Conversations with Samantha Polanco

Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Polanco.

Hi Samantha , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My career as a hairstylist started when I was 22, although I never imagined that beauty would be where I would find my purpose. I actually rebelled a little and left college because I knew I wanted to do something creative. From a young age, art had always been a huge part of who I was—I was in art club throughout high school, and painting was my favorite thing to do. Coming from a family where college was always the plan after high school, I started questioning where I truly belonged. I decided to take a different path and enrolled in a makeup course with the intention of getting into special effects, but somewhere along the way, I fell in love with makeup. That passion opened doors I never expected, and I had the opportunity to travel for destination weddings, Fashion Week, and work as part of a wedding team. Eventually, my boss told me I needed my cosmetology license, and even though I thought, “I don’t think hair is for me,” I decided to go to cosmetology school anyway. While I was in school, I won a raffle for a free hair class, and that class completely changed the direction of my life. The stylist teaching the class talked about how a client’s hair was his canvas, and something clicked inside me—it reminded me of painting, except the canvas was a person’s hair. I went home, practiced on my mannequin, and completely fell in love. Getting to where I am today has not been an easy or overnight journey. There have been so many setbacks, doubts, and moments when the voices of people telling me I couldn’t do it or wouldn’t make it in this career started to get to me. But being my father’s daughter, I learned to turn that negativity into fuel. I kept pushing, kept believing, and most importantly, kept my faith and trusted God’s plan for me. At one point, I was taking clients in my bedroom and using a professional camera just to capture the right photos. Early in my career, I even worked in a little hole-in-the-wall salon because other salons didn’t think I was ready yet. Instead of letting that stop me, I bought my own backdrop and professional camera and photographed every client I could to build my portfolio and clientele. I refused to give up. I kept showing up, learning, creating, and believing until eventually, a salon finally said yes to me. Looking back, I realize every setback, every “no,” and every uncertain moment was part of the journey that brought me here. Hair became more than just a career—it became my art, my canvas, and a way for me to create something beautiful while helping people feel beautiful too.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Has it been a smooth road for me? Absolutely not—but I think that’s the beauty of the life we’re given. The struggles, the setbacks, and the difficult seasons have changed me in the best ways and taught me what I’m truly capable of. Honestly, I’m grateful that I heard “no” so many times because every no kept me—and continues to keep me—humble. I never wanted, and still don’t want, to get a big head in this career or forget where I started. I remember taking clients in my bedroom, using my bathtub as my shampoo bowl, working in a little hole-in-the-wall salon, and assisting for free in the beginning while going to school and working a second job just so I could learn as much as possible. There were so many moments when I could have given up, but instead, I chose to keep learning and keep going. The road has been hard, but I’m incredibly grateful for every part of it because those experiences shaped me, grounded me, and helped me become the stylist I am today. I wouldn’t change the journey because I know every struggle played a part in getting me here.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a hairstylist specializing in balayage, haircuts, all-over color, and creating beautiful, dimensional hair that feels natural and effortless. Over this past year, I’ve found myself naturally gravitating toward lived-in brunettes. It wasn’t something I initially set out to specialize in, but somewhere along the way, I completely fell in love with them. There’s something so challenging and rewarding about creating a brunette that looks like it could be a client’s natural hair—soft, dimensional, seamless, and effortless. It has become one of the things I’m most known for this past year, and I’m really proud of that. As far as what I’m most proud of, that’s a little harder to answer because there are so many things. I’m proud of the relationships I’ve built with my clients over the years and the trust they’ve given me. I’m proud of the person this industry has helped me become. I’m proud that I never gave up, even when things were difficult, and I’m proud of the countless hours, late nights, and dedication I’ve poured into my work. But more than anything, I’m proud of the feeling I can give someone when they leave my chair feeling confident and beautiful. To me, that’s one of the greatest accomplishments a hairstylist can experience.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Oh man, that’s a hard one because I feel like I’ve learned so many lessons throughout my career. But if I had to choose the most important one, it would be to stop comparing your journey to someone else’s. It’s so much easier said than done, especially in an industry where you’re constantly surrounded by other stylists, their work, their success, and where they are in their careers. But I’ve learned that comparison can make you overlook the beauty of your own path. Be grateful for the road you’re on, even when it’s not the road you imagined or the timeline you thought you would have. Stay present and enjoy where you are, because in the blink of an eye, years can pass and you’ll realize you spent so much time doubting yourself or wishing you were somewhere else that you forgot to enjoy the journey you were actually living. Even the hard seasons and the memories you wish had been easier are part of your story. So I’ve learned to embrace all of it—the growth, the setbacks, the wins, and even the difficult moments—because one day, those moments will be the ones you look back on and realize helped shape you into who you were meant to become.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samevewithdastyles

Image Credits
My head shot of me credit to Taylerirenephotography is her instagram