Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Page.
Hi Emma, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
To be honest, I started with some box dye in my bathroom when I was a teenager. After I finished high school, I was trying to figure out what to do with my life and thought I could have fun and make money at the same time, so I went to cosmetology school. I was drawn to the Aveda Institute Atlanta because of the overall vibe- high-quality expectations and caring about the environment all at once!
After I finished school and acquired my license, I bounced around a few salons until I landed at a company that had 150ish stylists at any point in time. I took full advantage of the free education they offered and sought out my own as often as I could. I took class after class, aiming to improve my skillset. And eventually, it paid off. I started mentoring newer stylists and joined not one but two education teams.
Those were some of my favorite moments in my career. I LOVE sharing what I know with other stylists!
2020 changed things for all of us, but for me, it brought back-to-back cancer scares. This made me really evaluate my health, my exposure levels to toxins, and the ingredients in the products I used day in and day out. In 2021, after a decade in the industry, I went independent and opened a private studio with a focus on clean, safe products for my and my guest’s health.
Today, I’m proud to say I operate Verdandi Salon as a carbon-neutral, clean-ingredient salon.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Oh goodness, no! The list of smooth patches is much shorter than the list of struggles I’ve faced…
My mom has never been in my life because she’s absolutely crazy. At 18, my dad committed suicide. At 19, I started cosmetology school. At 20, I was pregnant, in an abusive relationship, and managed to finish school. At 21, I was a single mom, working two jobs 70 hours a week and trying to get my feet under me. At 22, I managed to get off the government assistance programs and still pay my bills with what I made in the salon. At 25, I lost my sister to a car accident. At 26, I lost my fiancé to suicide. At 27, I lost my brother to fentanyl and had my first cancer scare. At 28, I had my second cancer scare and planned my wedding. At 29, my husband changed careers completely, and I left the company I had worked with for 7 years to open my salon with no buffer in my bank account and put my bills on credit cards…
And today, I’m 30. I’ve just expanded into a bigger salon space and announced my first book. My bills are paid, my son is being homeschooled (my husband adopted him), and my health is arguably the best it’s ever been. It’s been a rocky road, to say the least, but I’m thankful to be where I am now.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in Bespoke Color, Personalized Extensions, and Custom Haircuts!
My reputation is all in the details. I will take the time to learn about your needs, your lifestyle, and your goals, and THEN we make a plan that sounds good together. I have always abhorred the idea of the one-size-fits-all service because it simply doesn’t work. Every head, every strand of hair, and every lifestyle has unique needs that deserve to be accommodated.
That’s what I’m really known for- personalized hair. I almost never do the same thing on two different guests.
Beyond that, I find myself apologizing to guests that I’m a nerd sometimes when I’m explaining a particular ingredient or shape theory to them, but they seem to thoroughly enjoy that I’m a giant hair nerd!
What makes you happy?
It sounds cheesy, but what makes me happy is helping people. I’ve lived a rough enough life to know that, unfortunately, I might be the only person showing them kindness in a day. I might be able to help someone feel beautiful for the first time in years. I might be able to help someone express their identity in a way that feels authentic for the first time. I get to support people in their journeys in a surprisingly intimate way, and I love that.
In my personal life, it’s time with my loved ones or exploring nature that bring me the most joy. That, and a good cup of coffee.
In my off time, you can find me lifting weights, hiking, practicing yoga, and cosplaying at local conventions.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.verdandisalon.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/verdandisalon
Image Credits
Morpheus Visuals
