Meet Amber Sowell of Hair by Amber Grace

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Sowell.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Amber. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Cosmetology was something that I always had a passion in and found that it came surprisingly natural to me, but for a while, I was hesitant to take the plunge. Motherhood came to me at the young age of 16, so after graduating High School I went to college for a year to explore what my next step would be- what would substantially provide for my son. Success was my main goal from the moment I found out about my pregnancy to now. My mom is the person who convinced me that the beauty industry needed me and to follow my calling, so I enrolled the following week and started Cosmetology school full-time at Ogle School of Hair, Skin, Nails when I was 19 years old.

I graduated as a Licensed Cosmetologist eleven months later and have since tried out a couple of different salons along the way in search of what would meet my salon standard, meaning a place that closely represents how I would run my salon given the opportunity. I found out quickly that there are some very ugly parts to the beauty business through my earlier experiences, which again was nothing that I wanted for my journey. I came across Hidden Door MedSpa and they have offered me the most opportunity to master my craft while building not only a clientele basis but valuable knowledge in the industry.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I do believe that through social media I may appear to have had an easy road, but be mindful that people only broadcast their happiest moments; which brings me to my greatest struggle and my greatest joy, my six-year-old son. Every mother knows that the first five years are especially trying, adding a full-time school and work to needing constant childcare, at times it seemed insurmountable. One of the most common sources of stress for single mothers in their early 20’s is the financial strain.

In line with that, my not only required but expensive Cosmetology supplies were stolen along with my vehicle, but still, through that trial of having to replace them, I persevered. When I eventually accepted my first salon position, I was given a glimpse into the darker side of the industry. There is definitely a “mean girl mentality” that plays a part at many salons along with a definition of beauty that I don’t quite support. Lastly, anyone coming into the beauty industry knows that one of the most challenging things is gaining respect. My age, lack of experience and bubbly demeanor often discredited my talent and obvious potential. This led me to feel under-appreciated and stifled, so I went in search of more room to grow.

Alright – so let’s talk business. What else should we know about your work?
I would say I’m known for all things beauty, not exclusively hair. I started my journey mainly as an event makeup artist though I have slowly transitioned into primarily a hairstylist. At my current salon, Hidden Door in Southlake, I specialize in color, blondes, color corrections and all variations of modern cuts, both men and women.

I believe what sets me apart from others is my versatility and natural intuition of not only the desires of my clientele but what will also enhance their features. Not only that but the passion behind the work that I do is shown through the quality of every service. Nobody leaves my chair without a smile and that is something I take a lot of pride in.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
One of my most proud moments of my career so far would have to be my newly recent promotion- making me the first ever promoted stylist at Hidden Door. I feel that my promotion validated Hidden Door’s appreciation of me. Having built my name as a stylist from the ground up has given me the opportunity to have clients such as the current Mayor of Southlake and other individuals of reputable standing.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1422 Main Street Unit 263 Southlake, Tx 76092
• Website: myonlineappointment.com/Booking/?sid=0
• Phone: 817-488-8848
• Instagram: @hairbyambergrace
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ambsbeautyguru

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