October 15, 2016

Meet Marietta Hairstylist: Katie White

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie White.

Katie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have been doing hair for 6 years now. When I was growing up, I always had my hands in my sisters’ hair. I taught myself how to braid and style hair at a young age, and by the time I was in high school, I had started experimenting with hair color. I always loved to make people look good and FEEL good about how they looked! I enrolled in cosmetology school and graduated in 2010. I have been hard at work ever since! I have tried my hand at a few different places; smaller in and out shops like Great Clips and Sports Clips and even a full-service, high-end women’s salon. Ultimately, I find I enjoy the atmosphere and pace of a men’s salon best. I am currently working at Roosters, a men’s full-service grooming center. I have been there for two years and I love it!! In the coming years, I hope to obtain a barber license, along with my cosmetology license, and open my own barbershop!

Has it been a smooth road?
There are so many aspects to being a hairstylist. Cut, color, extensions, nails, skin, women clients or men clients. For the first few years, I struggled in finding what makes me happy. I have a tendency to get bored quickly and need to try something new, something to challenge me. It has been a relatively smooth road only because I have a great support system in my family but career wise it was a bit tough. First starting out it’s hard to get a foot in because a lot of the high-end salons won’t hire you without experience but how do you get experience if no one will hire you.? So once I got my first job I worked really hard taking continuing education, some specialized classes, hair shows and seminars and learning from the people I worked around, to keep learning and to help further my skills. No one will ever know everything, so why stop learning?!

Tell us about your childhood, what were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was a little bit of everything. I played many sports such as soccer, swimming, cheerleading, and color guard in marching band. My summers basically consisted of a lot of outdoor activities such as camping and hanging out with my friends. I also enjoyed showing my artistic side by doing community theater and choir. I was obsessed with playing dress up as
well! I dressed up everybody from my two sisters to the neighbor kids, by my favorite has always been hair and makeup. I had tons of costume makeup kits, and I would put it on anyone who would let me! I was always talking my sisters into letting me play with their hair. I taught myself to braid and use a curling iron. I am the middle of two sisters and I was (and still am) the girly girl!!

What is your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite memory is not so much a “what” but more so a “who”. My favorite childhood memory has got to be my Grammy! She was a tough lady but she was my favorite. I remember dinners at her house, always homemade, and always AMAZING; probably because of all the cooking shows she watched. I used to love watching chef Emeril Lagasse with her! It is so hard to pick one specific memory because I have a million good ones if her, but I think one of my favorite memories of my Grammy is she used to roll her hair in Velcro rollers every day and she had a shoe box full of her old ones that she saved just for me to play with! I would talk my sisters into letting me play with their hair! My Grammy was an awesome woman she was stern, and she didn’t take any crap, but she was fun and caring and loving and she loves us to pieces! She passed when I was 12, but I will always remember her. She will always be my favorite!

What are your plans for the future?
In the coming year, I would like to expand on my cosmetology degree and sharpen my skills by going to barber school. I want to constantly learn and make myself better; in life and in my career. My big dream is that one day I will open my own full-service men’s salon! I have an excellent support system within my family and friends and I know I will be able to do it!!