Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Myers.
Hi Austin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hey, I’m Austin I was born and raised in East Texas, with divorced parents and three siblings. My dad soon moved to Alvarado after becoming remarried, Where I would spend weekends. As I become more exposed to all Dallas had to offer, knew I’d live in a big city. Small towns just weren’t for me. As soon as our counselors started the career choice conversation, I always knew I wanted to do something creative and consistently changing, but I chose business. I starting taking dual credits with a plan to minor in fashion. I soon came to realize that’s not what I truly wanted to do and that I needed to peruse my actual dream of doing hair. I graduated high school a year early with all most a associates degree and decided that I was going to continue on with college. I was hating it; my classes were boring and I felt like I was just punching the clock and floating through life. Then My friend told me that Paul Mitchell was opening a new barber school in Arlington and that they would be giving out 10 fully paid scholarships to the first ones to apply. I applied and said we’ll if I get accepted what’s the worst that can happen. I was 18, had so much time for life, but I also wouldn’t be accumulating education debt. So, I got accepted and took the “risk” if you will. I moved in with my dad and started Paul Mitchell. My drive to school Every day was anywhere from 30-45mins depending on traffic. I loved it, it felt like everything was falling into place. A few weeks into school I started following some salons on Instagram, one being Charlie and Co. I saw they were hiring for a front desk and decided to apply even though my schedule was limited. I had an interview and it was so perfect, I started there a week later. So, my week went like this Sunday and Monday off, Tuesday and Wednesday front desk at Charlie and co., Thursday-Saturday Paul Mitchell. That was a lot of driving from Alvarado. I lived in my car for the most part haha. It was all worth it though, as I went through hair school, worked my way up through the assistant program at Charlie and co, and completed hair school through COVID-19 I’m finally on the floor taking client of my own full time. I couldn’t recommend it any other way, assisting taught me so much, given me so much knowledge and confidence to do hair. Three people graduated from my hair class and took their test. Even though we didn’t go to school through the best times last year, we didn’t let that knock us down. I had to wake up every day And choose to be great, dedicate my days to work, school and the long drives. I wouldn’t change it. I’m 20 years old today and thriving! Better, faster, and with so much pride in myself for not giving up.
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?
It wasn’t always a smooth journey. I was a gay male in east Texas, so I always put a brave face on but I struggled a lot with my mental health. My mom used to do hair when I was younger and then was recruited by a pastor’s wife to come help their church/with their kids as a nanny. So, I’m sure you can assume for yourself how that was growing up. From being outed by my youth pastor at age 15, being moved schools several times, and feeling unworthy of a lot of things in life because of what I was being indoctrinated to believe, I couldn’t wait to get out of there. Once I moved to the DFW area I lived in Alvarado so that was 45 mins to school in Arligton and 1hr drive to work in Dallas. So, a lot of gas, driving, and back pain haha. I also attended hair school Through Covid and that was interesting. A lot of book work and video demos. If I wouldn’t have had my job at Charlie and co I could have given up. Every day I logged on for school it was one less person it felt like. The salon was closed for two months so that was mentally challenging for me. I was so scared; I have worked since the day I turned 15 and have never stopped since so having a two-month period with no job just didn’t make since to me. Lucky I was living at home and my major expense was gas which I wasn’t using anymore, but returning to work was hard. It was definitely paycheck to paycheck for a while. But then I started assisting Charlie price and knew that was my last step before going on the floor and I was excited.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a hairstylist. I color and cut, I truly love the whole process so I have never wanted to necessarily specialize in one specific thing. I do a lot of blondes, dimensional brunettes and men’s cuts. My style of color are very lived in low maintenance hair. The concept is based around looking beautiful but natural as if the sun touched you. That way you can get your hair done less but also maintain your hair Heath or give it a break to recover it from what you started with. I’m most proud of where I am in life right now in this very moment. Sometimes you really have to stop and smell the roses as cheesy as that is to say. I always knew I need to stop rushing and enjoy life but that’s it I wasn’t enjoying life where I was. All that to say I’m physically, mentally, emotionally happier with where I am in life. While I am currently building a clientele, I’m supporting and living on my own. Being young and able to say that makes me so happy. My story is probably what sets my apart, because it’s why I am who I am. When someone sit in my chair and halfway through they hear how young I am…..they’re proud of me. The reaction is,” that’s so crazy”. I live to hear that; it keeps me humble and grateful for where I am in life. When most of the time it could go straight to your head. Anything I have said in this article could come off as cocky, but it’s not that at all. When you finally have someone believe in you, you start believing in yourself more than ever. My clientele and boss does that for me. I’m creating beautiful work every day and hopefully healing people’s souls along the way, I don’t need much more purpose than that.
Contact Info:
- Email: Austin.myers151@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.charlieandco.com/stylists/
- Instagram: Austingarrettmyers
