Name: Michaela Rose
Profession: Hair stylist and Salon owner
Company: Created in Chaos Salon in Boise, ID
How did you get started working in this industry?
I started out as a freelance makeup artist in college, just trying to earn some extra cash while I was in school. When suddenly my family made the choice to move to Idaho, it threw me off course for my degree. I saw an ad online for a beauty school and thought it would be a great way to get a better paying job to help pay for schooling so I could move out of my parents. Originally, thinking I’d just do makeup more professionally and eventually finding a passion for hair that was much larger than my passion for my education or makeup.
What evolution within your work have you seen that makes you excited to see more?
In developing my passion as an artist, I’ve learned that I love to share my talents with the up and coming generation of stylists. I love watching newer stylists grow in their crafts and businesses. I also love seeing how they take what I’ve taught them and put their own unique spin. I’m super excited in this new chapter of being a salon owner to see my team take off in their careers and find their own places in this industry.
What role has the LGBTQ+ community had on your work?
I get the privilege to spend a lot of one on one time with all sorts of people from all walks of life. I get to learn about them, their life, what they’ve experienced and what they’ve learned. Being a part of the queer community while also working with a lot of LGBTQIA+ folks has been so rewarding in so many different ways. From learning new perspectives and being able to grow myself to being a safe space for queer children who don’t even have that at home. I’ve been very lucky to create a community within my clients that is more supportive than I could ever imagine. Our community is so full of love that I never experienced before coming out myself, I feel so lucky every day that I get to be a part of it.
What advice do you have for our community to utilize what you do even more?
Stay connected! Follow us on social media to see when we are having community events. Connect with our stylists and support what they do so that we can keep doing what we are doing. A like, comment and share is a great free way to support a queer business. We also offer free gender affirming haircuts and do all sorts of fundraising through out the year so stay tuned to help support!
Who or what inspires you?
The people are who inspire me. In many ways, I’m like an unlicensed therapist for my clients. The way I’m able to support and uplift the people I get to see every day, fills me with so much joy. The stories that really hit for me are the queer children I’ve been able to support in my career. I was a queer child with no support system and no safety in my family. And being able to be a safe space for them, uplift them, hear their stories of resilience and strength. It truly brings tears to my eyes and I feel so lucky to be trusted by them.
When it comes to the entire beauty/fashion/etc. industry, where would you advise someone to start who has never really focused on it before for themselves?
Start where your passion is. This industry is very grindy. You are going to have to bust your butt no matter where you start. But, if you’re passionate about what you do it’ll make it so much easier when the grind starts to wear you down. If you don’t love it, you won’t make it.
What is a must-do or a must-have that you think everyone should do/have?
Leave in conditioner! Everyone and I mean everyone gets a little leave in conditioner before their styling products. I don’t care if you don’t color your hair. I don’t care, I don’t care, I don’t care. It’s SO dry here and we all need the moisture in our hair.
Do you have any simple steps or things that you can recommend for people to do that they can implement into their routines?
Turn the heat down on your styling tools, if the temperature can bake cookies- it’s too hot. Use a heat protectant always! Brush from the bottom up, if it sounds like pulling apart Velcro you’re being WAY too rough. And don’t sleep with, braid or tie up tightly your wet hair- believe it or not your hair can mildew
What is your biggest mistake (Beauty/fashion-wise), and how did you learn from it?
Not trusting my gut when it came to red flag clients. Unfortunately, there are people in the world who will walk all over you. You can not let them do that. I don’t care how new you are, you are still the professional at the end of the day. I do my best to accommodate clients to the best of my ability and I’ve learned that for some people it will never be enough. For my own sanity, I’ve learned that those clients just aren’t for me and that’s ok! It’s ok to tell someone you don’t think they are a good fit for your business and move on. Keep it short, cute and polite. You will not regret it, trust me lol
