Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin DeWitt.
Erin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Howdy! I am a hairstylist in Austin, Texas and own my own studio, Wild Mane Salon.
Never in a million years did I expect to be where I am today, but I would not change it for the world. Bare with me, it is a wild ride.
It all started back in high school as the typical scene kid with crazy colored hair, that I of course did myself in my bathroom. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, nor had any business doing it, but it was a fun way of self-expression. My first haircut was on my high school boyfriend and boy, do I cringe at the thought of how awful it was.
I have always been into the arts, and knew when I was graduating high school I wanted to be a creative. I had the typical parents that thought cosmetology school was for high school dropouts and unintelligent people, so naturally, they forced me to go to college (which to this day I am grateful for). I ended up at St. Edwards for photography because if they were forcing me to go, it was going to be for my other passion, photography. I was paying my own way through school and St. Ed’s is a private school so naturally it’s expensive, and I hated everything but my photo classes. I ended up dropping out after 2 semesters because I was broke and lost with no direction of where I wanted to go.
I ended up at Texas State University a year later. I majored in Journalism and Communications with an emphasis on Digital Media and minored in Art and Design, of course. Upon graduating and working in the corporate world for about 6 months, I absolutely hated it. A 9 to 5 was my absolute nightmare, and again, I was stuck. All the while, I was still doing my hair, and my roommate’s hair in our college bathroom.
At this point, I was 24 years old and figured it’s now or never. I knew I loved hair, and my parents couldn’t force me to do anything so I enrolled at the Aveda Institute in Austin, and never looked back. I was thrown into a world that finally made sense. I lucked out because I am a visual learner and naturally gifted with color, which I will give major credit to my Fine Art background. Once I graduated I worked at Urban Betty Salon for two and a half years, where I built my clientele and grew as a stylist. I went from an assistant to an educator in a year and felt the need to continue to grow so I left my first salon and went to Deep Roots Salon. I worked there alongside some extremely talented stylists for a year and a half. I never thought I wanted to be my own boss but something was missing. I absolutely loved my job, but I needed something more. So in April 2022, I opened my own salon studio, Wild Mane Salon. Working for myself has been the most rewarding and amazing experience; more so than I could have ever imagined.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh absolutely not even close to a smooth road, but it is all about learning and growing as a person. I would not trade my journey for anything. It has helped mold me into the strong and resilient person and business owner I am today. I am grateful for all the experiences I have had along the way; the good and the bad. Five years ago when I started doing hair, professionally, that is, I was a completely different person with a subpar mindset. Sometimes I look back and have no clue who she was, but her experiences and growth paved the way for everything that has been accomplished in such a short time.
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, whatever that reason may be, you learn from it. The rough experiences make the good ones that much sweeter. I try to remember that when something comes and knocks me on my ass.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My salon studio, Wild Mane Salon is located in South Austin. The name came to fruition after I realized I am kind of a wild and eccentric person mixed with a bit of southern charm. I have gained a bit of a following for my blondes, lived-in color and major transformations, Over the years, I have thought of myself as a “Jack of all trades” kind of gal, meaning I can do everything, but I found my happy place as a Blonde, Lived-in & hair transformation extraordinaire.
I also specialize in custom hair cutting, I think people tend to forget that I cut hair because I have so many color guests, but I love, love, love giving people haircuts that will suit their lifestyle and enhance their natural hair texture. A good haircut is just as important as your color. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula and no two guests that are the same. I work with all of my guests to create a long-term plan for the style & health of your hair so there’s never a dull moment. A little creative freedom goes a long way!
I am dedicated to continuing education, and attend as many classes as I can to advance my skills and keep up to date on trends while still adding my own flair.
Being a hairstylist is one of the last jobs that is still so incredibly personal. Enhancing or changing someone’s appearance is big deal and I am so fortunate to have so many amazing people who trust me to keep them feeling beautiful. I always say hair is the accessory your wear 24/7 and really truly makes or breaks how a person feels about themselves. One of the main reasons I opened my own space was because I wanted to focus my skills on one guest at a time. I am a perfectionist so every minute counts, and I want every guest to feel important, seen, and understood. We’ve all had that experience in a salon where you go in and you feel like the stylist just really does not get what you are saying, or just does not care. It is an awful feeling and you usually walk out unsatisfied. I pride myself in never letting a guest leave unhappy, because I am the type of person who would lose sleep over it.
My goal is to make people to feel beautiful, but I also want them to feel like themselves. My priority is to create stunning custom hair color and cuts that elevates your everyday lifestyle. Who wants a cut or color that will never look the same as when you left the salon? Not me, I hated that every time I left I could never recreate what was done.
It is important to me to be open with my guests about what I am doing, and why. I walk everyone through my step by step of my process from start to finish so they understand what is being done and the purpose behind it and educate them on how to best take care of their new hair at home.
If you’re my guest you know, I always keep it a little too real. If I think something is a bad idea for their hair/lifestyle, I won’t do it. I have talked so many people out of bangs and hair color that won’t fit their routine. I’m not one of those stylists that will just do whatever to make money, I value being completely transparent and working with my guests to come to a compromise of something that they want and what I think would be best.
The relationships I am able to make with my guests are really what makes this career so rewarding. My guests are like my family/friends, I get so much joy seeing them in my chair. I have watched families grow, relationships blossom and dealt with the heartbreak too. It is hard to find a stylist you can vibe with who puts everything into your service every time, but boy howdy, do I do my best.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Take the risk – it’s so rewarding. My favorite phrases are “risk it for the biscuit” and “with risk, comes reward.” My clients hear me say them all too often.
Honestly, opening my own business was one of the biggest risks I have taken. I did it all in a month. Whew. It has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in my life.
I think if you’re not willing to take that risk you are stifling what could be the best experience of your life. Complacency is something built out of fear, and it’s so damn boring. Quit your job, make the move across the country, shave your head, but just do it. You will always learn from your risks, even if they don’t end up how you thought they would. Life is about experiences, and with those experiences comes risk. It doesn’t have to be scary.
Pricing:
- Highlights/Balayage: $250 – $350
- Transformations: $150/hr
- Haircuts: $100 – $150
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wildmaneatx.com
- Instagram: @erincolorshair
