Sexy Hair platform artist Amanda Fator visualized herself going solo.

STARTING HER CAREER IN 2003 as a stylist at a local walk-in salon earning minimum wage, Amanda Fator envisioned success and determinedly set about achieving it.

During four years at a well-known chain business, she challenged and proved herself, was promoted and grew a solid clientele. While happy and proud of her success and role at the salon—and appreciative of the good start it gave her—she dreamt of opening her own business.

“I had a lot of fears about going solo,” she says. “Could I actually support myself? At the same time, I knew this was the route to the creative freedom I craved. I took the leap in 2007 and I haven’t looked back.”
In 2010, she transitioned again, moving into her own space in Studio S salon in Redding, California. She also achieved another goal when she became a platform artist for Sexy Hair. “I stay very busy with both sides of my career, and I love it,” she says.

Fator says she loves being a solo artist because of the flexibility. “I love the freedom in my schedule, the freedom to create my vision, and the freedom to go anywhere in the world to create beauty and spread my knowledge and experience as an artist.”

According to Fator, partnering with Sexy Hair has been pivotal in her career. “They have trained me in so many areas from cutting, styling and finishing all the way to presentation skills. This training has helped me grow leaps and bounds. The standards I hold myself to as a hair artist are much higher due to my training. I cannot imagine myself or my career without Sexy Hair in it.”

As a successful solo artist, Fator keeps up with advanced education on every platform she can. “I am a social media junkie,” she says. “Daily, I am watching videos and engaging with other artists. Every month or so I am participating in webinars on color, cutting, styling and social media tips.”

Fator also participates in Sexy Hair’s bi-annual training seminars for its education teams. “I believe that we can never know everything. Even if you’re taking a back to the basics class as a master in your fi eld, you can still take away something and grow from it.”

In the next five years, Fator wants to keep up the hard work. “I honestly didn’t believe I could be where I am today, at the age I am. I’ve realized that lifetime dreams can actually happen.”

SOLO ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: 

CUT AND STYLE PRICE: $40
AREA OF EXPERTISE: Upstyling
FAVORITE PRODUCTS RIGHT NOW: Healthy Sexy Hair Tri-Wheat Leave-In Conditioner and Curly Sexy Hair Ultra Curl Cremè-Gel.
MARKETING ADVICE: My business has two main methods and goals for marketing—first, by word of mouth—it’s free and it doesn’t fail. The second is social media. My social media accounts, specifically my Instagram, are geared more toward the goal of increasing visibility of my editorial and commercial work. I treat it as an art gallery for my work. I try to have a unique look to my Instagram that fits my personality and goals.
ADVICE TO OTHER SOLO ARTISTS: Continue with further education. When we are our own bosses it can be hard to use our spare time and money for learning, but it will be what keeps you updated and excited for our industry.
BEST THING ABOUT BEING A SOLO ARTIST: Freedom. I am so thankful that I have the freedom to travel the world doing hair.
FUTURE GOALS: To work more as a session stylist, so I can attract photographers, artistic directors and magazines.