that everything in life is a challenge. I don’t think anything truly comes easy or without sacrifice. Thankfully my gift comes naturally to me in a creative sense but it’s always a challenge to be the best and stay on top of things. That’s probably one of the biggest challenges of being a hairstylist, everything changes constantly. It’s a catch 22; it’s a good thing but just when you get the hang of it changes, which in turn keeps you on your toes.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Color is what I love. If you would have asked me in cosmetology school what I wanted to do? Oh, I wanted to cut hair all day long. But once I got into it, color was more my thing. It was my go to. It’s something I’ve grown to love because it changes all the time, though it is challenging. New product and techniques come out frequently and trends are always changing. I love to balayage, any blonding service really. My social media pages are mostly color and hair extensions. I truly love the client experience that comes along with doing what I do. There is no better feeling to me than transforming my guest to feel better when they leave my chair than when they sat down at the start of their appointment.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Atlanta and the surrounding communities as a whole are filled with so many people who need or want their hair done. Every place has something different to offer service wise, but I can tell ya, hairdressers are everywhere. It’s not hard to find one, but finding the right one for yourself is so important. Fayetteville is full of my colleagues and other stylists that do specialized services like smoothing treatments, custom color services, etc. Starting out in such an amazing city or even the small towns like mine that are OTP can be challenging but so beneficial. I’d say to anyone starting in the hair world, just put yourself out there. Talk to people and engage. You have to put in the work. It won’t just come to you if you don’t do your part. Once you’re out there, in a city like ours, the possibilities are endless.
Pricing:
- Blonding services: from $120 and up
Contact Info:
- Phone: 6788797710
- Instagram: @karadaniellex
Image Credit:
Jenna Lindsey – @jennalindseyphotos, Emmanuel Brooks – @emmanuelbrooks_
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