Nataly Medina explains how art and photography helped her grow clientele
Nataly Medina is 25 years old and has been a barber for seven years. Her passion for art began at an early age—she would draw a lot as a child and made sure to always have an art elective throughout high school. As she got older, she managed to incorporate those abilities into her career as a barber. Art has always been her central passion, and to freely express it has always been her goal.
TBC: Barbering is a traditionally male-dominated area of beauty. Did you face any kind of adversity being a woman in this industry, and how did you overcome it?
Medina: As a woman in a male-dominated industry, I began this journey facing challenges and rejection. However, the industry is always growing and changing. Being a woman barber is more accepted now. Social media and a change in culture have played a huge roll in that, but it wasn’t the case when I first began. Men would reject me for the simple fact that I was a woman and they were afraid a woman couldn’t do what a traditional barber could do. Bald fades, designs, etc. You just didn’t see it as often. There were times I felt I had chosen the wrong career path, but I was always determined to prove myself to others and break those norms. And us women in this industry have definitely done just that.
TBC: What is one business practice that has really helped grow your clientele?
Medina: Photography has dramatically impacted my growth in clientele in the last year. Showcasing your work in a way that is more appealing to the eyes helps capture the true essence of your artwork—as we see it in art galleries, all the time.
Men would reject me for the simple fact that I was a woman and they were afraid a woman couldn’t do what a traditional barber could do.
TBC: What is the most useful career advice that you have received over the years?
Medina: The best advice I have ever been given in my career is to keep trying, even if you mess up. Anyone entering the hair industry will more than likely face those obstacles at first, however we cannot truly grow without practice. Everyone starts somewhere.
TBC: What would you consider your signature look and how did you perfect that technique?
Medina: I would say that my line-work in my haircuts, [my] designs, and my attention to detail is my signature look. I’m mostly known as a hair perfectionist.
To see more of Nataly’s work, you can find her on Instagram @thesculptor.studio.
All photos are courtesy of Nataly Medina
