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Choose Beauty: Ashley Mason
Why I chose beauty: “When I was 16 years old I went shopping with my mother and stopped at the beauty counter of Laura Mercier. I started playing around with the rent shades and did my mom’s make-up right there in the store. The real make-up artist noticed how well I used the color and ended up giving me a job for various Laura Mercier events.
by Modern Salon
July 11, 20113 min to read
Ashley Mason, Senior Colorist, Avanti Salon in Boston, MA (avantisalonboston.com)
Year I obtained my license:
2005
Why I chose beauty: "When I was 16 years old I went shopping with my mother and stopped at the beauty counter of Laura Mercier. I started playing around with the rent shades and did my mom's make-up right there in the store. The real make-up artist noticed how well I used the color and ended up giving me a job for various Laura Mercier events. I was in the formative years of my youth, and in that time learned a lot about how colors interact and work to change an overall look and how color can give a person a whole new dimension based on the placement.
After two years of working with make-up, the transition to the hair industry seemed like a natural extension, and I found while in school that I was again drawn to color because my mind had grown to understand its complexity.
"After graduating from cosmetology school in Rhode Island, I moved to New York City and worked at a high-end salon. I started as an assistant, but learned quickly and soon moved up to a position as a senior colorist. One day, the director of beauty at the Ford Modeling Agency came into our salon and saw me for her color. She was impressed with the outcome and started sending me models from the agency. After building a relationship with the girls as well as the director, my salon became the go-to place for Ford models to get their hair colored and cut.
"There are few feelings more satisfying in life than giving a client color they love. I enjoyed working with the models because they always posed an interesting challenge, because they were demanding and made me think about new techniques and color combinations to give them the exact look they wanted. My favorite colors are those that accentuate a client's natural beauty, but I don't shy away from bold colors that overhaul a client's entire look. This versatility has served me well throughout my career and I continue to grow my knowledge and skill set every day.
"At the De Berardinis Salon in Chelsea, where I was a Master Colorist, I became proficient in the Italian coloring method Baci di Sole, where color is painted on teased hair to create a natural, sun kissed look that eliminates dramatic regrowth.
"I always knew one day I would take the skills I learned in New York and move back home to Massachusetts. I am now based in the heart of Boston, but still return to New York a few days each month to work with my Ford models."
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