Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Mura.
Hi Andrea, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started in the industry straight out of high school. I suffered from a lot of health issues throughout my adolescence so going away to college was not in the cards for me. My Virgo self never wanted anyone to know I wasn’t well so fresh makeup and “perfect” hair quickly became my thing. Although I was registered for college courses close to home, my mom noticed how unhappy I was and suggested a beauty school. Luckily my health improved and I finished beauty school, babysat, worked two retail jobs and then I started my assisting journey. That’s where it really all began. My boss took me in under her wing as a timid 18 years old afraid to do a blunt cut, but she believed in me, taught me, and inspired me to make my career what it is today.
While I assisted, I took the summers to do advanced training in NYC. I first taught myself how to balayage from watching YouTube and Instagram videos before getting certified at the L’Oreal SOHO Academy. I used to get home from working at the salon and would fall asleep watching hair videos, observing new techniques and learning different product lines. In a short 5 years, I built a prosperous clientele in NJ but I wanted more. So my boyfriend (at the time) and I moved to Los Angeles “to try it out for a year”.
I landed my first job in West Hollywood, starting back at the bottom as a general assistant while having to prove myself and work my way up to a stylist again. Not to mention, relying heavily on my savings account. I worked long hours and built strong relationships, met amazing people, and said yes to every opportunity. I spent my weekends investing in even more education and assisting as many master stylists as I could. My supportive husband even gifted me a salon set up (including a portable hair washing sink!) in our apartment where I took clients on my time off.
I bounced back and forth to NJ every 3ish months while in the midst of it all. I used to get off of a red-eye and go straight into the salon to take clients, still maintaining close relationships with my first boss and clients from home. Since then I’ve worked at a couple of other salons between Beverly Hills and Santa Monica, and during Covid I grew my freelancing business, catering to a high-profile clientele and also mastering backyard hair for the whole family.
Currently, I am based primarily at a salon in Beverly Hills working amongst some of the most incredibly talented stylists and educators in the industry. I still continue education for myself while also training a personal assistant of my own. I’ve immersed myself amongst really powerful, inspiring women in the industry and it makes every single day exciting because there’s always something new and exciting. There’s no better feeling than making my clients happy by being able to give them their dream hair, making it a total dream job.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not even close! Where do I begin? Moving across the country, moving in with my now husband for the first time, not knowing a single person, no connections or referrals, I took a huge risk in both my personal and professional life. Living in LA on minimum wage while proving my worth, planning a wedding across the country, rebuilding a clientele while having an elderly/unwell family, losing my dad, Covid, unemployment, you name it. It’s been a turbulent road but there’s a lot that’s made me into who I am today, as a person and as a hairstylist. Is there such a thing as a smooth road to success?
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a color and extension specialist. I specialize in lived-in, blended California beachy hair color. I am known for natural-looking hair color, balayage, and highlights on both blondes and brunettes. I am also well known for and pride myself on blending, with both extensions and/or hair color.
What sets me apart from others is being well versed in my training, having both an east coast and west coast approach and being able to apply that to each individual in my chair. I am really honest and upfront about achievability and I truly care to the core about prioritizing happy and healthy hair.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I’m really passionate about nutrition and living a healthy, balanced lifestyle. I love learning about the chemistry of the composition of hair, hair color, ingredients in hair products, why they do what they do, etc. Also how health, wellness, and environmental factors play a large role in hair and overall beauty.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreamurahair/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@andreamura_?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Image Credits
Image of doing makeup on bride taken by Chris Jorda Photography
