As a beginner in the industry, no doubt you’ve experienced a time where you felt unsure of yourself, uncertain of your talent and capabilities in the salon—what if I’m not good enough? What if I mess up? What if they leave unhappy?

The truth is, every successful stylist has experienced the fear, the uncertainty and the anxiety. Even the most successful stylists had challenges in cosmetology school, felt the anxiety of servicing their first client, and felt the fear when applying for their first salon job. But they persevered through the challenges.

The expression: ‘Success is a journey, not a destination’—this expression holds true as we talk to some the industry’s finest about their challenges, their successes and their first salon jobs.

“Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really: Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn’t at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it—so go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that’s where you will find success.”

—Thomas J. Watson, President of IBM, who oversaw the company's growth from 1914 to 1956.

Faatemah Ampey
Freelance editorial stylist, reality TV personality, NAHA winner

Whether she’s behind the scenes at a runway show, in front of the camera on Shear Genius 3 or behind the chair doing freelance editorial hair, Faatemah Ampey has star power.

Although she was born in Greenville, Mississippi, Ampey calls Minnesota home. Her parents moved the family to Minnesota at the age of five where, growing up, she always imagined she’d become a doctor or writer. Yet, her mother saw something different in Ampey, even at an early age she expressed an interest in art, writing and self expression.

In fact, Ampey’s older sister Arzella went to beauty school first—paving the way for Ampey’s own future. Although Arzella didn’t finish her cosmetology schooling, she would never lose her love for hair. Arzella was Ampey’s first hair mentor—teaching her the artistry of braiding and weaving. Later, Minnesota’s Aveda Institute would introduce her to the other side of beauty, shaping her into a versatile and talented stylist.

Faatemah Ampey as a child.

Ampey during her stint on Bravo's Shear Genius 3.

At the Aveda Institute in Minneapolis, color theory proved to be Ampey’s most difficult challenge. “I was naturally more drawn to cutting and styling—my shears felt like a natural appendage of my body,” Ampey says. “The first moment I held them I knew I was born to do hair.”

Ampey always knew her worth, and the extra value she could bring to a salon even as a student. “As a young professional in the industry, I knew my hair extension knowledge was a unique skill that would add value to any salon—diversifying service and bringing in a new clientele,” Ampey says. After graduating and receiving her license, Ampey accepted her first salon job at Spalon Montage, for $12 an hour—which, in 1996, was a hefty request for a newbie in the industry.

“The average pay for a salon apprentice at that time was approximately $6 per hour,” Ampey says. “With extensions being more available and accessible now, having extension skills isn’t quite the same bargaining chip it was 14 years ago!”
Ampey’s very first client at Spalon Montage was someone who actually followed her from beauty school. “I still have several clients who are still with me from my kitchen!” she laughs. “And Mitchell, who is the owner of Spalon Montage, is still one of my dearest friends today.”

While at Spalon Montage, time management was a struggle for Ampey. “I am a huge perfectionist—shortcuts are never an option for me,” she says. “I want to give each client 200 percent.” But, she says, throughout her career, time management has been both a strength and weakness. “Now, I have a great support system at my salon that keeps me on time … most days.”

In 2009, Ampey won a North American Hairstyling Award for her Fashion Forward entry. “Winning a NAHA made me an industry name overnight and has given me great credibility in the industry,” she says. Not long after, she appeared on season three of Bravo’s Shear Genius—boosting her skills and credibility in the salon.

What’s Faatemah’s moral of the story? “Listen to your heart. If I’d listened to people I wouldn’t have gone to cosmetology school. I was also told I would never win a NAHA. Choosing to do both has changed my life. My moral of the story is ... Don’t ever give up on your dreams! They just might come true.”


Check out more industry icons talking about their first salon jobs:
Beth Minardi: My First Chair
Faatemah Ampey: My First Chair
Michael Shaun Corby: My First Chair
Sherri Jessee: My First Chair
Kimberly Kimble: My First Chair
Patrick Mathes: My First Chair