Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Elaina Horochowski.
Hi Victoria, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I started hair school when I was 19 years old. I wasn’t sure what I planned to do yet, but I always loved having a creative outlet, so I figured I would give hair and makeup a spin. From my first day in my first class, I knew I had a natural knack for it. The class teacher asked me if I was experienced with hair, and couldn’t believe it was my first go at a haircut. While everyone else struggled, the cut came naturally to me, almost like my hands knew what to do. Still to this day, 19 years later, if someone asks for a cut I’ve never done, I start doing it, and my hands take me to where I need to go. It’s been a fascinating journey, and as I experimented with different avenues of hair art, I really settled on cuts and custom colors so that I could hone my skills. I decided to specialize in blonding specifically; there’s something about lightning hair safely that is SO satisfying to me. I spent a good portion of the 19 years of doing hair, working in a salon on Melrose that catered to both men and women. It was fast-paced and extremely busy, so I got really good at clipper work on men’s hair, as well as shear and razor cutting on both short and long hair. Working with a wide range of clients really gave me the experience that makes me the stylist I am today. My client base now is equal to men and women, and I love that! I get to do something different every day! Now, I have my own studio at Salon Republic at Sunset Plaza in West Hollywood. A private studio is basically a one-person hair salon, so the client gets a one-on-one curated experience and the privacy to talk about anything while maybe even having an afternoon cocktail. I keep a stocked bar cart and snack bar at all times, just in case!
My business is my passion, and I’m thankful I work for myself doing what I love: creating hair art. I make my own schedule and run my own show. This was such a huge step for me, and now it’s hard to imagine working in any other way! I love being my own boss and creating a high-vibe hair care experience for my clients.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to my own studio was a little bumpy along the way. I was really comfortable at my old salon, spending about 14 years of my 19-year hairstylist career there. Going off on my own seemed both frightening and exciting, but there was no rush, I thought. I had no idea that soon, myself and the rest of the world would have the rug pulled out from under us. Covid happened. The salon closed and laid us all off. A few months later, I was ready to get back to it, but they were not hiring anyone who couldn’t work full-time. I had just had my second son in March of 2020, and I was unable to work long hours; that’s when I realized I needed to be able to make my own schedule. A friend of mine was looking for someone to share a studio with at Salon Republic, so I took the leap. At first, it was only one day a week, then two, then three. Then I needed more time, I was getting busier and busier and finally after being on the waitlist for a while, a studio opened up in my Salon Republic and I grabbed the chance as quickly as I could and never looked back. It was the best decision for my business I’ve ever made.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a hairstylist specializing in blonding and modern custom color and haircuts for both men and women. I love spending the day on a big color project! Everything I do for my clients is tailored and custom-created by me for them. It can be a men’s haircut or a 5-hour color correction (put the box dye down! I see you); the love and attention that goes into my work is top tier because my dream is to provide my clients with a high vibe one-on-one experience. It’s not just hair; it’s the time and energy exchanged in my chair. We laugh, we cry, and we talk about everything under the sun. We mourn losses and celebrate wins. Bringing joy to my clients is my deepest passion in this work, and helping someone feel good about themselves is a service I’m here for! And the most important thing is we have fun!
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Luckily, the hair industry is constantly growing, changing, and improving. The products we have today vs. 10 years ago are showstoppers. Our tools are evolving to be more powerful, faster, easier to use, and safer for the hair. I love that you can never know everything in this business! I’m forever learning and taking classes. Constantly pursuing more education and keeping up with new trends. It’s easier than ever to keep up with new looks because we have the internet allowing us to look up anything we want, or to take an online course. It’s a great time to be in the hair business!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @VictoriaElainaHair
Image Credits
Nana Oldach
