Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebekkah HowerDunsmore.
Rebekkah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
So I pretty much knew in Highschool that I was going to become a Professional Hairstylist, I’ve had an obsession with hair long before I got into this Profession. I graduated from Cosmetology school here in San Diego in early 1993 and started my first job in a hair salon 1994.
The salon I started in was a commission salon at the mall while also working part-time at my mom’s friend’s barbershop. I was really focused on getting as much education as possible so I took as many classes and went to as many hair shows as possible. This industry is changing Constantly and never stops!! I knew the only way to be on top and stay on top was education. I have to be honest, I also wanted to make more money, and I knew if I wanted to make more money, I needed to have the education and Best training as possible.
After about two and a half years at my first job, I was ready to make my move. I started looking at salons in LaJolla and my first interview the lady hired me on the spot, she told me she did want someone with more years experience than what I had, but she wanted to give me a chance because she loved my personality and thought I would fit in great with her salon and spa. It was at that point when I realized how important your personality matters in the hair profession. After all it was the main reason I was hired! At that point, I definitely realized ongoing education was very important but I also realized your personality, how you treat others and how you make others feel is just as important! Maybe even more important!?
A couple of weeks later, I started my first day, it was also a commission salon but I was able to charge much higher prices which meant more money! I worked there for about eight years. It was a wonderful place to work and I was able to build up a really good clientele. I was ready to totally work for my self now, so I left and found another salon in LaJolla to do booth rental. At this time in my life, I had just had a beautiful baby boy and he needed me. Although I was truly loving my job and loving the money I was making, I knew he had to come before all that. At this point, I started working part-time and eventually I worked out of my home, I ended up doing this for a few years.
I waited till my son was about five and he started school before I went back to working full time at a salon again. I was living closer to Coronado than LaJolla at this time. Then I decided to look for a salon in Coronado. and I’m still in Coronado Now eleven years later and still loving it!! Right now, I am also working at an amazing little Boutique salon in LaJolla shores and Loving it also! I work Tuesday and Wednesday in LaJolla, And Thursday Friday and Saturday in Coronado. I remind myself every day how lucky I am, I have two amazing places that I work at with other amazing hairstylist and I have the best clients in the world! What else could I ask for, I am blessed!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but life is not a smooth road, it’s filled with ups and downs twists and turns and I’ve definitely had my share! This industry is so competitive and there are many other incredible hairstylists. In the beginning, I worked very hard for very little money, Sometimes keeping the Hope and the Vision that in the future I’d be making amazing money and I’d finally be paid what I’m worth was very hard at times. One of the biggest struggles has definitely been being a mom and running my own business. Trying to Always be on top of everything plus taking care of myself, at times, has been very challenging. That’s why I always try to be understanding to others; none of us know the whole truth of the invisible weight that another may carry.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a hairstylist that specializes in hair color services for blondes and gray coverage, I do many other hair services too! My Specialty Haircut is the bob and I truly love doing them! There are so many different versions of the bob haircut and so many ways to style them, anyone can look great in a bob. I’ve been in this profession for a while now (26 years) and I Never quit learning and discovering new techniques and ways to better myself. The key is ongoing education, Staying Positive even through the bad times the hard times, oh and of course to Keep Smiling…
What were you like growing up?
As a kid growing up I was a mixture of “the girlie girl “ and “the Tomboy” I loved my dolls, Barbies and Make-up but I also loved climbing trees and racing with my brother on my bike I always had scrapes and/or bruises and rips on the knees of my jeans. I was so Unbelievably shy when I was a very little kid, By the time junior high came around, I had changed a lot and by high school, my personality had almost completely changed. I started taking Drama and Dance, I definitely became much more outgoing and I also started to realize I really enjoyed being around other people, I actually enjoyed socializing and learning about other people’s lives and interests, then realizing “wow “ I’m a people person! Which has definitely benefited me in my profession today.
Contact Info:
- Address: Bella Salon (upstairs from Piatti’s Italian restaurant) 2182 Avenida De La Playa LaJolla CA 92037 And Salon on First (formerly Salon de Ville) 1134 first St Coronado CA 92118
- Phone: 6196071929
- Instagram: artofhair_by_rebekkah
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