Today we’d like to introduce you to Carley Smith.
Carley, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My journey began in Cape Cod, MA, where I developed a creative passion for art, fashion, and style at an early age. I especially loved cosmetology and found it to be a channel where my creativity could truly flourish.
While searching for a hair design school that beset my high-minded ambition, I discovered the prestigious Bellus Academy – one of the top schools in the country. I knew it was the right place for me, so I moved across the country to southern California and enrolled.
After graduating from Bellus, I furthered my education by assisting some of the top stylists in San Diego for about two years.
Eventually, I felt confident that I could start my own business by renting a booth at Love Spell Salon.
I was nervous to start this journey because I only had a handful of clients. But I took a leap of faith and started marketing myself through Instagram and Facebook.
The feedback I got for the first couple of weeks were amazing. I ended up booking myself out three weeks in advance in my first week of working there.
It’s been a year and a half since I have been at Love Spell Salon and since then I have switched to full time and I’m still around 4 weeks out for booking.
It’s amazing what you can do when you work for your passions and you push yourself to achieve your goals. I’m excited to see where this journey takes me!
Has it been a smooth road?
Yes, there were some setbacks when I finished school with student loans and financial aid. I had to take a couple of years off to pay off these loans so I could get my proof of training to get my state board license. It was hard to stay focused and keep myself motivated to get back on track in doing what I love but I was determined to not let go of my dreams and I’m so glad I pushed through and finished what I started.
I also ended up assisting two amazing stylists for a few years. My first mentor had two salons – one in Rancho Bernardo and one in Little Italy. I worked at both places assisting him while also working as a blow dry artist.
By the end of my training he ended up selling his second salon in little Italy and gave me a choice to stay in Little Italy with the new owner and move up to having my own chair or staying in Rancho Bernardo and continue assisting him until a chair opened up.
I ended up staying with the new owner in Little Italy but I had to assist her for a while instead of getting my own chair to make sure I was ready to take clients.
At the time it was hard to accept that I wasn’t going to be a full-service stylist yet but I had to let go of my worries and just trust the universe that this was the path I was supposed to take and just go with the flow…
It wasn’t easy but i ended up assisting her for another year.
At the time, it didn’t feel great to barely get by while earning the state minimum wage, but I’m so glad I did. I ended up learning so many new techniques with hair painting, balayage and foilayage that I began to feel confident enough to create my own business at Love Spell Salon.
I strongly believe in the saying “ everything happens for a reason” because if it weren’t for these setbacks I wouldn’t be the stylist that I am today.
We’d love to hear more about @HairByCarley.S.
Color, in general, is my passion but I would have to say I definitely gravitate towards natural looks. Even my fantasy colors have a natural looking placement.
I have a passion for balayage and I love creating techniques between hair painting and babylights.
Which women have inspired you in your life?
I would say my mom, Laureen Smith, because she has always inspired and pushed me to chase after my dreams. She encouraged me to get my own career and be able to provide for myself my whole life.
Even though it meant moving across the country, my mom supported me when I wanted to start cosmetology school. I know it was hard on her, but she never wanted me to be dependent on anyone but myself and I think that helped make me the woman that I am today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @HairbyCarley.S
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