We were lucky to catch up with Aliya Harris recently and have shared our conversation below.
Aliya, appreciate you joining us today. One of our favorite things to brainstorm about with friends who’ve built something entrepreneurial is what they would do differently if they were to start over today. Surely, there are things you’ve learned that would allow you to do it over faster, more efficiently. We’d love to hear how you would go about setting things up if you were starting over today, knowing everything that you already know.
When I started cosmetology school I was 18, unapologetically independent, and stubborn. I was determined to work full time, live on my own, and go to school full time. I thought I could do all this while living my best late teen-year-old life. I took a very long break from school and fully submerged myself in the hustle culture. I got two jobs, worked side gigs doing hair and makeup, moved in with my boyfriend, and worked my ass off. So hard that I lost sight of my goal for a while. In 2016 I returned to Paul Mitchell the School and graduated the following year. After being licensed and working in commission salons part time and while waiting tables for about a year, I decided to assist a very successful stylist in Kansas City. I think if I’d started assisting right away, with one-on-one training fresh out of school, I would’ve submerged myself into the beauty industry sooner. But I also think that taking my time allowed me to appreciate my growth, fail safely, and explore my community. No two hairstylists are the same, and I’ve had the privilege of testing the salon waters before deciding what was best for me and when. My experiences these past five years have been full of blessings, lessons, and some incredible people. For that, I’m grateful and continuously inspired by those around me.
Aliya, 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?
I’ve been obsessed with beauty as long as I can remember. I fall somewhere between looking at books and magazines to pick out your hairstyle and being a child of YouTube tutorials. When my mom suggested cosmetology school, I didn’t quite take her seriously. As a woman who worked in higher education most of her career, the words that rang true after high school were, “You have time. Don’t waste your money for a university unless you’re sure.” I’d done friends’ hair and makeup for special occasions, even for pay a couple of times, but I didn’t think of it as a career for myself. When touring cosmetology schools, I felt like I found my tribe. Beauty obsessed creatives who looked the part. You could say I took the scenic route through cosmetology school, and one of the things I discovered was our cosmetology school system, much like our US school system, needed lots of work. For example, some friends and I organized Curly Appreciation Day at Paul Mitchell the School to make students comfortable with all textures of hair. Fast forward present day, most cosmetology schools still don’t give a ton of attention to curly hair, but the attractiveness of the curly market has grown in the beauty industry at all levels.
As a stylist, I position myself as a problem solver and goal achiever with my clients. I’m a big fan of looking at my guest’s hair goals, lifestyle and routine and making a roadmap for me, behind the chair and for them at home. Healthy hair is my favorite hair, but learning how to keep the integrity of the hair in good standing after chemical services was an early goal of mine as a stylist. My clientele ranges from lived in color guests who visit me twice a year, to platinum and vivid hair clients I see every 4-8 weeks. With the occasional 9 hour color correction of course. If someone’s hair goals don’t quite sync up with their lifestyle, my job is to help find a happy medium and correct at home care to keep them happy with their hair. Building the perfect curly girl product lineup, or giving clients the haircut they don’t have to style are ways I tailor my services for each guest. As a color specialist, I love reds and copper hair, vivid hair color, and lived in colors. A great curly cut or shag also make my scissor hands happy.
I am creative by nature, and I believe as stylists we, more than most, get to have fun at work. My favorite thing to hear from guests is, “Do whatever, I trust you!” When I’m feeling an extra creative itch, I have photo shoots where I get permission for creative control with models. One of these photo shoots made me a finalist for Hair Colorist of the Year for the Midwest Hairstyling Awards 2022. I’m most proud of the fact that I’m always a student, whether it’s a new color placement, or learning a particular client’s texture, I believe staying curious in my industry keeps me excited and flexible. I also believe that when you teach something, you learn more about that topic along the way. So this year I completed the educator program with Keune Haircosmetics, and in 2023 I will start sharing my knowledge with others in my field part time from taking clients behind the chair.
Glamourkittensss the brand started really simple: I’m here to make you glamorous, and I have three cats. What it’s grown into is a space of inclusivity, self care, confidence and most of all, big ‘treat yo self’ energy. My goal with clients in my chair is to lower the threshhold, and bring them into a mindset of individuality, self love and expression, and some much needed playfulness.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
A goal of mine is to create safety in creative hair color. When I was younger, I was suspended from a retail job in the mall for having bright red hair that, of course, I colored myself and was very proud of. Our world is slowly becoming more accepting of fun hair colors in work spaces- because having colorful hair, or tattoos doesn’t make anyone less competent at their job. Discriminating someone because of their appearance isn’t cute, and it makes me frustrated but proud of my clients who cling to their “rainbow hair” while pursuing their careers. A few fun facts about vivid hair color: 1. You don’t need to fry your hair off to achieve fun colors, 2. They don’t affect your brain or capabilities, and 3. They’re super cool.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Hustle culture. Since about 16 I’ve always had two or more jobs. I am not 16 any more, and my career can be demanding on my body and mind. In March 2020, I worked in a salon during the week and waited tables on the weekends. Ideally I would have two days off a week, but as a money hungry kitten I always perked up at an extra shift. When we were on lock down, I had about six weeks of no job. At first this was scary, I’d searched for sooo many ways to make extra money because I couldn’t help myself. Then it was nice. My morning routine went from frantically putting on a full face of makeup while posting on social media and eating breakfast in the car to yoga with my cats, true crime podcasts, extra time with my partner, and letting go of control in my day. I love being productive, but my brain, body and mental health also deserve rest. That summer I transitioned to only working one job- it was the first time in years I had only one job, and I could truly focus on my career. Funny enough, I’m back to two jobs while educating, but on track with my career still. Scheduling myself random days off, and allowing myself to reschedule my days if I’m sick are just a few small acts of self care that have allowed me to be my best self at work and at home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://glamourkittensss.glossgenius.com/
- Instagram: @glamourkittensss
- Facebook: Glamourkittensss
- Yelp: Glamourkittensss
Image Credits
Aliya Harris Matt Ziegenhorn (logo)