June 30, 2016

Meet Sherman Oaks Hairstylist: Jamie Jereza

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Jereza.

Jaime, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.

I worked part time at a salon while I was going to college. One day in class I was asked to dissect a frog. I became sick and wanted to quit. That same day I was talking to my salon manager about what happened in class that day and she suggested that I go to Cosmetology School. I never looked back. After I finished Cosmetology school I worked full time at Carlton Hair International. Just 10 months after starting behind the chair…I became Assistant salon manager as well as a Senior Stylist. I was also a Master Educator who taught all new hairstylists how to cut and color hair. I stayed at Carlton Hair for 4 years before I decided to rent a chair at The Hair Studio. I have now been at the Hair Studio for 5 years and love it.

Has it been a smooth road?

The road was definitely not smooth. The career change from Nurse to Cosmetologist was not something my parents were exactly happy about. Also having to start all over and at the bottom pay-wise left me struggling for a good while. It just made me want to work harder.

What are your plans for the future?

I have always planned to open my own one-stop beauty shop:a place where anyone can get their hair, nails, facial, and makeup done;a place that someone can just relax and get pampered before they go to that special event. That way they don’t need to drive all over the place to get things done.

Let’s dig a little deeper into your story. What was the hardest time you’ve had?

The hardest time in my life was when I decided to change career paths from nursing to cosmetology. After my first color application and blowdry…I knew I was hooked. But the transition was hard because I had to start at the bottom…all over in a whole new world. The atmosphere, the salary, the people. I struggled with bills that I had to pay, collectors calling me…I’m sure that a “career change” wasn’t a very good excuse to miss payments…but because I had to start at the bottom at minimum wage as an assistant I wasn’t making what I used to….but I pushed on and now I’m an independent stylist that makes my own schedule, has my own clients…and all my bills are caught up.

The moment I realized that I was finally doing ok was when I looked at my monthly intake on my square app. It was a “Wow I finally made money on my own” moment. Also, I’m not struggling the way I used to when I first made the transition. I’m able to pay for extra things that I wouldn’t have been able to pay for back then and for that I am so thankful.

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