Check Out Adara Forletta’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Adara Forletta.

Hi Adara, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in the Bronx and at 10 moved to Long Island with my mom, stepdad, and brothers. Growing up in an Italian-Vietnamese family, I was surrounded by lots of love, loud energy, and lots of people. As a kid I was a dreamer and always had a wild imagination of being a princess and playing pretend. Everyone in my family are blue collar workers and I never saw myself as the college type. I loved clothes and fashion since I was little and that was the only thing I could see myself continuing school for, but pursuing that seemed impossible for me. I worked in customer service jobs since I was 14. My first job at an Italian bakery. I loved it and having my own income and responsibilities. After that I went on to working as a nanny for several years. My cousin that happens to also be my bestie came to me about doing hair. That was the moment I began to see hair not just as a job, but as an art form, an extension of identity and self-expression. Through hair, I realized I could shape my life into something more. I didn’t have to stay stuck on Long Island, living a version of life that never quite fit. It felt like the beginning of an escape plan. At 20, I made the decision to enroll in beauty school and bet on myself. I graduated a year later and landed a job. But while working there I grew restless and knew I couldn’t stay put much longer. My cousin and I decided we needed to move to Los Angeles to further pursue our dreams and learn from the best. So we booked a one-way flight. I had never been to the West Coast before. I came here here with literally no idea what I was doing and $2000 to my name. We had a list of the top 5 salons we wanted to work at in the city of glitz and glamour. I bounced between odd jobs for extra cash (stories for another time) and random hair salons, and eventually landed an assisting job at a top LA salon. It looked like the perfect road to “success”. On paper, it was everything I wanted. But I wasn’t happy. It wasn’t an easy decision but a couple years into my new life here, and I decided to pack my car with all my belongings and I left. My boyfriend at the time spent his summers working in Missoula, Montana, at a glamping resort. He offered me an opportunity and I took it. (He rode a motorcycle; how was a 23-year-old girl to say no) So I spent a transformative year figuring myself out. First was 6 months in Montana working at a luxury resort on Blackfoot River in the middle of the woods. And then Thailand for another 6 months where I took a job teaching English to little kids in a town right outside of Bangkok. It was chaotic and I bullshat my way through both of those jobs but I had the time of my life. At the end of my stay in Thailand, I couldn’t wait to get back to reality. I was 24 when I returned to LA. Having a lot of introspective time away made me realize what I wanted and what I was willing to work towards. I came back with determination and more focus on my career. That’s when I began my assisting career and honed in on hair coloring. I learned from the best, shoutout @neeenaboo. And so many other amazing colorist along the way.(and still learning everyday) Now after 7 years behind the chair, I look back proudly on my story. When you’re building a clientele from nothing, it can be daunting. But I think having the resilience my mom instilled in me always helped to keep moving me forward, and it still continues to daily. My husband also gave me so much confidence and encouraged me when I needed it the most. I have met the most amazing people and best friends because of this industry. There are times when it may seem overwhelming or overly stimulating, but I just stay in my lane and focus on what feels good for me. Working to make my clients happy and being able to come home to my boo and my dogs have become my favorite things. I’m so proud of my cute little life and excited to see what’s next to come. My hope for any person reading this, who isn’t sure what path to take, just know you don’t have to know right now. Be curious and ask questions. Say yes to experiences. Learn from others around you and take bits and pieces, nuggets of knowledge, and turn it into your own.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There’s so much competition being in a city with so many talented artists. It’s hard to not compare. But you need to remind yourself to just focus on you, again stay in your lane, and remind yourself that you have something to offer. I get in my imposter syndrome feels all the time but I’ve learned to welcome it. It’s ok to care a lot and question things and want to learn more.

Something else that comes to mind is social media. Im not someone who likes to use it to self-promote. I like the fun of it, but when it comes to being serious or having to post work, it just doesn’t come naturally to me. Reposting funny memes though, now that’s the good stuff.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I like to create hair color that feels natural to the person wearing it. Being able to talk an idea through and collab with my clients and hopefully bring their vision to life is what is most important to me. My hope is always to elevate someone’s look but also still feel like themselves. Whether it be bold, high contrast, or subtle. Obviously living in Los Angeles where the sun is always out I love creating hair that looks like it’s lightened naturally from being outside or on the beach. Or a dramatic look like a bold red or dimensional copper. There’s so much variety.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
The holidays. And building forts in the living room and falling asleep in them while watching movies all night. There was so much fun and innocence growing up as a kid in the 90s. My mom filled it with so much joy and lots of special memories. I’d wake up on the weekends to her cleaning and jamming to Shania Twain, or No Doubt, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, or Ofcourse, Jewel. She made sure we were always doing something and having fun. After school or during breaks my brother and I would be out in the streets with the neighborhood kids. Playing kick the can, or wiffle ball in the streets, or riding bikes for hours. No cell phones to even keep track of us.
On the weekends I’d be with my dad. I have the most wonderful memories of him taking us to his parents, my poppy and grandmas house, on the weekends. Poppy had his garden of veggies and I loved watching him water and tend to it. My grandma would make us 3 course meals, including her home made pasta and sauce. The whole long dining room table would be covered in spaghetti while it layed out to dry before making us the best feasts. I really was obsessed with watching her cook. Even the way she washed dishes. It was the way her hands moved, so gentle but with intent. There was such finesse. She would let me paint her nails since I was young. I remember the last time I painted them a few years ago, a couple of months before she passed away. My grandma Flora was the best. She worked for Estée Lauder for her entire adult life. Maybe she’s where I get my love for beautifying from.

Pricing:

• Pricing can be found at andlylecomptesalon.com

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/adaraforletta
• Other: https://instagram.com/adaraforlettahair