Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabby Brooks.
Hi Gabby, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in a small country town called Athens TX. I went to cosmetology school at my local community college where I fell in love with doing hair. I had a dream and a passion to do hair in the big cities. I always wanted to be a vivid stylist but couldn’t grow a clientele in such a small town. I worked at a few local salons just trying to advance and grow my skill in doing hair. In 2019 I finally moved to Dallas and got a great salon job. Sadly a few months after I moved Covid hit, and I had to move back home to Athens. I was devastated but I wasn’t going to give up on my dream. I started working at a children’s shelter in Dallas with my mom to save up some money so I could move back. After a few months of driving back and forth, I finally had enough money to get my own apartment in Dallas! After moving back, I got an amazing opportunity to work at a vivid specialty salon called Tried and True in Denton. I moved to Denton to be closer to work. Working at Tried and True has completely changed my life and my career for the better. I am now a successful vivid specialist and can finally do what I love every day.
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?
I have absolutely had struggles. I struggle with depression and anxiety and that has been very hard as a hairstylist. I have had to overcome my anxiety in order to connect with my clients better. I am also disabled; I have a rare genetic disorder called Trichorhinophalangeal syndrome which affects my knees and joints. It’s been very hard to navigate through life and my career with my disorder. Some days are very hard on my body, but I refuse to let my disorder stop me from reaching my goals.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in vivid creative color as well as creative cuts. I absolutely love doing holographic or rainbow hair! I have also grown to love cutting shags and mullets as well. Anything that gets me out of my comfort zone or challenges gets me motivated, I also do blonding, extensions, and color corrections! I love getting to know my clients on a personal level and look forward to doing their hair every time.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Tried and True salon has been the most amazing place to work. I have grown so much as a stylist thanks to my mentor and boss, Allison Oliver. I get to be myself and am actually excited to go to work every day. My fellow stylist at Tried and True have been so kind and helpful when hardships come my way. We help each other and are a true team. My best friend Mallory Tippin has also been a true inspiration to me. We have lived together and been through it all. She now works with my at Tried and True and has become an amazing stylist and inspires me every day.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @vividmamixoxo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vividmamixoxo
