Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Möller.
Hi Melissa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I decided to go back to school in 2022 for cosmetology. I got my bachelors degree in visual art communication at CSULA. After 5 years of working in an office job as a graphic designer, I decided it was not the environment I wanted to be in. I wanted to be in a better space physically that would inspire me to be creative.
I had no idea what to do next and during 2020 I was home and unemployed. I had been looking at design job posts and did little freelancing but it didn’t bring me joy at the thought of getting another design job and working in an office.
I was talking to my friend, Ana, whom I met when we both were studying design at CSULA. She pointed out to me that she has noticed that I liked doing hair for fun and that maybe it could be a good career for me. I had never considered doing hair even though growing up I’ve always loved creative hairstyles and doing hair for friends. I decided to sign up for the program at Pasadena City College.
I assisted a stylist in Pasadena for a short time and then I looked for another assistant job. I asked my friends from school to let me know if they had any leads to a job locally. A friend that I met at the cosmetology program told me about Thairapy and she told me she thought I would be a great fit. So I decided to try and reach out to them even if I was intimidated with a curly hair salón. I got to opportunity to interview with Dusty and Karmen at Thairapy. I really believe it is a perfect space for me, they have allowed to grow as a stylist and be creative. I also loooove our salon space with all the plants and natural lighting.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Changing my career at 32 felt like a big undertaking. It was not the easiest decision to make because at the time I was living with a friend, working part-time at a roller skate shop, which meant I would work less for the next year but still have the same financial responsibilities. I was going to take a year to invest in a new career that I had never considered in all my life. Getting another design job meant more financial stability but it would not have satisfied my craving for creativity and change of environment.
My mom has always told me and my brothers to save money for any unexpected life events or emergencies. This was definitely the biggest reason I was able to take the year to complete the cosmetology program. I decided I would live off my savings and work the skate shop on weekends to make a little something instead of just spending. It was tough to not have any days off but felt like I had the support from friends and my mom.
Now I love talking to clients about my career change and hearing how they have also switched careers or are thinking about it. It can be a hard decision to make but one worth sticking to if it feels right to your soul. I craved working with my hands with something tangible as compared to digital artwork. Yes, it would eventually get printed on clothing, but it was not fulfilling enough for me. It is more satisfying to shape hair and help my clients learn how to care for their hair and style it at home.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a hairstylist that specializes in textured hair. I cut all textures and style them naturally, meaning no blow outs or curling irons. I’ve worn my hair mostly natural all my adult life and did not like getting my hair straightened or curled after haircuts because it is not how I like to wear my hair.
I absolutely love when clients tell me they read my biography on their website and appreciate that I have it in English and Spanish. I am proud of my Guatemalan roots and that I am bilingual. For my clients that feel more comfortable speaking Spanish, being able to communicate in the same language helps then feel more at ease because I can understand what they want to see from their hair. Sometimes they’re not sure what their texture’s potential is and I show them.
I love helping clients embrace their roots with their natural hair. I teach clients how to care for their hair and style it at home and clients are very thankful to be walked through the whole process.
How do you think about luck?
I mentioned this briefly in my story of how I started my career but I feel like it is a perfect example of the good luck I had. Shortly after graduating from cosmetology program, I started assisting a stylist in Pasadena. My hours with her fluctuated depending on how many clients she had. We had a conversation because she was not able to give me many hours to work for her and she let me know she liked working with me but felt that I could get more hours at a salon. I was bummed since I like her work and she was very kind to me, but I liked her honesty and I did want to work more. I was ready to invest my time in my new career.
This led me to reach out to my friends from cosmetology school to ask them to send me any leads for assistant opportunities. My friend, Sarah, replied and really believed that I belonged at Thairapy. Well, turns out Audie at Thairapy was her stylist, and Sarah wanted to connect me with her.
I remember Sarah showed up to school one day with the coolest haircut and her hair looked so much more playful and alive than before the cut. Usually it was more straight than wavy. This made me excited to possibly meet Audie and everyone else. Also, I felt very nervous and intimidated because I did not know I wanted to be a curly/textured hair specialist. It never clicked for me until I came to Thairapy. I got connected to Audie, we chatted a little and then she told me to reach out to Dusty because they were looking for an assistant. I was interviewed twice and I was just very honest of who I am, what my goals were and how I was very nervous about entering the curly hair world! I feel very lucky to have met all the people that have helped me be where I am now. They feel like guides that point me in a direction and I follow. If it feels good I keep going and learning, and new opportunities open up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ineedthairapy.com/melissa-moller/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissacutsyou?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
Bella Ortiz
Tamara Tinson
