Guest post by Melissa Herrod, a TUBC student at our Highland campus.
Why do I love to style hair so much? When I was about fourteen years old, I picked up a comb for the first time and realized this is what I want to do with my life. I thought this was the most exciting thing that I could ever do!
It all started on the “first” – that’s what we called fifty-first where I grew up on the south side of Chicago. I wasn’t really a people person. I was very shy and quiet, always keeping to myself but I still manage to have all the friends in the neighborhood! My porch was hot and my grandma was mad. But I would say that if it wasn’t for the good and motivating friends and family that I have, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.
I remember the very first hairstyle I tried on my best friend Takara. It was a basket weave and everybody loved it! I was so excited just to see people smile, but everybody didn’t smile all the time because when I did my other best friend Sophia’s hair, which was my very first hair cut, there were tears! I felt so bad and I almost got beat up! But when everybody started smiling and telling her how good her new hair cut looked, she apologized and I was feeling good again.
Those were just some of the good and bad of what I went through, but all things considered I would say this is the most rewarding career that I could have stumbled into. I’m so blessed to have experienced this, and if I had to do it twice I would do again if I had to! But I don’t think that will happen as I’m finally getting my license!
I’m in love with this profession, and until the day I retire I’ll always wake up excited to go to work.