Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Sellars.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I actually didn’t start my journey in the beauty industry until I was in my mid-twenties. I had this whole other path I thought I was meant to follow, but nothing could quite seem to make me happy or excited about what I was doing.
So, after working for literally one of the worst office jobs ever, I decided that I should listen to the quiet voice in my head and go to beauty school. I was fortunate to graduate from Paul Mitchell the School Sherman Oaks and was chosen by the teachers to be the student speaker at the ceremony. After getting my license, I knew that this was the career for me and never looked back.
Along the way, I’ve worked with some incredible artists and truly inspirational mentors. Most recently, before launching my own studio, I worked for an Aveda salon. Working within the Aveda universe expanded who I thought I could be as an artist. It wasn’t just about creating beauty on the outside, but about appreciating every molecule that goes into the products you use and understanding how it gets sourced.
I learned that you can paint amazing hair tapestries without compromising the hair’s integrity. This absolutely fascinated me. Once my clientele had grown enough, I took a giant leap of faith and (with the love and support of my husband and son) opened For Love and Hair at Sola Salon Sherman Oaks, right down the road from the school that started my journey.
Has it been a smooth road?
I think any road that’s worthwhile is going to have a few bumps along the way. That’s what makes it so interesting. When I was all set to enroll in school, I was hit by a drunk driver. I broke my pelvis and had bruised ribs. It was a long healing process, emotionally and physically. I didn’t let that stop me. As soon as I got the ok from my doctors, I enrolled in school because I wasn’t going to give that driver the power to stop me from pursuing my dreams.
At the first salon I ever assisted at, my boss sat me down after I’d been there a few months and told me that I wasn’t very good. She told me that I wasn’t going to be any good and would need luck to get where she’d gotten in her career. She ignored any illness I had and made me question if I should even continue pursuing this path.
Instead of staying and allowing her to make me feel like nothing, I found a new job at a new salon and told myself that I would never again let someone make me question my worth. You set your own worth.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with For Love and Hair – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
For Love and Hair is more than just a salon. It’s a private retreat for clients to escape to when they need some self-care for their soul and hair. As a habit, I hug or shake hands with everyone who walks into my studio. I want them to feel welcome in my space like I would in my own home. I’m an old soul when it comes to music so you can always find some classic rock playing too.
There’s really nothing hair related that I don’t enjoy, but I’d say my specialties (or what I’m most known for) would be textured cuts and lived-in blondes. I love working with the face shape and crafting the perfect custom haircut for each client. There’s something magical when you can paint the hair in your own head, map out exactly where everything should go and then let your creativity shine, delivering the perfect blend of tones.
One thing I’m most proud of is that I do not assign gender to any of my services. So many salons have male and female pricing for things, and that’s such an outdated way of doing things. My prices are based on the length of hair, techniques needed and product used. That’s it.
For Love and Hair is also a cruelty-free salon. None of the products I use (including my color lines) are tested on animals. I believe that beautiful, healthy hair can be achieved without harming innocent animals.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I grew up in Los Angeles, so this has always been where call home. I like to say that it’s a small town masquerading as a big city because everyone always knows each other. I love how eclectic we are and how you can have amazing cuisine from all over the world here in one city. I loathe the traffic. I have to take the 405 daily, and it’s the absolute worst.
Contact Info:
- Address: 15125 Ventura Blvd., Ste 101 #27
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 - Website: www.forloveandhair.com
- Phone: 3237172943
- Email: forloveandhair@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/forloveandhair
- Facebook: facebook.com/forloveandhair
Image Credit:
Alana Cheuvront
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