We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Karl Payton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Karl below.

Karl, appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

When I decided to make freelancing my full-time job, it definitely was a rocky start. At the time, I was working full-time and freelancing when I could. When I decided to make the full leap and resign from my position, I calculated how much I needed to earn from freelancing to be good for the month. Knowing how payment works in the industry, I knew what I booked in the current month I wouldn’t see until the following month (net 30). In the beginning, it was a struggle, for sure. I said yes to every potential booking (even ones I should have turned down) that came my way. Throughout the years, I’ve been able to command a higher rate, be more selective, and expand on streams of income. The pandemic helped spark me to do product development, consulting, and paid posts on top of sessions hairstyling. It’s important to not burn yourself out and to know what your expenses are. I’m so grateful that now I’ve built relationships with people and companies where work is consistent, and I earn enough to take care of myself and my family.

Karl, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Karl T. Payton is my name, and I work as a session hairstylist. Both my father and my great uncle worked as hairdressers and ran their own businesses for many years. My entire childhood, I was surrounded by the hair industry and culture. I always knew I wanted to work in the fashion industry, but I had no idea where or how to start. I wasn’t exposed to the fashion industry until I started school and subsequently relocated to New York City because I was raised in a little town in North Carolina, distant from any major fashion hub. I had an internship with a designer, where I first learned about Fashion Week, models, and other glitzy things. Everything fell into place for me when I saw the hairstylist arrive to conduct a hair test. I started from the bottom up. To expand my network, I asked friends whether they knew of anyone. I began doing test shoots to expand my portfolio. Just trying to network with as many individuals as I could. I learned about assisting from a makeup artist and how to apply to agencies to work under high-level stylists in the business. Only one of the ten places I applied to responded. It was at that point that I first met my two mentors, and the actual work began. I quickly discovered that arranging hair on set and in a salon are completely different things. I practically began from scratch. I’ve been a part of fashion week teams over the years and have learned a ton while doing so. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is how much of my profession involves fixing problems on the spot. Numerous circumstances have emerged, and you must act swiftly to come up with a solution so that the current assignment can still be completed. Examples include a model’s hair failing to produce the desired look, needing to change course when something goes wrong, or altering your entire concept due to a last-minute talent replacement. Finding out about the industry is another crucial step. Rates, contracts, taxes, and marketing are all crucial concepts to comprehend in relation to your art, which is hairstyling.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I absolutely made an effort in the beginning to use all the conventional strategies for growing an audience and creating the ideal grid. I eventually changed my opinion since I didn’t feel it was true to me. I reminded myself that I only wanted to be genuine in my experiences when testing out things that were sent to me.I first solely produced unboxing videos. I made very few modifications, and I left in any stuttering or pronunciation errors because that happens in real life. One thing I felt I did differently was that I just didn’t open the package and display the product after that. I offered a little more information and described what each one was utilized for. Then I actually started recording myself using the products. There are a lot of shampoos and conditioners, styling products, and curling irons. I used it all. I gave a small how-to breakdown and, most importantly, said it was curly or natural hair-friendly since my hair is naturally curly. I saw that my followers really loved that.

Naturally, now I show myself using things onset for BTS footage and still showcase things on myself. Though my follow amount may not be large, I have a lot of brands, industry professionals, and more that follow and engage, which has led to many paid opportunities. To anyone starting out, don’t feel you need a fancy camera and studio quality. I still film on my phone today. Be yourself, and work with brands that align with your lifestyle and values. And most important, be honest. There are plenty of things I’ve used and didn’t care for. I always gave a detailed reason why.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is how much of a positive impact I have on individuals who love my work. There have been times I’ve received messages or DMs from people who say I’ve inspired them to peruse their dreams or that something I demonstrated will help them in their careers. Hearing their stories helps me keep going. It’s very easy to get on the hamster wheel and always be on go-go-go. But receiving those messages lets me know that what I do is help others, and being seen in an industry where not a lot of people look like me gives them hope.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hairstylesbykarl.com/port
• Instagram: @HSBK_
• Other: https://models.com/people/karl-payton

Image Credits
First Image ( models in yellow suite ) Photographer Tone Woolfe https://www.tonewoolfe.com/ Instagram: @tonewoolfe