We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brittany Schloss. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brittany below.
Brittany, appreciate you joining us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?
Purpose? We all have purpose. My purpose is to create, uplift, and bring joy.
My secret love is creative writing. However, one would never know when crossing my path. Seemingly girly hairstylist and very much so, a avid gym rat. My outer appearance to the close minded eye would never know.. You know the saying “Looks can be deceiving,” try that via creativity. Art in all forms fascinate me. I find the beauty in art, is imperfection. I myself am perfectly imperfect.
People are always looking for perfection within themselves and their lives… There is no such thing. The beauty of life is flaws within flaws and accepting the nature of it. When you find peace within flaws, life becomes much more whole and easy flowing.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I had always felt insecure. I was a curvy girl, with blonde, curly hair… Completely untamed. I would get teased by peers and called a Lion… Nowadays, I find that as the ultimate compliment.
How the passion started…
I figured out how to do hair and makeup one summer after being grounded for the entirety… I was tired of being called names and wanted to be popular as clichè as that sounds. I was in my
“Cady Heron” era (Mean Girls). Apparently I got pretty good at it, and ended up getting all my friends hair and make-up ready for homecoming.
Fast forward a few years; I entered college at the University of Akron, in Akron, Ohio. Unwillingly put there by my loving parents… Haha. I wanted to do hair in the worst way… I begged my father before leaving. My father (who assumed I would never), told me at the beginning of the semester if I got on the Dean’s list, I could attend Paul Mitchell school of Cosmetology, the following fall… I did just that.
The following year, 2009, I started cosmetology school in Twinsburg, Ohio at Paul Mitchell. It was a amazing experience. I won many competitions. I even got to go to New Orleans first Fashion week and assist the Makeup Artists there. I ended up becoming friends with the Artist, Aimee Cunningham; Voodoo Makeup. In 2018, I flew to NYC to help her do makeup for new york fashion week!
After completing beauty school I then joined a premier Kerastase salon in Fairlawn Ohio, Sara Fraraccios. She was a wonderful mentor and teacher who taught me many incredible techniques by incredible artists such as Jacques Dessange and the ever famous Vidal Sassoon. From there I went briefly to a salon in Medina, Reflection hair studio and spa. Which ended up being to much of a drive(1 hr to and from) and found my final salon home at Bella Bronze Studios located in Akron, Ohio. I excelled in the craft of hair and was offered a mentorship with Kris Sorbie; the creative director of Redken. While also there I started free-lancing makeup and hair for my best friend, whom was a Miss America and Miss USA pagant contestant. Also ended up traveling for Salon Centric as a makeup artist.
Although on paper this seems super impressive. I was deeply at this time addicted to opiates. No one really knew how hard I battled this addiction except a few select people. In fact by the time was 22, I had already a hefty police record. The longest time I had spent in jail was a whole month… I told clients I was backpacking France. My bosses had countless talks with me about my sobriety. I even started going to AA for a while… Which, did nothing. I went to meetings high.
It wasn’t until 2015 when I found a passion for lifting that eventually got me away from the horrible path I was going down. I fell in love with the art of lifting and found it to be incredibly therapeutic. I’ve been sober since 2015 from pills.
During this time, I found out I was 12 or 13 weeks pregnant. The doctor found at my first and only ultra sound that the baby had not survived past 6/7 weeks… I had dreams however through out the entire time and would wakeup holding my stomach. It was really a strange time. I don’t know what the gender was to be honest, but ‘she’ has always felt right….. I was only 25 years old… in honesty, I never wanted to be pregnant and would joke about getting abortions all the time… Previous to this time frame. A lesson that I manifested that was inevitable? Who knows. When I found out she was not alive, I surprisingly was devasted. I tried so hard for weeks to carry this strong face around, like I didn’t care… I totally did. I don’t wonder what my life would be like if I ended up having her. Some how I feel like(even now) that she’s with me, watching over me… Maybe she’s reincarnated into my furbaby Annabelle? .. I always toy with that thought. Annie was born literally around the time I lost her… Whatever the case. I am grateful for that lesson; that chapter in my life was the worst yet the best. At that same time, Sean (my now husband) and I had started talking as friends… He gave me comfort to my soul I didn’t even know was possible. It doesn’t happen often to people these days, and why me of all people? They say when you meet your soul mate, youll know. And its very true… Eventually I moved to Arizona to be with Sean. It was kindof like a new beginning for me.
I very shortly, found a job at a salon in Ahwahtukee. Madison Avenue Salon and Spa. Lovely salon and great facility, however it was to much a drive. So I left after a few months. In the meantime while figuring out life, I started to work front desk at a local EOS.
…One day riding our bikes to Dutch bros, Sean and I passed a Signature Salon Studios. Instantly thought… I could do that! I missed preforming my passion. I felt stagnant. I really didnt think about it too much either. I just knew I could make it work. I would just need 3 or 4 highlights a month to make rent(me convincing myself)… I had 0 clients mind you and knew absolutely no one.
As fate had it the owner gave me a deal on rent, I could not refuse. In May of 2017 Salon Boho became official and I was a business owner. I took out a loan to get started and here I am 7 years later! It was probably one of the hardest things I have ever decided to do but the most rewarding!
“People do not remember what you say or do, it’s how you make them feel.” That’s a statement that digs deeply in Salon Bohos roots. I want every single client to feel not only physically beautiful but spiritually. I know those dark days all to well. If I can be that light that shows someone there true beauty. Then I am serving my true purpose.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect in the artistry of Hair, aside from making the guest look and feel their best. Is the trust received from the guest. I’ve noticed when the guest is completely assured. That is when the creative process can truly take hold. Consultations are everything in this industry.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
While in Ohio, at the beginning of my career; I was introduced to the Summit Salon Systems. It’s a very intricate and fool proof system for stylists wanting to take there financial abilities to the next level. Each salon I have ever worked for has had this system. When you truly utilize the tools given to you. You will thrive. I still to this day use the tools learnt from the system.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Salonboho_
- Facebook: Salon Boho by Brittany
- Yelp: Salon Boho
- Other: Tiktok britttanyyy3