Today we’d like to introduce you to Jade Ung
Hi Jade, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I guess it goes back to being a kid like anyone’s story. I grew up in Massachusetts my whole life. I don’t want to give a sob story about how sad my relationship is with my parents, but they weren’t always around. And that played a lot into my story and how I ended up here. I remember just absolutely love getting my hair done, when my step mom would let me tag along during her hair appointments, practically begging someone to curl my hair since I had no idea how to at the time. My step mom and dad split up when I was a teenager and so I started to do what teenagers do best, I got in trouble. I was rebelling and angsty. I got my first “boyfriend” who introduced me to his mom, Leighsa Nol. I never thought in a million years I’d still be so close to his family. I started getting exposure to being around a real life hair stylist when I met Leighsa Nol. I was 14 and a teenager with trouble finding a path and she basically took me in as her own daughter. I saw the connection she has with her clients and the heart and creativity she put into her work and I knew that’s the career I wanted to pursue. I ended up going into cosmetology school at 16, and was behind the chair at just 17! After working in Massachusetts for most of my career I decided I needed to grow and push myself to see what more I could be capable of. I moved to the beautiful San Diego 2 years ago. I’ve since met my now husband while I was up at a hair class in L.A hosted by Oribe! I’ve landed in Belle Sirene Salon in La Jolla as a senior stylist, and have been behind the chair as a stylist a total of 10 years, all because I loved having my hair curled as a kid.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. It has been a humbling experience for sure! I had it really easy back home. A level of security from establishment. I didn’t account for how many different seasons of growth and plateaus there would be. Those plateaus really do make you contemplate: “am I trying enough?”. Then trying to balance that with experiencing what San Diego has to offer, while not burning out. I had to learn how to balance prioritizing my growth while not burning out and still enjoying what life has to offer here.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a hairstylist! I specialize in blonding, lived in colors, brunettes, and sew- in extensions. I would say I’m most proud of being able to build trust and relationships with people more than anything. Everyone comes from a different walk of life and has different experiences that I love learning about. Being a hairstylist to me goes far beyond standing behind the chair. It’s the countless hours of education, the trials and errors along the way, which might I add are very humbling, but most importantly it’s the human connection. Making people feel calm in my chair and confident when they leave.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me the happiest, is such a simple answer, yet it has so many layers. Easily spending time with the people that mean the most to me. Doing as little as sitting at the dining table playing a board game or going on a trip exploring. But to go more in depth as to why, they know me the best, they know every part of me. The unfiltered version of me. The transaction is healing and fulfilling.
Pricing:
- Haircuts $125
- Partials $300+
- Full Foils $350+
- Root Color $175
- Root Color + Gloss $275
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bellesirenesalon.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jadeedidmyhair
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/OGkItxh8kw
Image Credits
Photo 1, 2 & Main Picture credit to Natalie @lateaugust___ on IG.
