June 29, 2016

Meet DTLA Hairstylist: Danica Schaefer

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danica Schaefer.

She’s one of the Central Coast’s best exports the Sunny LA – she’s hard working, humble and incredibly talented. We enjoyed learning more about Danica and share excerpts of our interview with her below.

Danica, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?

I’m from the central coast of California, I moved to LA about 3 years ago. I was raised by my hairstylist mother and after a couple years as an art student I decided to attend beauty school. Hair is just another art form to me. I stared my career in San Luis Obispo and you can still find me back there every few weeks taking care of my slow clients. I’m a city girl, so I decided to move to LA and am loving my home salon here in DTLA.

Has it been a smooth road?

Moving to LA was a big challenge after being so successful at a young age back home. Starting over not knowing anyone or having any clients, I did struggle with finding where I fit in in LA. After some time I found my home here in DTLA and at a salon that also does only dry cutting which is my preferred method of cutting hair. I’ve now become artistic director here at Curt Darling and am not only working behind the chair but also with creative projects and events. My longest and favorite job in LA though has been my time with EAMF, an organization that sends hairstylist and volunteers to the children’s hospital to cut hair. So that is something I still love to do in my free time.

What are your plans for the future?

Current plans with the salon, as artistic director I’m in charge of planning creative events. So right now we’re in the beginnings of planning our annual hair show on art walk in July. Last year was really successful, and this year we’re working on something totally different but still just as fun and creative. It’s a neat event on art walk our clients get to come see our creative side. And after that we’ll have a pony tail drive in the fall and more creative shoots in the winter.

For myself I’m currently planning out some continued education in hair and makeup. Always learning and keeping up with trends is important. And I’m hoping to take some education internationally and here in California.

Let’s dig a little deeper into your story. What was the hardest time you’ve had?
Probably the hardest time in my career was my first year in LA. My sister’s cancer came back for the last time and I decided life was too short to not do what I wanted to do, so I moved to LA. My sister passed away about 6 months after moving here, but she was really proud to hear of everything I was doing and she’s still a guiding light when times get tough. She’s the reason I’m here in the city. The first year was hard, I was still traveling to the central coast every week to do my clients back home and also trying to make it work at a place that just wasn’t meant to be. I worked every day! Along with all those damn parking tickets you get when you first move here I didn’t know anyone either, it was tough. I did move home for a month. But if you’ve survived LA and still love it today, you know she test you, and after a year starts rewarding you for sticking around. I came back with the “I’m not done with you yet” attitude and it’s been great ever since. Although I have had a few other tough things happen, family passing away among other things, you realize the clients you care for also care for you back. And having a good salon family helps. LA is a very friendly and loving city underneath her hard cover.

Do you ever just stop and think WOW – I’ve made it?
When you realize your clients really love your art and want to share you with their friends and family, tag you on Instagram and share your post on Facebook, it’s really special and that’s how I personally know I’ve become successful with that individual. I took my first vacation last year since moving here, which can always be scary when you work for yourself, but it’s so important to do. When I came back I still was booked and could pay the bills! That was a good feeling of being to get my feet more grounded here. But honestly it’s not always about money for me when it comes to success. This is still my art, and making people happy and still having time to do creative projects is a great feeling. I still have a lot of dreams ahead, but yes I’m off to a good start.

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