Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Minich.
Hi Rebecca, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been a hairdresser for 21 years. I grew up in Maryland and attended cosmetology school right after I graduated high school. A few years into my career, my friend who was a Razor cutter took me under his wing and shared his knowledge with me. I immediately loved using the razor and it was always my preferred tool. Eventually, I quit doing hair to be home with my 4 children while my husband pursued a Ph.D. and worked. Once he got to his dissertation, I decided to go back to work so that he could focus on that. I jumped back into doing hair 5 years ago and soon found that Instagram is a wonderful source of inspiration. I discovered a woman named Jayne Matthews, a razor-cutting guru specializing in shags out in San Francisco. She did the most amazing cut transformations and I decided I would do whatever it took to learn to cut like she did. I stalked her Instagram and tried to observe everything she did. My mom lived in SF at the time, so when I was visiting her, I made an appointment with Jayne. Sadly, she had to cancel, but I was referred to one of her best students in her salon. I got myself a real shag and fell in love with its’ ease and beauty. I started cutting my own hair because, at that time, shags were a tough sell in Dallas. After practicing on my own hair, I got bold enough to seek models. I realized that the shag is the ultimate cool mom hair because it’s sexy and practical! So, I started getting other moms to model and they loved it. I posted these transformations on Instagram and it grew my business. Eventually, Jayne did a class at Hair story Dallas and I jumped at the chance to watch her work. Her techniques were mind-blowing. Since then, I’ve taken 5 or 6 more classes with her…I’ve lost count. I’m a little obsessed! I fell in love with Hair story Dallas too, and I’ve spent my past 3 years there as a Razor cutting specialist. It’s been a beautiful experience with one of the best teams in Dallas. However, I’m about to join a small, quiet studio so that I can better serve my clients, as well as teach hairdressers in an intimate setting.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I had a difficult experience with beauty school as I had to transfer several times, and the education was not what I hoped it would be. For cutting, we had a new teacher every week at one of my schools. It was so hard to learn with no consistency, When I graduated, I felt very ill-prepared for the industry, especially in regards to cutting. However, my dissatisfaction with this drove me to work hard and always seek the best in continuing education. The industry itself has been a struggle also. I spent many years hopping from one salon to the next trying to escape the drama. I’m so grateful to have finally found my niche and a wonderful community of like-minded stylists both in Dallas and on Instagram. It is because of that support; I’ve been able to thrive!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a Razor cutter who specializes in shags, bobs, and pixies. I especially enjoy doing cut transformations. I’d say I am known for creating effortless hair that is crafted for real life. I’m proud of creating art that is so wearable by my clients, many of which I see only once or twice a year. I’m also deeply relational which helps me connect well with my clients and more recently as an educator with hairdressers.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Grit. I’ve encountered many obstacles but my passion drives me forward. I am always excited by a challenge or puzzle and I never settle until I’m happy with my work.
Contact Info:
- Email: NestedSparrow@gmail.com
- Website: https://swankyhairdesign.square.site/
- Instagram: Swankyhairdesign
Image Credits
Alyssa Cate
