Before I begin this entry, I want to send many thanks to the people who believe in me. The people who have brought up my name in rooms I wasn’t in. The people who value my humanity and imperfections. Those who see me as a human, not just a service provider or “hair lady”. This profession has taken me so much further than I’ve ever imagined. And I’m damn proud of it. *I also could care less if this blog entry never gets me booked gigs again. I said what I said.*
I never intended on being a hairstylist, my career was built on survival. When I enrolled in cosmetology school my first born was three years old. I’ll touch on motherhood in a later entry, but just know everything I’ve done to start my career and be successful was to create a better life for my children. A little over a year after obtaining my cosmetology license I gave birth to my daughter. After doing house calls my entire pregnancy, taking four months off to recover from my second c-section, and balancing two children before turning 25.. I was ready to get my career started.
I’ll spare details of the entire journey because this entry is mostly about the corporate side of hair. On set, backstage, traveling etc.. The hair world is no exception when it comes to toxic environments. Five(ish) years into my career I began training to become an educator for a major hair care company, it completely changed my life. At that time I had no self confidence. I dressed the part, but I was in a debilitating relationship and lost my voice years into it. Fast forward to 2017 when I finally left, people thought I grew taller.. because I finally stood up straight. Confident. Being an educator and doing the work outside of it, did that.
My first cross country flight was because of education. I cried most of the flight, I was terrified. When I got to the event I had to mingle with other professionals, schmooze if you will. It was difficult as a young mom with a background unfamiliar to this world. The sales rep who discovered me pulled me aside, told me I belonged in that room, and to act like it. Things changed drastically from there. From 2015-2021, I traveled all over the country. Visiting Mexico for the first time, NYC in a room full of the top educators in the country, and all over my home of Northern California. I met some of the most amazing people, some who I am still friends with to this day. Of course I also met people who I would never share space with, but had to as a professional.
By no means am I perfect, I have a mouth on me as my mama would say. I’m opinionated and I don’t give a fuck half the time if someone feels some type of way. However as a professional, I get the job done. When I left the company in 2021, it was for good reason. By that point I had worked tirelessly, provided free labor & time, and didn’t see myself aligning with the company anymore. My manager who became one of the best mentors (and is currently) in my life was let go abruptly and I knew my time was coming to an end next. Was it a disgusting pig education art director smacking my ass after show prep in a public place? Maybe the white passing Latina education manager who called me after the same show to passive aggressively put me down? In the same breath she congratulated me on a successful show. If she ever reads this, girl fuck you. Hmm maybe the time an influencer (who had a high education position in the company) called me to ask how I was doing with my suspension. What suspension? I had no clue what he was talking about, but it was messy and he knew it. Perhaps it was the other white educators & managers who gave me a such a fucking hard time. From yelling at me, threatening me, smiling in my face while bad mouthing me at important tables, or complaining because I was given great opportunities. The work spoke for itself and stage presence came after years of competitive dance, be mad suckas.
The final straw for me was a scandal involving a well paid influencer who was racist behind closed doors. I for damn sure couldn’t back that up. The internet was coming down hard on us educating for this brand. What they didn’t know is that there were some of us fighting to make change! While the brand was marketing diversity and inclusion, we were fighting for it for real. It was all totally fucked up. After leaving I opened Native Studio Salon, it was like having another baby. But just like my other babies, it was the best decision I ever made.. I also got into being an independent educator, I had the skills thanks to amazing training & teaching experience. From my own salon space I was able to teach how I wanted, dress how I wanted, and be who I wanted. It was a lot of work, marketing, ticket sales, prep.. Independent educators know what I mean! Continued education is such an important part of the beauty industry, I hope to remain apart of it for as long as I can.
Around the same time I was connected to amazing local photographers through set work. Big commercial brands, working our asses off, trying our best to produce work for campaigns, all for corporate client approval. I had some set & backstage experience from the company I worked with prior. I’m really thankful for the people that have given me these opportunities. Seeing your work in public on published ads is really cool. I learned so much from really talented folks; makeup artists, PAs, lighting techs, set designers, wardrobe stylists, producers, and more. From hair shows to set work I saw how everyone worked together to produce the end product. It was really dope and I was really grateful to be introduced to a whole new world.
I met so many models on set who were relieved to have a hairstylist on set who understood curls. Many “hairstylists” on set are not professional hairstylists, they take on the hair role (as makeup artists) because most productions are looking for a two in one deal. There are many talented artists who can definitely do both! I respect that, but I didn’t appreciate those artists (mostly white) looking over my shoulder, asking questions, and then never taking a class of mine. Get educated babes. Hair should be taken seriously on set, especially when it comes to curls. There are so many horror stories from models all over the world who have been mistreated on set/backstage. These beauty positions are gate kept much of the time. White hairstylists are hired when they have zero experience with natural curl patterns. It is not taken seriously because the producers, agency owners, corporate big wigs are mostly, you guessed it, white. Not everyone is a girl’s girl too. Don’t get me started on a gross production fuck boy that slid into my DMs after meeting on set. Trying to kick it, throw money your way, being aggressive about it. Creator forbid you tell the agency owner you’ve both worked with in confidence and later get unfollowed from the agency, ha. Keeping a “diverse set” doesn’t mean white privilege/”supremacy” doesn’t exist, it is alive and well in those spaces. I quickly saw through the fuck shit on set and was put off by it. I ain’t kissing ass nor fucking my way on set/backstage. Fuck that.
While paid set work isn’t as frequent for myself these days I’m fine with it. When it does come around I enjoy it! These experiences have helped me align with what is for me. I am wiser now, more experienced. I find more joy in collaborating with talented local friends and taking care of my clients behind the chair. Producing work from our hearts & creative minds is a type of joyous resistance I try to give my all. Taking care of my beloved clients brings me the most joy in my craft. What divine alignment it is to be in the presence of such beautiful humans. That is what keeps me in this industry. This work has taken me to the mountains of Oaxaca, backstage at huge festivals, and fancy neighborhoods this Native girl has never had any business in. Today I am proud to take up space as a Native person, I am healing along the way, but not putting up with any shit. Black, Brown, and Indigenous people deserve to be compensated, treated with respect, and given opportunities like white folks are.
We know we are our ancestors wildest dreams. Corporations don’t need to breadcrumb us to validate our gifts. I hope we continue to make beautiful work through it all.
-Selina
EDIT: I want to add that my stances on many social, “political”, human rights issues may have deemed me as “problematic” or not hire worthy. Money will never sway my voice on Black & Brown liberation, LAND BACK, anti-colonialism, or smashing abusers. Deal with it.
