Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Samples.
Hi Sarah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am originally from West Virginia… after a few tries at college, I realized it wasn’t for me and wanted to pursue something more creative! I packed my bags and moved to Salt Lake City to attend Paul Mitchell the School because I had heard they had a prestigious program for cosmetology. I was way more receptive to hands on learning and loved the opportunity to make people feel better about themselves. After working at a few salons, I found my home at Hair Metal Salon in New York City. After years of blood, sweat and tears, I began managing the salon which led to me owning it years later. It was my second year of ownership when the pandemic hit and I was faced with new challenges to overcome. As a new business owner, this was very difficult to navigate. With the support of our regular clients, we were able to not only thrive but remain open after being closed for three months. After seeing the need for a laid-back, yet professional salon experience, I chose to expand and open our second location in Austin, Texas! Hair Metal Salon is a place where everyone can be themselves, no one is judged and we love to get involved and give back the community. We hadn’t yet opened during the snowstorm but happened to still have water and power! I was sitting there at about 4 am thinking there is a way we can help even though no one knows we are here! I started cleaning and getting things ready for opening even though we were weeks away from our official opening date. I made a few Facebook posts and decided to open prematurely to do free wash and blow dries for those in need! We had about 70 people show up that weekend! Not only that, a couple of stylists from the area volunteered to help out! It was a really good way to get to know the locals and see the community come together in a time of need. Everyone made us feel right at home!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing has gone as planned due to the pandemic but we have been rolling with the punches!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Our salon specializes in creative, funky colors and haircuts. We ditched the top 40 and listened to good music all day! I am proud to have survived my first two years as a business owner during a pandemic and even more proud of my team who has worked long, hard hours wearing masks, doing hair, and empathizing with clients who have been affected by the pandemic… It is a lot at the end of the day but it’s worth it to help people through this difficult strange time.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I hope to see this new salon thrive and possibly open up salons in a few other cities. In the meantime, we will be having bbqs working on the Hair Metal product line, getting acquainted with the austinites and bringing some Brooklyn flavor to the south.
Pricing:
- Short cuts start at 45
- Long cuts start at 70
- Color starts at 110
Contact Info:
- Email: Hairmetalaustin@gmail.com
- Website: www.hairmetalsalon.net
- Instagram: Hairmetalaustin
Image Credits
Mural by Jason lee Parker Instagram: tinker_bird
