Meet Samantha Dow of SDHair, Babydoll Hair Salon and Babydoll Weddings

Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Dow.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Samantha. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have always loved doing hair. I was always playing with those barbie mannequin heads as a kid with those funny little colored clip-in extensions, cutting my dolls hair, braiding my mom’s hair, and of course, always experimenting with my own hair. I was the one to always get my friend’s hair ready for school dances, and special events. Then in high school, I was introduced to EVIT and their cosmo program. So I started my junior year and was licensed by the time I graduated. When I got my first job as a hairdresser I actually really didn’t like it. I have realized now that it was just due to anxiety and nervousness about not being confident. I thought I was supposed to know everything having to do with anything hair related, and I thought I was failing because I didn’t. I knew I loved styling and updos, so I left being a full-service stylist and became a stylist for weddings and special events. I have been doing that for about three and a half years and have loved every second of it. I also thought I would try a corporate America job at that time. I had never had one and thought I would give it a try. It turned out to be a 9-5, rotting away at a desk job and after a year, I couldn’t stand it any longer.

I have always been a creative person, and just sitting at a desk typing away at a computer was killing me. So I decided I would give the salon life a try again. So I joined Babydoll Hair Salon and it has been the absolute greatest. The work environment, employees and employer, are all so amazing. This salon has really helped me to fall back in love with my passion for hair in all aspects. I realized what I lacked before in my first job was real support and continued education. But now I am growing on a daily basis and have never felt more confident, or in love with hair.

Has it been a smooth road?
In some ways its been hard. I kind of fell out of love with hair in regards to cutting and coloring. I ruined my first stylist job for myself because I was always filled with such anxiety. I never felt confident and was nervous anytime a client walked through the door. I felt very inexperienced and worried about ruining someone’s hair. I never realized how important and amazing continued education is for a stylist. I thought I was supposed to know EVERYTHING when I got out of beauty school, and because I didn’t, I thought that made me a bad stylist and a failure. So I quit the salon life for a little bit. I continued as a stylist for wedding and special events during that time, but now that ive rejoined the salon life, realized how vital continued education is and have grown in skill and confidence due to that, I want to kick myself for wasting all that time feeling like I wasn’t good enough.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a stylist at Babydoll Hair Salon and their sister company, Babydoll Weddings, and am so proud to be part of their team. It is such an amazing environment. Everybody works together; you are never afraid to ask a question or for help. It truly feels like a family. I always thought it sounded so cheesy when people said that, but this salon has made me realize that feeling and how amazing and powerful it is. Being at Babydoll Hair has really helped me to fall back in love with hair. Styling hair is my favorite part, like updos, and blowouts. I can give a BOMB blowout. Not yo mamas average blowout. What I love to do in the salon as well though is fashion colors, balayage, and short haircuts.

Tell us about your childhood, what were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was very active and creative. I did cheer and dance as a kid and then got into roller derby after high school. I think I am a real “go getter”. Always trying new things and not letting the fear of being uncomfortable stop me. I have ALWAYS loved doing hair, but my second passion is baking. My husband and I were actually planning on opening a bakery before I fell back in love with hair. I am a very animated person, but also very shy so you wouldn’t really know it when first meeting me. Once you do though, you will see that I am constantly dancing and singing.

Contact Info:

• Website: babydollhair.com
• Phone: 480-350-7588
• Instagram: samdow_hair

Image Credit:
Shelby Lea Photography

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.