Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Rose Almaraz.
Erin Rose, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have been doing hair for as long as I remember. It started with dolls and toys, maybe pets at times. Then, I started practicing on my friends in junior high. I was constantly getting in trouble with peoples parents for dying their kid’s hair green or giving them Mohawks. Despite this, cosmetology never really seemed like an actual career option. After high school, I spent a year at Columbia studying fashion design, but I quickly realized I only liked making and designing clothes for myself. I spent another year studying art history before finally enrolling in cosmetology school. I knew immediately that was a path I was meant for.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s absolutely not been a smooth road. There are a million stylists out there. Everyone is competing, trying to make a name for themselves. It’s hard to stand out in a market that’s so oversaturated. It’s very easy to get discouraged. You think that after graduating, you’ll start working somewhere and you’ll be busy all the time, that there will always be someone sitting in your chair. That’s simply not how it works. It takes a great deal of hard work and hustling to be consistently busy behind the chair.
My main advice would be not to give up. To do as many different things as possible. There are so many cool things to do in the beauty industry. Try them all. It’s the only way you can figure out what it is you really like to do and what avenues you want to pursue. Over the course of my career, I’ve done hair and makeup for runway shows, photo shoots, hair competitions, theatre, art installations, video shoots, weddings and so much more. Some things I loved and others I knew I didn’t want to pursue. They all ended up being lots of fun and great learning experiences.
What should we know about your business? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I’ve always considered myself an artist before all else. I have a strong background in sculpture. I’ve never been someone who could sit down and draw or paint you a picture but give me the right materials and I can build you just about anything. Whether it’s ceramics or textiles or hair, I think everything I do can be considered sculpture. I’d say that sets me apart more than anything from other stylists. I’ve always approached beauty and hairstyling as a form of sculpture. because of that, I’ve been careful not to say I specialize in any particular aspect of the industry. The way I cut hair is directly related to how I color and vice versa. When styling, I try to place shapes and colors in a way to emphasize one’s best features. It’s all interconnected.
I’m extremely proud and grateful that I’m able to make a living off of my art. I’ve been very fortunate in that way. More than that, though, the very best part of my job is that I get to make people happy. My art, my job is directly related to people, to whoever happens to be sitting in my chair at any given moment. I help my clients feel comfortable in their own skin, which is something I’ve struggled with my whole life. There’s nothing better than seeing clients face light up at the end of their appointment, seeing them radiate confidence and leaving the salon like they’re ready it take on the world. I’ve adopted a quote, from Thomas Pynchon, that I feel sums this up – ‘change your hair, change your life.’
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
I feel like I’m constantly inspired. I have an amazing group of independent, creative, intelligent women that I get to call my friends and my clients are no different. Every person that sits in my chair is inspiring. I spend the day working with individuals, getting to hear their stories, their struggles, their triumphs. It’s an endless source of inspiration.
Contact Info:
- Email: erinrose@shearheartattack.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/shearheartattack
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShearHeartAttack
Image Credit:
Nicholas Souder
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