Today we’d like to introduce you to Alynna Saenz.
Hi Alynna, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi! I was licensed in cosmetology back in 2016 through Paul mitchell, but I have always had a passion for hair, what emo kid doesn’t!?
I started professionally offering services shortly after I graduated, I apprenticed with Tony and Guy during my last 6 months of school, , but truly rounding my skills immediately after graduating, and continued on the floor for about a year. Working on editorial sets for hair and makeup, I was always known in school and outside of my professional life for always having graphic liner/crazy style/ makeup. Very unique to me. I was modeling on my own/ working shoots but I never really “fit in” or “felt like home” in the place I landed and so chose to take a shot in the dark and take a friends word that Deep Ellum was my place, as a lil lost stylist, all my friends, community, music scene were already intertwined there, so why not? I wanted to do vivids, fashion/editorial hair, seemed right!
I started booth renting in a black owned salon called Coffney M where I recently spent the last 8 years of my career. I started not knowing what I could afford, what booth renting looked like, how I’d get clientele as I had zero, but I knew hair, and I knew she took a chance on me just as I did her.
Now dreadlocks? Let’s talk about it. I never truly “wanted to do dreadlocks as a service” could I do them, yes wasnt the best but I could, I had them since 2012 and done a few sets on friends here and there, sure, but never professionally, they didn’t offer it in school, so soley self taught… but When I was asked if I offered that service? Crochet locs on straight fine hair? Caucasian hair? All textures? Pffft sure I can. Was I perfect? Nope, but gah I sure did have the support of those around me even when they asked “why is it like that” “how do you do that” “damn girl you’re doing that” I was shown the color of your skin doesn’t matter when it comes to human empathy and as much as my clients were scared to be in a black owned salon with matty natty locs, they truly welcomed every one of them like family🖤 no questions asked.
Over the last 10 years I have curated my clientele and rounded my skills through muscle memory, supportive clients, and a salon community who never second guessed me. All by word of mouth, I rounded not only my locs but my skills overall in confidence and communication behind the chair, being transparent, healing, helping, sharing, guiding. Building my career in the arts district of Dallas I have clients traveling from all over, slowly getting busier, and with that came sobriety the last 4 years of my life as alcohol became apart of that decompression after work, with hard work comes hard fun and over time things needed to change, I can proudly say I’m so close to 5 years! Pressure is everywhere amc gah it consumed my private and professional life.
Now where I recently took another leap of faith i joined Dallas Hair Club back in October just 5 minutes from my home in Deep Ellum and salon I called home for so long. You’re never done learning and I knew it was time to change, again I felt the turning point, stagnancy if you will, so in the dark I chose to jump again not knowing what this move would bring me and my now full clientele. Closing doors is hard but standing in the way is even harder. I loved where I was but growth had haulted and I caught myself slipping into routine and breaking even.
I am proudly at the new salon location building up with my arms and mind wide open to extended education, new clients, more professional setting, free parking🤣 Deep Ellum will always be my home and the door was emotional/ammicable to close but I am at the point in my career where my clients home is anywhere I am and along with my sobriety I think i needed the break from the noise of life being life. My mentors and friends pushed my towards the thoughts of growth and im so beyond proud of how far i have come with not only the support of my friends, family, and mentors. I can confidently say, I can walk into any room with calm and confidence. I was timid starting out locs and color, feeling like “I had to prove i can be here” even at Tony and Guy, “i can show them I can look professional” that anyone can have anything, that culture it’s in all of us, mesh the worlds, create the empathy and culture you want. Sobriety from alcohol helped me see the clarity that I want my life and anyone who leaves my chair to have. Energy exchange. I will always be relearning over and over and I hope you follow this journey of mine.
I could ramble about my short comings of my past life, my struggles, my losses and addictions, but we are looking forwards with grace to how we came here and its so interesting and humiliating, and I can truly look back and smile at who I am today. Who I am becoming.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Natural crochet locs on all textures😘
Bold dimensional vivid hair.
Abstract artist in mixed mediums as I’ve sold abstract art for nearly 15 years🙏
My soul sets me apart as the space and skills I have to heal/see others is truly a gift I didn’t ask for 🤣
Im most proud of the patience I have learned in navigating myself and others
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I see it becoming very ‘lived in looks” or balls to the wall crazy cut and color. Alien vibes i hope!
Pricing:
- Knottedtora.glossgenius.com
- 100+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Knottedtora.glossgenius.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knotted.tora?igsh=ZTBqaGdyY3h0ejgz
