Meet Trailblazer Tara Pearson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Pearson.

Tara, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m just a small town Oklahoma girl living in a big Texas world living my very own dream. I grew up in a very rural town my entire life, graduated with right under 100 kids-which was totally record-breaking in our teeny tiny town. Of those almost a hundred, I was chosen as our “Class Clown.” I have always loved people in general and obviously making them laugh. I knew working with people is something I’ve always had a passion for and wanted to do.

Right out of high school, I moved to the closest “bigger” city and started my corporate American life in the banking world, where I continued to work for the next eight years. I attempted college and quickly found out that wasn’t for me. I needed something to fuel my fire, where I could feel creative, and LOVE what I’m doing. I’ve always had a love for hair, fashion, and just the beauty industry in general. It seemed like such a glamorous, fulfilling, and creative lifestyle to live, so I started looking into Cosmetology schools in the area. Unfortunately, in the small area, I was living in, my choices were limited and neither of the two school options offered a nighttime class since I had my day job and an apartment to pay for that option wouldn’t work for me. Then and there was when I pushed my dreams to the back burner and kept doing what I had to do to make ends meet.

Fast forward five years later, I met the love of my life and moved to the big state of Texas. I continued to work in banking for a few years until I finally had enough. I, again, made an attempt at checking out cosmetology schools in the area again and this time, I truly believe it was meant to be. The school was three miles from my house and one of the top campuses in the state. I called and set up and appointment to tour the school and meet with the advisor, and before I knew it I was enrolled and started the next week. That was August of 2015. I continued to work my bank job full time while hustling through a year and a half of cosmetology school part-time in the evenings. The final clock out day in February of 2017 finally came and it was the happiest day of my life. I had made the sacrifices and put in the work to start my dream career. I became licensed shortly after and then was named as Salutatorian for my graduating class. That same week, I landed a blow dry and styling job at Dry Bar while I was still at the bank job during the day. I quickly found a job as a full-time assistant for another stylist and was able to FINALLY quit my bank job.

I worked my way through that program for nine months while still styling and blow drying on the side-working seven days a week for almost two full years. Then, January 2nd, 2018, I became a booth renter stylist on my own and four months down the road was able to let go of my part-time job completely. These last couple of years have been incredibly transforming and life-changing for me. I’ve been able to surround myself with some of the most talented stylist in the industry at Panther City Salon and soak up every bit of knowledge possible. I’ve also learned how free and amazing it feels to do something that fills you up. Now, I’m just making new friends every day while making them feel like a million bucks, making my own schedule and absolutely L-I-V-I-N that glamorous, fulfilling, and creative lifestyle I’ve always dreamed of.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I wish I could say it was smooth sailing, but like we’ve all heard before “Nothing worth having comes easy.” That was absolutely the case for me, I had just been married for less than a year when I started cosmetology school. I spent A LOT of time away from my husband, friends, family and just normal life in general. That was very hard for me at the moment, but I kept my eye on the prize, I knew working seven days a week was what I had to do to get where I was trying to go even though it totally sucked, lol.

Now, looking back, all the small sacrifices I made have paid off-tenfold. Short term sacrificing for the long term goals ya’ll!! Sometimes, we have to do things outside of our comfort zone to be able to live the life we have always imagined. Sometimes, certain things have to be pushed out of focus temporarily to be able to shift our focus and take the steps closer to where we are trying to go, it’s so much easier to just do what is comfortable, secure and what we have always known than to step out into the unknown, and for me, make a complete 180 in life.

One thing I have always known was that there was something out there that I was made to do and I was going to do whatever I had to do to make that happen. Starting over from scratch is a scary feeling, and some people even thought I was straight up crazy, but let me tell you it has and will continue to be the most rewarding feeling you could ever feel. Nobody can ever take that way from you. Take care of yourself, do what you have to do to get there, make important connections and relationships, learn and read everything you possibly can and please, my darling NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS!! Anything is possible if you just truly believe it.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about your business – what should we know?
Dang – I love me some hair, but my passion most definitely lies in balayage, hand painting, and lived in blondes. I love the freedom and creativity behind a blank canvas and see what magic I can make of it. I have an eye for detail for sure and love that this industry allows me to be creative to the max. I love the idea of creating a style and look that isn’t high maintenance and requires minimal appointments to maintain while still looking fresh, we are all just trying to do less these days right?

There is definitely something to be said about turning the chair around to reveal the new look to a client and seeing their happy, smiling faces. All while getting to know someone’s story and calling them a friend by the end of the appointment. It’s still insane to me that I actually get to do this as a career and help people feel good about themselves. It’s crazy what just some fresh hair can do for a girl;)

Which women have inspired you in your life?
I am constantly inspired by women around me on the daily, from my Momma’s crazy worth ethic to my sister’s passion for helping people and lifting others up, to some of my best friends just killing the Mom game. And of course, all of the freakishly talented stylist I am surrounded by and network with. It’s so inspiring to see someone just owning what they do and doing it well!! 

Contact Info:

• Address: Panther City Salon
  1300 Hemphill St.
  Fort Worth, Texas 76104
• Email: borntobalayagebooking@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/born.to.balayage
• Facebook: www.facebook,com/born2balayage

Image Credit:
mackenziefaith_photography

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