Check Out Sonia Uppal’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonia Uppal.

Hi sonia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I come from a Business Management Background, like any other indian, I studied to be in a white collar worker as told by my parents. To work in beauty is still considered a low-key profession back home. I always loved hair because I noticed how celebrities always changed their hair in every new movie and looked completely different. Having said that, I had a great fascination with doing that. I started as a realtor in Santa Monica when I decided to come back to work in the United States. Then later, my sister in Australia, who is a beauty business entrepreneur, told me I have been wasting my time in the Business Management profession. If I need to understand local culture and enjoy America, I need to get in beauty, and since you love hair, consider doing the same.
That’s it, I decided to learn the craft also, me having tons of bad haircuts and never getting what I want in the first place, I decided to learn the real skill. Wen I decided to enroll as a cosmetologist which is considered the largest license in beauty I choose SASSOON over everybody it was tough call in terms of tution fee I had to pay way more over others to become who I wanted to be. Since I am from business management back and I have very logical mind I decided to focus on cutting more closely as I knew people can see power of shape in a good haircut from distance. I had a cutter’s heart and passion to execute what it takes to define and refine these shapes. When I have to decide Sassoon over others I would frequently revisit website and look at the haircut and wonder how every strand fallls in place with precision. I didnot know the Vidal sasssoon legacy then. anyway I joined and learnt how we are havard of hair. I had to master my techniques with advance cutting skill considering the fundamentals tought in academny.
Till today when I am cutting my regular men’s haircut I am constantly thinking to improve and define shape more and more to a point that his haircut is prolonged. Only my active duty clients return sooner because of the protocol of shot hair on side but others wait longer than usual and feel very happy how the haircut continously keep looking great.
My women clients Have understood the power of layers as word itself says lay ! I have build up over 100 five star reviews which I built less than a year and I am constantly getting positive feedback from my clients for fixing shapes and giving them effortless styling. Restoring hair and improving health of damaged hair. With my unique bleaching skills I have achieved a scale of strength in hair that they walk out with smooth hair and never felt like that with their previous color history. I am trying to change their life over their first visit to me. I polish blondes in a way they look smooth , shiny and vibrant. I strip the dullness and muted color out of their hair to make them look and feel like never before.
I have created most natural-looking balayages for any hair type and given realistic results with the most dimensional looks. I do not use a dryer during the bleaching process and focus on the integrity of hair, ensuring health, strength, and shine with color vibrancy as my results. People are ready to drive and come to me from far places doesnot matter out of city,state or country. My skills have boosted new positivity in their hearts. They feel empowered and love their hair. They say I have made them believe in the beauty of hair and love themselves again.I believe in empowerment, I fix shape and color and educate.
this is just beginning of my journey to help all, including kids who come to be with cowlick issues and I fix the haircut and parents just see how they donot have to brush and style in morning having see them ready with clean shapes. I design shapes for venterns who find it very easy to stay managed with gorgeous shape inside hat or out.
I take way styling I give shapes and structure of a haircut which stand on its own effortlessly.
My clients love and enjoy it without fuss what difference it makes besides following what I educate about hair health.

I Love hair and passionate about it and get more passionate each coming day!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I got licensed in 2019. Like anyone els,e I had a road that needed to be paved for me to drive smoothly. Right after school, I was hoping to be hired by one of the Sister companies of Sassoon at Marina Del Rey, as I used to live in West LA then but soon I found out I would not be offered that position and was kicked out. Later I went to get interviewed at Fantastic Sams and was rejected for being slow. Later, a friend mentioned JOSE EBER, and I was hired as his assistant in Beverly Hills. I worked couple of months there and later decided to work independently, as what we learnt in SASSOON is day and night difference having said that I had to move out and start my journey. I wanted to learn round brush styling to audition for DRYBAR Beverly Hills. Wanted to cut and color the Sassoon way so joined ULTA Westwood soon after COVID struck and we were on & off and then in 2020, i moved to Woodland Hills then there was no going back and driving to LA so I had to look for work oppotunities here I moved to DRYBAD topanga which was not the best enviornment to work professionally i was criticed a lot. I had to look to a better jon ULTA could not transfer me. I was seraching and come accross Great Clips and Sportclips I was accepted in both places but I choose to work with greatclips first at Newbury park and after 3 months working there i Joined sportclips Westlake I have been the most successful stylist in history of sportclips I have achieved highest retails achievement and set ervy stor I worked with on highest retail achievements helping these stores to stand out on the Map of USA. I have been national winner conscetively for american crew beacause it was solo contest but lost Gibbs contest as it was team contest where by we all had to work to input sales. I wish I could alone sell what was needed to beat the target. But having said that I relaised its my journey and I will have to do it. I decided to get back to work for women and started my business in November 2023 hustling on weekend and it took almost year for me to comeout of my full time job to work as indepently for myself from Novemeber of 2024 without anyone’s support having said that I hustled 2 years non stop i knew I had no future where I was and i would never be achknowled for my accomplistment and I saw wrong people promoted performance meant nothing. Work ethic are least important and sadly there is no check in industry.
I learnt a lot failing gibbs natural contest which broke in from inside.
I was determined to make gibbs happen every day in my life if it was one man army. Reqard was Bahamas which I lost but now it was journey to have that in my life!
So when I left sportclips I i owed $25,000 on my head as credit card debt but I decided to leave job after listening to Steve Jobs standford’s speech! and never turned back I paid debt less than 2 months which was not doiable at job where I was theatnened for losing my job.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I followed strong and advanced cutting skills. Give structured-looking haircuts that are designed to last and enhance personality!
I educate about hair health with my unique practices. and they reap wonderful benefits!
I protect women’s hair and believe in restoration I am the only salon that is unique and does not use a dryer during bleaching! I specialize in balayages with natural and sun-kissed transition, just like Mother Nature, for any hair type.
I protect hair and maintain its health, and restore shine, strength, and great health!
My breakthrough is bleach without a dryer and stronger hair after chemical hair services

What were you like growing up?
I grew up in India. My dad was in the army and he had been stationed in various states of India. I had been shy, conservative, and traditional, following cultural values very strongly. In my adolescence, I grew up reading Mills and Boon, Danielle Steel, Sydney Sheldon and many more…. I am Libra so very romantic and filled with passion for everything in life.
I love plants so I live in a boifilic atmosphere, I talk a lot about healthy lifestyle and eating habits.
Now when I have worked closely enough with Americans I have fallen in love with the traditional values of America vs indian. It’s an apple comparison I am surprised to learn to an intensely traditional culture so practical and respectful and courteous to women.
I love horror movies I watach most of it all in theatres thats my relaxation lately I loved sinners so much that watched 2 times less than 24 hours.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.haircoloringthousandoaks.com
• Instagram: soniasthousandoaks
• Facebook: sonias thousand oaks