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

Cecilia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I am definitely happy being a business owner. Like any business owner, this job comes with trials and tribulations. I often think about getting a “regular job” but nothing makes me more happy than working for myself, and being my own boss. The thought of clocking in to a 9-5, being mentally drained from the repetitive daily tasks, and more importantly, being told I can’t have colorful hair and tattoos? No thanks. Haha.

I’ve struggled for a few years, wondering if I want to continue to work for myself and own my own small business. Absolutely., but when I have a great Saturday doing my craft and getting to be independent in my art, we’ll, nothing compares.

Last year, I took the biggest risk in my career and made the decision to work from home, as well as travel for work, and it has been the best decision ever. I get to spend more time with my family at home, being a mom and a wife, while getting to created my own schedule and time to travel around town and still keep healthy relationships with my clients, in providing my services. I will never go back to a salon after this, it’s an absolute dream.

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 am a traveling/ work from home hairstylist, I have been a licensed hairdresser for a little over 10 years. Recently, I made the decision to take my craft home and travel for work to my clients. My existing clientele has absolutely loved my new process for their appointments, and I have also been able to acquire new clients as well!

My motto has always been to create a safe space for artistic weirdos like myself, and I will always stick to that. I enjoy creating simple natural looks, but my favorite hair to do, is fun and bold colors! Give me rainbow hair any day, it brings me such joy.

I am proud of how far my craft has gotten me in this industry, and by that I don’t mean fame or popularity. I’m proud of how far I’ve allowed my creativity to grow and the risks I’ve taken to be where I am today in my business.

I’m not like other hairdressers these days, I’m not working towards the most followers or the most content, and to be the best. I want to succeed of course, but I want to be happy and I can’t make my clients happy if I’m not happy, so I’ve really tried to showcase that in my work recently and that comes with change. The changes I’ve made have really impacted me and my mental health, and I think it shows in the hair I take pride in. Social media has been made into such a stressful thing, and I’ve grown to see the good and the bad sides of it all, and I just want to live, you know?

Of course, you can still see me on all social media platforms, but now it’s at my own pace and happiness, no stress.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Say it with me.. WORD OF MOUTH! Over half of my clients are coworkers, friends with one another or family of a friend, or just family. The great thing about hair is, it’s your walking billboard. With that in mind, I always treat it as so.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I’ve learned over the past year that you shouldn’t ever have to live in mental health slums and stress over trying to run your business. The hair industry is such a dog eat dog world, and social media plays such a big part in that. The stress to have the most like on a photo, or the most recognition from a good hair brand. I found myself just needing content and stressing myself out over a slow weekend at work because I couldn’t meet my content goals. I spent too much time at work from 8 in the morning to missing dinner with my husband and kids because I needed to make that hair photo perfect for a brand to notice me. I lost myself in the work, when I needed to remind myself why I loved my job in the first place. Because it never felt like work to me, it always felt like a hobby, and that made me happy.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @a.chemicalromance
• Facebook: A Chemical Romance Salon