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Conversations with the Inspiring Karen Yang

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Yang.

Karen, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The beauty industry has always been a dream work of mine, I started as a makeup artist when I just graduated high school about 12 years ago. I worked as a makeup artist for a portrait photographer doing different gigs for about three years, and then I realized that this career was getting more and more saturated as YouTube starting to become more popular. I, then, realized I needed to do something to set me apart from the crowd and decided to go back to school to study languages, for six years, I studied Japanese and discovered a whole new trendy world as I came with contact with the Japanese culture. Makeup, hairstyling, fashion sense, were all 100% different from the westernized cultures, and again I started to fall in love with the versatility of the beauty industry. While learning Japanese, I started to have interest in other Asian cultures, and so I also ventured in the Korean culture and started learning Korean. This time, I self-taught myself Korean, and dive right into it! Love it! went back to the industry working as a makeup artist for another photographer, but this time around we became partners and this was the first time I had the courage to become a business owner!

Being your own boss is definitely not easy, and I also soon realized it was not the right time for me to become one. I, unfortunately, had to let this company go and adventure in another completely different field, as just like anyone else, needed a more stable financial income. The educational system was my next career, and worked at a high school for another four long years! Seeing how I loved helping kids, but how draining this career was then my amazing husband suggested to start my own career by going to cosmetology school.

Definitely, one of the scariest decisions I’ve made, simply because I was going to let everything go and become a full-time student, to pursue the career I love. I did, two weeks later, I was at home doing research on which cosmetology school fit my personality and where I would feel like at home. Avalon School of Cosmetology in Mesa felt like a school sent from heaven! Being almost 27 back then, I knew school wasn’t going to be easy, so my whole focus was into learning as much as I could and practice as twice as hard as I was learning, Instructors were true mentors, always being real about this career, and telling you nothing practically falls from the sky, but rather you have to go out and make it happen! After graduation, I realized, I did not want to be part of another company or corporation, since I already work for other for 11 years of my life, so then it struck me, I NEEDED TO OPEN MY OWN BUSINESS!

Every day, I thought, “I can, I will, nothing will stop me, and I can only keep doing better.” That was my motto, and now I have a solid schedule where my current clients are comfortable, and I am still able to take new clients as I go. I also kept getting training in different services, and proudly do different services to try to cater as many clients as I can in one place! K | A Hair has truly been a business I am super proud of, not because of my hard work, but because of the amazing people, we get to meet and be part of their lives thru. This 12-year journey to get where I am wasn’t easy, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As K | A Hair then started to come alive, with the help and guidance of my amazing hair partner, Amber Ortiz, truly my right hand when it comes to this career, we opened our studio a year ago, and just like any other, we came, we struggled, but we are conquering! Of course, nothing came easy, as I was building a brand, a business, clientele, a portfolio, I also had to put my whole focus on my family. Three months before that, my husband was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer and had to go thru very exhausting treatments along with a bone marrow transplant. Even then, I couldn’t give up, I was our only source of income, and just as he supported me in school, and believed in me, I had to show him how hard I was going to work for our future! Him being strong and his desired to be healthy made me realized every day how lucky, not only I was to be his wife but how lucky I was to have people who supported my business and kept it afloat. We beat cancer, and it was another eye-opening situation where I realized, how determination and hard work does reflect how well can business do!

I would tell anyone, who is in the beginning process of starting a new journey, sometimes you have to take a step back, see everything from behind, take a deep breath, and keep moving forward. Yes, rough times will come, as if they didn’t life wouldn’t be life, but once you see things from a different perspective, it will give you the clear mindset to approach things differently and make things better. Just remember, NO ONE, has a perfect life, we all have internal and external struggle but what we do is we learn to maneuver along the way to conquer those situations. if you are reading this, I AM CHEERING FOR YOU, YOU CAN MAKE IT!

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into K | A Hair story. Tell us more about the business.
I currently specialize as a Blonde Hair Specialist, Balayage artist, and Lash Extension Artist. We provide services like hair cutting, hair coloring, hair extension, Bridal services, eyelash extension, and one of our most fun services perms!

We have very including services to where we cater people from little kids to elderly people, and we truly love it!

This year, I will be working on a national certification to become a Lash Extension Accredited Trainer, and will be doing courses not only in the US but Mexico!

At K | A Hair, we do our best to not only make you look good but truly feel good about yourself!

It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
There is one person, who I look up to on social media his name is Zach Mesquit. He has shown me that it doesn’t matter what school you go to, but what sets you apart from others is sticking to what you truly like to do, and perfecting your technique and work is key for a successful business!

Pricing:

  • Full Balayage pricing averages at $195 USD
  • Color Corrections start at $250 USD
  • Eyelash Extensions pricing goes from $65-95 for full sets!

Contact Info:

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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