Today we’d like to introduce you to Simon.
Hi Simon , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always believed creativity was something woven into me long before I understood what a career was. As far back as I can remember, I was drawn to beauty, artistry, and transformation. Whether it was doing my little sister’s hair, braiding cousins’ hair in the living room, or being fascinated by the confidence and aesthetic of the beauty industry itself, something about it always felt familiar to me, like a world I was meant to eventually step into.
After I grew out of the homemade “chili bowl” haircuts, I started getting my hair cut at Supercuts and immediately became fascinated by the beauty industry as a whole: the atmosphere, the confidence, the creativity, even the all-black outfits stylists wore. I just thought stylists looked so cool, and deep down I knew it was something I was naturally drawn to.
I initially took the traditional college route to appease my parents, but after about a year I realized it wasn’t fulfilling for me. In 2008, I moved to Texas and started my first real adult job at a third-party logistics company for Verizon. I worked my way up from warehouse production to Production Admin, then HR Assistant, and eventually Payroll Specialist. While I was grateful for the stability and growth opportunities, I still couldn’t shake the dream of working in the beauty industry.
Looking back now while writing this, it still feels surreal that I actually made it here. It reminds me that anything you truly put your mind to, with consistency, patience, and hard work, really can manifest.
The first time I applied for student loans for cosmetology school, I was denied. Months later, I somehow got approved, and it honestly felt like a dream come true. I attended cosmetology school part-time while continuing to work full-time in HR. Midway through school, I also started working weekends at Sephora. At one point, I was juggling full-time HR during the day, cosmetology school in the evenings, and Sephora on weekends. It was mentally and physically exhausting at times, but I had dreamed about this since I was a child, so giving up never felt like an option.
Although I originally went to cosmetology school for hair, I unexpectedly discovered a love and natural talent for makeup during our makeup application section. A lot of the upper-level students who were close to graduating would ask me to do their makeup for their final clock-outs. I think my artistic background naturally translated into makeup artistry.
After graduating, I started collaborating with a group of creatives in Dallas consisting of aspiring models, influencers, photographers, and hairstylists. We would meet once or twice a week, come up with concepts, scout locations, and simply create together. Everyone tagged and shared each other’s work, and organically it started bringing visibility far beyond my own network.
Makeup opened so many doors for me that I’m incredibly grateful for: weddings, photoshoots, short films, commercials, branding projects, high-profile clients, and so many meaningful experiences. Ironically, even though I initially went to school for hair, makeup was what took off first for me professionally.
After about five years primarily focusing on makeup, I found myself missing hair again. I’ve realized that creatively, I’m someone who constantly needs growth and evolution. Too much of one thing eventually starts to feel stagnant for me, so I found my way back to my first love: hair.
Over the years, I’ve experienced many sides of the industry, from open-concept salons to suite rentals, and today I’m proud to say I recently celebrated one year and three months of salon ownership at Crème Salon | Studios in Colleyville, Texas alongside my business partner, Bria.
Salon ownership had always been a long-term dream of mine, something I imagined happening maybe 5–10 years down the line. So when the opportunity presented itself much sooner than expected, it almost didn’t feel real. This journey has taught me so much, not only about business, leadership, and creativity, but also about myself.
Now, I’m entering a new season focused not only on personal growth, but also on growing the salon, strengthening operations, and stepping into a new creative endeavor that I’m incredibly excited to share soon.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it definitely has not been a smooth road, and honestly I think that’s what shaped me the most.
One of the biggest challenges was believing that a career in beauty was actually possible for me. Growing up in a traditional Asian household, success was often tied to stability and more conventional career paths like becoming a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. Pursuing cosmetology didn’t necessarily fit that vision, so for a long time I struggled with feeling like my dreams weren’t “enough” or fully understood.
I initially took the college route to make my parents proud, but deep down I knew I wasn’t fulfilled. Even when I decided to pursue beauty professionally, there was still fear, uncertainty, and pressure that came with choosing a less traditional path. When your parents come from a third-world country and had to build a life from nothing, material success and financial security naturally become their definition of stability and accomplishment.
I think it took seeing something tangible, like owning a brick-and-mortar salon, for my career to feel more “real” in their eyes. Even then, creative careers can still feel uncertain to people who come from survival-based backgrounds. Looking back now, I understand it came from love, sacrifice, and wanting security for me.
Financially and mentally, the journey was exhausting at times. I was balancing full-time HR during the day, cosmetology school at night, and working weekends at Sephora. There were moments where I was physically drained, questioning myself, and wondering if all the sacrifice would eventually pay off.
Another challenge was learning how to navigate an industry that is constantly evolving and highly competitive. There were seasons where I struggled with comparison, burnout, self-doubt, and trying to find balance creatively and personally. As much as this industry can look glamorous from the outside, there’s also a lot of hard work, inconsistency, pressure, and behind-the-scenes growth that people don’t always see.
Owning a salon has brought an entirely different level of challenges and learning experiences. Leadership, operations, finances, decision-making, and maintaining balance have all pushed me in ways I never anticipated. It’s taught me that being talented creatively is only one part of building something sustainable.
At the same time, every obstacle shaped me into who I am today. Looking back, I’m grateful for the difficult seasons because they taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of continuing to evolve both personally and professionally.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a licensed cosmetologist, hair and makeup artist, salon owner, and creative based in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Over the years, my career has evolved far beyond just beauty services. What started as a childhood passion for hair and artistry eventually grew into a career that has allowed me to work across weddings, editorial shoots, branding projects, commercials, photoshoots, and high-profile clientele.
I specialize in elevated beauty that feels polished, intentional, and confidence-driven. Whether it’s hair, makeup, styling, or creative direction, I’ve always been drawn to creating looks and experiences that make people feel like the best version of themselves while still feeling authentic to who they are.
Throughout my career, I’ve had experience in many different environments within the industry, from salon work to freelance artistry to collaborative creative projects. I’m also the co-owner of Crème Salon | Studios in Colleyville, Texas, which has been one of the biggest milestones of my career so far.
What I’m most proud of is building a career that was once just a dream I quietly carried for years. There was a time when pursuing beauty professionally felt unrealistic, especially coming from a traditional background where creative careers weren’t always viewed as stable or conventional. Being able to create a life and business around something I genuinely love still feels surreal at times.
I think what sets me apart is my versatility and creative eye. I’ve never wanted to place myself into one box creatively. My background in both hair and makeup, combined with my love for art, branding, aesthetics, and storytelling, allows me to approach beauty from a more intentional and well-rounded perspective. I care deeply about not only how something looks, but how it feels and the experience attached to it.
More recently, I’ve also been stepping into a new creative chapter that blends beauty, branding, and photography together in a way that feels very aligned with where I’m headed creatively and professionally.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I think something that might surprise people is that despite working in a very visual and confidence-driven industry, I’ve actually struggled with self-doubt more than people would probably expect.
I think social media and the beauty industry can sometimes make it look like creatives have everything figured out, but a lot of my journey has honestly been navigating uncertainty while still continuing to move forward anyway. I’ve had to learn how to trust myself, evolve, and redefine success on my own terms over time.
Another thing people may not realize is that I’m someone who craves growth creatively. I’ve never been fulfilled staying in one lane for too long. Even now, after building a career in hair and makeup and becoming a salon owner, I still feel like I’m evolving and stepping into new versions of myself creatively and professionally.
I think people often assume success feels like a final destination, but for me it’s felt more like continuous growth, reinvention, and learning in real time.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stylesbysimon/
