Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Zabel.
Hi Erika, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started out at a four-year university right out of high school. I knew going into it I was not happy about it but I felt that was the next step. All my friends were headed to college and I felt I had to do the same. Well, all it took was one semester and I knew I needed to get out of there. I packed my bags and told my parents I’m coming home to look into cosmetology. My parents were not the happiest when I told them I was not finishing college. They knew how interested I was in the beauty industry though. I toured Aveda in Minneapolis and I knew I found where I was meant to be. A couple of years into the industry I knew I wanted full control of my business and life and I knew I wanted to work for myself- whatever that was going to take I was willing to do it.
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 been fairly smooth for me. My first salon out of beauty school was a mess. I was there for a few years before learning the way they operated was not something I was going to put up with. There was no support and no room to grow. After leaving there, I have found my people in this industry who have helped build me up and support me every step of the way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a hairstylist, more so a color specialist. I do dimensional haircolor and blondes. Majority of my clientele has become blonde. I’m most proud of the detail I put into each head of hair. I take my time and always consider the health of the hair before anything. I’m not afraid to tell a client “no” or “that’s a good goal to have but it won’t happen today” if it means it will ruin the integrity of their hair. I think my honesty and my specialty colors set me apart from other hairstylists. I’m also very passionate about at home care and being sure each client has what they need to take care of their new hair color.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I got lucky that where I’m from not many people went into the beauty field. This means that since I started out so young I was able to obtain a clientele from girls I grew up with. I was the only hairstylist they knew and they had not found a forever stylist yet. Once I started doing some girls from my hometown word spread QUICK and it started becoming a mini reunion in my salon chair. I owe most of my business to social media. It is wild how quickly you can get yourself out there with the Instagram app.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Erikamorgan.GlossGenius.com
- Instagram: Erikamorgan_hair
Image Credits
@mollyjanephotog
@uppercaseLphotography
Erika Zabel
