Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa English.
Melissa, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I worked in a couple salons in high school and was a go to for my friends for blow outs, homecoming and prom up dos and even impromptu kitchen haircuts. I always loved playing with hair and had an innate sense of how to handle it but I never saw it as a possible career option for myself until I had returned home from a year at the University of Arizona filled with doubt and fear of student loans and pursuing a career I had no passion for. While taking some classes at community college and doing some soul searching a girlfriend (whose hair I used to play with in high school) convinced me to go interview at where I would end up attending cosmetology school. Penrose Academy (formerly Kohler Academy) in Scottsdale, Arizona is led by Jill Kohler who never did hair herself but lead the board of cosmetology and worked in the beauty industry for years. It was her approach to “beauty school” that inspired me to pursue hair as a career. It’s a business oriented school which expands the scope on what you think when you think of the traditional cosmetology school experience. This is what ignited the fire in me to understanding the culture of the hair world and wanting to be a part of it and I’m forever grateful for my time spent there. From school, I landed my dream job at small studio in central Phoenix filled with seasoned talented stylists that I learned so much from in my two years apprenticing. I then earned my own chair and quickly worked to build a successful clientele. I was very happy there but soon felt myself having that early twenties itch to move and grow myself personally and professionally. Not sure where I was wanting to go but definitely at a turning point I was brought back to Chicago for the unexpected death of my grandfather. It was a sad trip but had a silver lining in that it felt right being back in city. It was June and the city felt alive and full of promise and potential. Four months later I moved. I searched for months to find the right space for me to start my career, I knew how important it was to work in a place that inspires and challenges me so I can grow as an artist. Solo was the 5th salon I had gone to one day and after scoping the website and having a conversation with a client who went there I knew I was saving the best for last. I’ve now been at Solo for over 4 years and I’m happy to say that it’s home for me. It was exactly what I was searching for as far as personal and professional development. I’ve grown in more ways than I can count. I’m very thankful for the people I’ve been able to work with and for. I’m surrounded by so much talent and given so much opportunity to develop and grow myself as stylist. It’s crazy to look back and see how far I’ve come and how quickly time has gone but it’s reassuring I’m in the right place and it’s so exciting to see what is yet to come.
Has it been a smooth road?
I don’t think the road is smooth for any of us. Personally, my spirit pushing me to move at first was exciting but I had no idea the amount of stress, heartache and just how painful growing pains would truly be. I suffered with depression in my first two years, I didn’t have any of my comforts I once had and it felt like the safety net I created was completely gone and it was. It was exactly what I was craving and needing but I went head first not thinking of the consequences or what ifs because it felt right and in hindsight it was. However, I can’t deny the struggle was real. I lived with my grandma for some time before moving in with a coworker who graciously let me live in her oversized closet/bedroom of her 1-bedroom apartment with her and her two pups. (Thanks Shaundria) I started over at Solo, I accepted a position as an apprentice, willing to work and earn my keep their knowing that the hair and the culture was different and just wanting and willing to learn. I went from living in my own apartment, making more money than most my friends my age, living the life to sleeping on a futon mattress on the floor barely making enough money to cover my over consuming bills.
In all things, it had moments of exhaustion and frustration but also breakthroughs, growth, and joy. My advice for any young women who are just starting their journey is to sit deep within themselves, ask themselves what their dreams are whether they seem attainable or not and write them down. Listen to themselves and trust their guts and intuition because it won’t lead them wrong. Ask themselves the tough questions, what’s going to make them excited to get up every morning to go do? Introspection is one of the best tools I’ve used to develop a better understanding of myself to be better to others personally and professionally. Recognize that you’ve chosen a craft, and a magical one at that. In all crafts practice and persistence is the key to development. Stay humble and hungry, humbleness helps to understand people and it keeps your feet directly below you and not a head of you and hungry to keep learning and growing as you develop into the artist you want to become. It’s easy for us to forget that we chose this career, what you put in you get back. Set intentions to attract the clientele you want to work with and for. And remember that we are some of the few in the professional world who are honored with the ability to touch others and it can truly be transformative.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Solo Salon – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I specialize in cutting hair and developing natural hair color for my clients. I first apprenticed under a woman who was a master colorist who gave me passion for understanding the way color works and how to look at a person’s natural coloring in their eyes and skin and developing ways to give them their dream hair color in the way that best suits them. So many things are achievable through color. I have a coworker who told me to treat the hair like fabric and it’s stuck with me ever since. Whether a simple grey touch up to balayage, highlights and lowlights, I love creating seasonal looks so my clients always feel like themselves but fresh and somewhat new. I’ve always loved cutting hair, it’s a different mind space for me to cut hair, it’s more of a feeling. Hair tells you what it needs and wants to create a beautiful precision haircut based on its texture and density. Proper structure in haircuts makes me so excited, I haven’t met a head of hair I haven’t enjoyed getting to cut. As a service provider integrity of the hair is at my utmost importance. Everyone wants healthy and beautiful hair and I’m happy to help educate and care for my client’s hair whether on the road to healthy hair or helping them maintain. That integrity also coincides with how I run my business, I love to have real connections and conversations with my clients. I love doing hair and want my clients to love their hair and feel confident even when they aren’t in my chair. I maintain honesty in what my client’s hair needs are, and I strive to build and develop that rapport through the results that they get when trusting me with their hair. My genuine and passionate approach towards hair and people is what I believe sets me apart as a stylist and allows me to enhance the beauty that is in each and every individual that sits in my chair.
What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions, no matter how dumb they may seem. Be patient and kind to yourself, not everyone learns the same way. Don’t dwell on mistakes made for too long, it’s a natural progression and part of your growth. The fuck ups happen, it’s how you learn to cope and learn from them that develops you as an artist. Understand you’ve chosen the route of being a creative and find others ways to feed that in yourself, it will keep you inspired and humble. Trust your gut.
Pricing:
- Women’s haircut -$78
- Men’s haircut-$60
- Single Process-$90
- Single process with partial highlight-starting at $198
- Balayage- starting at $150
Contact Info:
- Address: 1065 West Madison Street
- Website: Solo-salon.com
- Phone: 312-491-9771
- Email: melissa@solo-salon.com
- Instagram: maebabie
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
