Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Elzinga.
Michelle, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I always knew I wanted to be a hairstylist. I was fascinated by how stylists seemed so calm, collected, and magical. I still feel true to that this day!
From a young age, I felt a passion to chase my dreams. In high school, I went to a vocational school for Cosmetology and started working in salons at the young age of sixteen. I fell in love with the craft and wanted to learn it all. After graduating high school, I did not feel prepared to work in the industry so I entered a traditional beauty school. During this time, I became pregnant with my son, who will be nine this year. This was one of the most challenging times of my life. I was working at a waitress, in beauty school full time, pregnant, And in a very unhealthy relationship. After a lot of heartache and accepting that I was going to be a single mother; the drive in me to become successful only grew deeper. It was now my life’s purpose to show my son that you can make anything happen regardless of the cards you are dealt.
After getting my license, I started as a stylist in a small town at a mom & pop salon. After two short years I had outgrown my space there. I decided to take a leap of faith. I gave up my clientele to start an apprenticeship program at one of the most prestigious salons in the area. Trading in my comfort zone for a broom and wage of eight dollars and hour. My job now was now to sweep floors, blow dry hair, and take classes on Mondays for a year.
Although I had no clue how I was going to provide for myself and a child on such a small income. I knew it was only temporary and it would wind up paying off in the end. During my time there I was blessed with some of the greatest mentors and continued to excel through their guidance. While building my clientele inside the salon, I was introduced to the bridal industry and began to sink myself deep into on-location styling for bridal work, photoshoots, and runways.
In 2016, I left there to follow one of my mentor’s dreams who opened her own thriving salon and day spa. I was able to watch her start from the ground up and see how hard work and dedication can pay off. While I was there I wore several different hats, as a stylist, manager, mentor, and educator. After taking a few in house classes. I went through certification to become an educator for the product line we carried within the salon, which ultimately led me to San Diego.
I started traveling here for classes and conventions and knew immediately I wanted to live here for any amount of time at some point in my life. After so many years of tackling goal after goal, I finally felt like I had hit a wall. I felt accomplished but plateaued. I felt full but empty. I loved my career but didn’t feel happy. I felt a shift happening in my life. I knew it was time for a change. I knew I wanted a new environment. I wanted to excel further than I had ever done before. I was feeling uninspired and needed to changes in some way. I did not know what that was going to be but I felt open to accepting the unknown, feeling drawn to start over.
The other option was to run my own business, buy a house, and do all the things you’re “supposed to do.” That sounded nice when I would daydream about the comfort but deep down, I was not ready to be “settled.” I didn’t feel home anymore. I could not stop thinking about how I was about to go through a major change.
Please tell us about Liberation Studio.
Liberation Studio is a space for creative, artistic, freedom. Liberation was established in February 2019, located inside the Sola Salons in Oceanside. This studio was opened with intent to create a space of empowerment and restoration. Focusing on color and enhancing women’s natural beauty, Liberation is a place where people of all sorts come to feel comfortable being themselves and sharing a good laugh or two. With this being the first year in business Liberation as a whole is still very small but thriving! The future looks bright and I hope to share the knowledge and training that I have with thriving stylists around the area! As a brand I would have to say I am most proud that my business feels warm and welcoming to others. Growing up being bullied and facing a plethora of different life challenges as a young woman, single mother, and business owner. I know how hard it can be to keep a smile on your face when life isn’t going well. I know one thing that always helps me feel better is a little self love and pick me up from someone in good spirits! I strive to make people feel whole and welcome. Liberation IS my happy place and I want my guests to feel happy and safe to be themselves in my studio as soon as they enter the door.
Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?The biggest barrier to female leadership today would be belief. From the beginning of time there have been strong female roles who have stood up for others or themselves, changing history and lives forever. There have always been women who are just as intelligent, driven, and wealthy as a man. When things are different people tend to assume they are wrong or cannot work instead of opening their minds to creative opportunity or space for redirection. Since we have had a small amount of women in a leadership role, I think people assume it “shouldn’t be possible” When in all reality, is more than possible. Women are great leaders. Women are great multitaskers. We are hard workers. We are sensitive and compassionate. Women are a sacred being and have so much power within themselves that is being summed by cultural belief systems. When a woman is powerful she can be strong and independent. In my belief we have not had enough women to stand up in a leadership role. We need more women to be believe in themselves enough to make a difference on a larger scale. In the future I hope to see more positive female role models in roles of leadership, decision making, and bringing inner strength and self love back to our female society.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4161 Oceanside Blvd Oceanside, CA 92056
- Phone: 2193234859
- Email: michelle.northcounty@gmail.com
- Instagram: I’m on Instagram as michelleelzinga__. Install the app to follow my photos and videos. https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=4jxu6pic7fct&utm_content=xabfaj
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Liberationstudio/
Image Credit:
Sara Spiva
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