Hairstylist Melody Sparrow shares the perks of being a beauty educator and how she got her start.
Melody Sparrow has been doing hair for 18 years, and she still loves it. Her infatuation with beauty began in high school where she would do hair and makeup for her friends for prom and graduation. But hair wasn’t her first career choice— “I really was in love with graphic designing and that’s what I pictured doing,” Sparrow tells us. By the time she was done with high school, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. But after a thoughtful suggestion from her father, she was off to hair school, and it definitely seemed to be the right choice.
Sparrow has a long list of affiliations and certifications that have shaped her work up to this point. “Here I am now—a Joico Artistic Support Team Member, traveling all over the United States doing hair shows. Being on stage doing shows has always been a dream of mine along with being an educator as well. [I am] certified in Hotheads Hair Talk Extensions, and I’m a part of an elite group known as the @unicorntribe on Instagram and Facebook. I’m also a @usmoothhair influencer,” said Sparrow. She works at @thehairstandard salon located in downtown Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada. She also travels to California and work at @thewearhouse salon. “Needless to say,” Sparrow joked, “I’m a busy woman!”
Luckily, we were able to catch her to ask a few questions about her colorful career (pun intended!)
TBC: What do you think the most difficult part of becoming a hairstylist is? How did you overcome that in your own career?
Sparrow: So, this is a great question! When I was in school, hair color was easy for me to understand and loved it, loved everything about it—how it worked and how the results looked. Now, cutting was the complete opposite for me as it was not easy for me to grasp. Then and still to this day, I take a lot of classes. That way I am always learning and always pushing myself to be ahead of the trends. I don’t do a lot of cutting behind the chair or on stage, but that will change soon as that is one area I need to challenge myself in. For this year, knowing I’ll be on stage, I wanted to get ahead on my public speaking, so I took the @thebenmollinproject to help better myself.
TBC: What would you say your signature look is? How did you perfect it?
Sparrow: I would have to say my signature look would be my unicorn look and my blondes as well. Color, color, color!! Branding myself as well, figuring out how to perfect my looks without a watermark and people knowing “Ohh yep! That’s @melmelqueenb’s work!” [I love] capturing the picture of my work of art. My action shoots are my favorite to do. I love to do them, so the viewer can see the color in action. I also love seeing my clients get excited when we take hundreds of photos. It’s like a mini photo shoot!
Never stop learning and always educate yourself! Ask questions! Don’t be scared to try new things! Your guests and clients are very important to you as they feed you, remember that. Consultation is key!
TBC: I noticed that you’re a Joico educator. How has being an educator helped your business? What are the benefits?
Sparrow: So, Joico found me on Instagram through #joico! [A Joico] territorial manager [named] Adrianna wanted to meet me and talk to me about becoming an educator. I never thought I would be doing it just because I’m not a strong hair cutter—also terrified of public speaking! She told me I will be fine and that training starts [at the] beginning of October 2016, and off I went! Now, I have been using Joico products for years—love them! My trainers, Lori and Brandon, asked me, “What was [your] goal with Joico?” [I told them that] I wanted to be a guest artist one day! They said, “Ok, so what you need to do is live and breathe Joico.” So, I took it and ran with it! Studied my a** off while living and breathing Joico every day! In one year of being with Joico, I got promoted to Artistic Support Team Member (AST), which means I get to be on stage with a Guest Artist and I get to share my knowledge, talent and love for the company! I guess becoming an educator helped me in my business by continuing education with the company seeing what we get to learn before it comes out. That part is so exciting! I also feel like it has made me a stronger stylist.
TBC: What is the best advice that you’ve received throughout your career?
Sparrow: Never stop learning and always educate yourself! Ask questions! Don’t be scared to try new things! Your guests and clients are very important to you as they feed you, remember that. Consultation is key!
You can catch up with Melody at www.melodysparrow.com and on Instagram @melmelqueenb.
Images courtesy of Melody Sparrow and Joico