Graduate from beauty academy? Check.

Win a national stylist competition? Check.

Become a brand ambassador for one of the largest beauty manufacturers in the world? Check.

These three amazing feats are all in a year (or two’s) work for the up-and-coming stylist, known as Katey-Bug Browne. Throughout the last year and a half, Katey-Bug has reached levels of fame and check off to-do’s on her bucket list that most of us could only dream of. Recently named the Young Talent Pillar Ambassador of Wella's new Hairdressers at Heart initiative, social media has been a huge part of Katey-Bug's rise to success. I was honored to sit down with her to reflect on 2012, find out her plans for 2013 – and get her take on how social media will change the industry!

What a journey! Looking back on the last couple years tell us what it was like.

Honestly, I cannot even believe what has been happening these past few years. Just a little over a year ago I was graduating from high school. I always knew that I wanted to do something great with my career but I would have never guessed that these amazing experiences would start happening the month I graduated from beauty school! This last year has been unimaginable.

You represent Wella’s Hairdressers at Heart Young Talent Pillar, what do you tell young artists who look to you for inspiration?

The first thing I tell them is that anything is possible. If you work hard and dedicate yourself, you can achieve so much. I'm from a small town in California that you pass through on the way to Vegas from LA. You don't have to be from a big city to make things happen.

I heard a quote once that went "there are those who dream and wish and there are those who dream and work." I couldn't agree more. If you have a dream, work hard to make it happen. There will be setbacks, you will make mistakes, but it's how you overcome those mistakes that will get you that much closer to your dream. Don't be afraid to speak up and reach out.

One thing that I love about young artists is their creativity and flexibility because it transfers so well into an on-line presence. What social media tools do you use to promote yourself as an artist as well as your salon?

Facebook, Facebook, Facebook. I'm always on Facebook. Posting before and after pictures, "checking-in" to places, "tagging" who I am with. Posting pictures of my work and the work I have been able to do with other artists. Letting people know what our salon is doing, and giving them info on the new and upcoming trends for the seasons. In fact, I just launched a professional page that’s focused on my personal brand.

How do you keep your social media content hip, current and relevant?

I try to post things that I am doing now or what I will be doing. Not about what has happened or what I have done. I post pictures of my clients in the salon almost every day to keep it up to date. I share links that pages have posted or pictures they have put on.

Do you think social media should be a skill taught during/throughout beauty school today?

I think so.  Social media is so important. Almost everyone has a Facebook. Putting your work on there and letting people see what you are up to can help you get your name out there. Twitter, Instagram, Hairbrained.me, are all really great tools to show people what you are doing and show them your work.

What is your advice to up and coming artists? How do you think tomorrow's stylists will use social media to enhance the industry?

My advice to up and coming artists is to follow all of the top artists on Facebook. Like their pictures, comment on their work – and eventually they will notice your name popping up everywhere. Also, they will see what you post in their News Feed.

As Katey-Bug says, Facebook has become the stylist's personal PR tool, and I agree, social media will dominate in 2013. The more you can promote your salon, or your personal brand as a stylist, the larger network you will create. Katey-Bug has done a great job promoting her work on-line, using sites like Facebook as a virtual portfolio where industry leaders and clients can view her work all in one place!

If you are looking for tips and tricks to growing your on-line brand check out www.stylesync.me, our social media branding platform that with educational videos and branding strategies...who knows, this could be YOUR year.

Connect with Katey-Bug:

As always, feel free to contact me at: kehlers@evokebrands.com with any questions or comments.

About www.StyleSync.me:

Style Sync is an on-line social media training, personal branding and business education platform designed specifically for salon owners and stylists to help them magnify their image and multiply their results.

Style Sync, a division of Evoke Brand Strategies, is an on-line, subscription based social media training, personal branding and business education platform designed to help individual stylists and salon owners turn social media prowess into more clients and more money for your salon.

About www.EvokeBrands.com:

At Evoke Brand Strategies we develop digital, social and mobile strategies for salon professional, beauty, hospitality and entertainment brands. As branding and public relations veterans, yet early adopters of all things digital, we understand the importance of creating measurable, buzz-worthy campaigns that generate bottom-line results.