Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Marcus
Hi Amanda, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started my hair journey in high school when I worked for my mom’s salon (Hair in Time) as the receptionist in La Mesa, California (where I grew up). I then went on to college in Arizona thinking that I wanted to pursue a career in the world of corporate America. After two short years in college I decided to quit and go to cosmetology school. After school I moved to Dallas and started my hair career at Johnny Rodriguez the Salon where I received a great education and was able to build an amazing clientele in the seven years that I worked their. After the seven years I branched out on my own and created my own business, Shear Style by Amanda where I worked out of the beautiful space known as Jodi James Studio located in the Design District of Dallas, Texas. This is where my career really thrived and blossomed and I am so thankful to all the amazing clients and co workers that I worked with over those four years. After reuniting with my high school sweetheart after sixteen years that’s when I decided to make the journey back to San Diego. I got into contact with the owner of Opal and Oak Salon located in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego and that is where I had decided to make my San Diego salon home. Upon my move back to sunny San Diego, the owner of the salon decided to make her exit and move out of state making it an easy decision for me to buy the salon from her. It was such an easy and beautiful transition because the previous owner was so kind, generous and had made the salon so beautiful already that I hardly had to do anything to make it my own. Owning the salon has been such a beautiful journey. The girls who work there still are such great women and stylists and I am so thankful for them for sticking through the transition with me. The salons name has been updated to Surface Studio and we are located on the corner of Rosecrans and Carleton, next door to Northside Shack. We offer all kinds of services, we all have our specialty when it comes to hair and we take great pride in the work that comes out of our salon.
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’s definitely been a bumpy ride but in a great way. Building a business has its ups and downs and is definitely scary at times but also one of the most rewarding feelings. I love the feeling of owning something all to myself and having the pride to say that it’s mine and that I’ve done it all by myself.
One of the biggest struggles as of lately has been building a business in a different city. The people, the demographic, and the style is different from where I built my first business but that’s what makes it fun. I love learning from different people with different perspectives and getting to know everyone’s styles.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Surface Studio is a salon and hairstylist collective. We offer hair color, haircuts, extensions, and smoothing treatments. The salon has four hairstylists that work there as of current but we are always looking to add more talent.
Personally I specialize in haircutting but everyone at the salon has their own specialty and style. I think what sets us apart from other salons are the relationships with have with our clients. Your stylist doesn’t just do your hair, they become a part of your family and I think that’s important when building a great clientele. Most people treasure the relationship they have with their hairstylist and I believe we offer great care along with great service. When it comes to being a hairstylist I really take pride in the relationships that I have with my clients and I think that is something that sometimes gets over looked in our industry.
Each hairstylist at Surface Studio offers most of the same services when it comes to color, haircuts, etc. We all just have our own flare, and we also may use different products in the process. We do however offer R + Co. products for purchase and use that at the shampoo bowl during your services. I have been using R + Co. products for about seven years now and love the results they give. I also love the affordability of the hair care line.
While receiving your service we offer beverages such as Nespresso, sodas, hard seltzers and bubbles on the weekends, hello mimosa! We also offer small snacks because we know how long you could be in the chair. Overall we have a charming and intimate space and welcome everyone who walks in the door.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The hair industry is forever changing. It’s like fashion and if you don’t keep up then you get left behind.
I don’t predict any big shifts but we definitely have to keep up with trends in order to stay relevant and current. That is one thing I do love about the industry is that it keeps you current and up to date with any new trend, whether that’s hair or fashion or pop culture.
Pricing:
- Haircuts range from $50-$125
- Color starts at $50-$500
- Smoothing treatments start at $250-$400
- Extensions are priced at time of appointment
- Product prices vary, starting at $25
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mysite.vagaro.com/surfacestudio
- Instagram: @surfacestudio.sd
