Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Heaps.
Hi Amber, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a hairstylist, just like my Grandma! I grew up spending countless hours at my Grandmas house watching her do hair out of her home salon. I can still remember the sounds of the dryers, the smells of “permnant” and aerosol hairspray like it was yesterday.
I was fortunate enough to attend “Nail School” the last month of my senior year of high school, after my cheerleading season ended. I wasn’t especially excited about the nail portion but I ended up getting my nail license and working as a nail tech for a year before starting cosmetology school. I was employed doing nails at a salon that offered an apprentice program and decided this would be a better fit for me rather than the Tech College Cosmetology program. As an apprentice, I was able to have a total hands on- 1 on 1 learning experience. I wouldn’t trade my education for anything! I seriously got to learn from some of the best in the industry!
After I graduated, I stayed working at that salon for 2 1/2 years before getting married and moving out of state.
My career kind of took a turn at that point. We moved to a state that didn’t allow reciprocity of my license so I couldn’t work in a salon. We did live on the border of an adjoining state that did allow reciprocity so I made arrangements and got my license in that state. I drove about 20 mins across the border into a little snow bird town working out of a single wide trailer doing some of the cutest and sweetest people’s hair! I got to work with 3 older ladies that had done hair decades longer than me and I will always cherish that time and all I learned from them!
Our plan to stay out of state came to an abrupt halt when I had our first baby and after only 4 days, she passed away. I couldn’t be away from my family and where we called home during that time, so we packed up and moved back to Utah. About 3 months later, I decided to get back to work and I found a salon that I would only spend 2 weeks working at because my mental state wasn’t in the right place to keep going.
Life carried on and I eventually got a job at a local beauty supply store. I did nails out of my parents basement and a little bit of hair from the kitchen. My dream had always been to have a salon in my home, just like my grandma. When the time came,- 4 years later, we bought a house and my dreams became reality! I have grown my business in ways I could have never imagined!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Growing a business isn’t always fun and exciting. Obviously moving and going through tremendous trials, plays a huge role in my successes and failures. Hopping salons, working out of a kitchen, trying to be a good mom, a good wife, friend, sister, etc. and questioning your worth in the industry, makes being an entrepreneur rough. 98% of the time I am in awe of where I am today and happy to do what I do, but that 2% sticks out and it’s HARD.
I am now in my 20th year of being a Cosmetologist! When I started, MySpace and Facebook were babies and I didn’t even know how to work them. Now, I often feel like a failure because my Instagram account doesn’t “look how it should.” Social media is an amazing tool and I LOVE being inspired by fellow artists but I hate the pressure of feeling like “I’m not good enough” because my socials don’t look aesthetically appealing like the other 2M stylists that have a million followers and videos that makes them look like magicians. I just want to do hair and nails. I don’t want to worry about the content I “should” be creating.
Another struggle so many don’t talk about is the toll our job takes on our bodies. My body is starting to feel it. I have neck problems, back problems, feet problems and I have to do all different types of therapy to keep myself able to do what I do. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything! I get to be the artist that I have always wanted to be AND be there for my family and friends and live the life I dreamed of!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
When I first started my journey, doing nails wasn’t really in my plan. Now I have built a full clientele of nail clients and I LOVE NAILS!! This industry is CONSTANTLY changing and I actually feel so blessed to have done nails long enough, that I can confidently say, “I can do any type of nail method brought my way! Acrylic, hard gel, soft gel, acrygel sculpted, formed, tips, natural, etc. Some, I enjoy more than others but I love the versatility.
When it comes to being a hairstylist, I have always felt the pressure to be amazing at EVERY aspect of it. Thankfully, over the last 20 years, I’ve learned a lot! IT’S OK TO NOT BE THE BEST at every service we are “supposed” to know and offer! I am a hair stylist and I can’t braid to save my life! I have 3 daughters. We go to Nana’s if we want our hair braided! I have also learned that there is more than one right way to do everything! In our industry we get to be creative!
It took time but I learned the things I love and the things I am really good at. Today, I am a blonde specialist and extension specialist. I love helping women by giving them their confidence back with the help of fabulous hair! I also love continuing my education and learning all that I can about this industry!
I am currently working on getting my Instructors License and hope to be able to offer my own apprenticeship program someday soon!
What makes you happy?
Over the last 20 years, I have met some of the most amazing people. I’ve learned from some of the best in the industry and made so many friends along the way! When I stop to think about what makes me happy, I would have to say, my clients! I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without them and 90% of them have become some of my very best friends! They support me through all of my good and bad. I get to see parts of their lives, most people don’t, and they get to see that part of mine too! Cosmetologists are often -jokingly- called therapists. We often get the good, the bad, and the ugly. But I feel so blessed to be that person for so many of my clients because without the time in my chair, we may never be as close as we are!
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Jami Tolman Photography
