Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Yalda.
Hi Mary, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hair has always been my passion, but in high school I was in a law program and I was planning on going into law. I realized I wasn’t being true to myself and decided to go to beauty school instead.
I wanted to help people feel good about themselves, give them confident boost because I believe that when we feel good, we treat others well. That is my way of spreading some world peace.
I started my career in Chicago and did most of my training in New York City. I moved around and lived in cities like Los Angeles, Portland, Austin. Living in all of these cities has trained me to work with all textures of hair and any built confidence to take on any color challenge.
I’ve worked behind the chair and also behind the scenes, and even some education for a bit. Doing hair is my happy place. I feel fortunate to have had diverse experiences. As a hairstylist, I continuously challenge myself to expand on my talents.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not a smooth road. In the beginning, I could barely understand color theory and found it very challenging. But I kept pushing myself. Every time I faced an obstacle, I asked questions, and practiced more to perfect my craft.
Moving around throughout the years has its challenges. When I first moved to New York as a 20 something year-old, I had nobody to fall back on, so I had to hustle and establish myself. New York was a great place for growth and I wouldn’t be the hairstylist I am today without the training I received there.
In 2020 I moved to LA where I decided to go independent. It was extremely challenging to build from scratch during a pandemic. I did Yelp for a short while, but that wasn’t a great success.
I built my success through word-of-mouth and referrals. I began traveling from LA to New York then when I moved to Portland, I added that into the rotation. Then Austin. I was traveling every three months.
After having my daughter, I moved back to Chicago to be close to family. I’ve taken a break from traveling at the moment to focus on my daughter and my health. I look forward to getting back to that soon.
I believe it takes a lot of courage to move and start over again, especially in this industry. I am proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish throughout the years.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I don’t limit myself to one category, but I specialize in color corrections, and transformation color. I believe as an artist, I shouldn’t limit myself to one thing.
I have clients I style weekly, and I’ve traveled abroad providing styling services.
I am most proud of all the education I’ve received and the knowledge that I have about the industry.
The one project that’s stands out most, is when I competed in company wide hair competition. It was the first time I had full control over a Photo shoot. I created a mermaid look with fantasy hair. I won the competition and was awarded a trip to London. That was the first time I traveled abroad for my work.
I was so proud to share with my loved ones, to encourage them that with great determination, you can accomplish your goals and dreams.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love working with people and learning from one another. I believe that continuing education is vital for success. They just have to reach out to me and I’m more than happy to work with people.
As for support, I get excited about trying new things, delving into education. Given those opportunities, I would make the best of it.
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