We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jasmine Mills a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jasmine, appreciate you joining us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later? Yes.

Give us the backstory – when did you start, where were you at life-wise/career-wise?

I started my professional career as a Hairstylist Assistant in 2020, as soon as the Covid “Shut-Down” was lifted. I left a company I was working for as a Project Coordinator, I’d been there for 4 months, I found this job prior to leaving a company I worked for, for 5 years. The new job was paying me the highest salary I’d ever made in my working career, but I soon found out that it was not a good fit. I attended cosmetology school 11 yrs prior, and it was always one of my goals to get my license. After starting the new job, I decided to search for cosmetology refresher courses. I found one at T.H. Pickens Technical Center, the course would go for 10 weeks, which allowed me to brush up on my practical skills, as well as the written exam. The day I separated from work with the new company, was the same day I started my refresher course. I finished the program, went to state board, took the first portion of the test (the practical) and I passed!!!!! However it took 5 tries for the written portion, it’d been 11 years since I was in school, so a lot of time passed, but I kept studying, and going back, until I passed. It was the best feeling in the world, aside from graduating high school on-time, giving brith to my daughter, and getting married!!! I couldn’t believe I finally did it! My experience as an assistant with the first salon where I learned a lot about the industry was helpful in my journey becoming a hairstylist. I am currently at a salon in Cherry Creek, where I started out as an assistant, and now I am booth renting. It has been a challenge building in this business, but it has also been very humbling.

What would starting later or sooner have been like for you?
I feel like if I started sooner, I would have so much more experience, and probably be a salon owner.

What would have changed about your experience and looking back do you wish you had started sooner, later or at the same time?
I can guess what would have changed about my experience is the training I could have under my belt, I might have tried to become a cosmetology instructor, I mean, there are so many things that could be different if I would have started sooner. Starting later poses a few learning curves, but that is a good thing because I am a lot more patient, I could use some work on my focus, but I am much more mature, and I feel like my experience working in corporate America has given me tools that I can use as a business owner when servicing my clients.

Jasmine, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a native of Denver, Colorado, I grew up in Montbello, and graduated from Montbello high school. I went to college in Knoxville, TN., for elementary education, and attended cosmetology school in Bellflower, CA., but I received my cosmetology license here in Denver, CO. I am a mother of one, my beautiful daughter, Khalia, and I have been married to my amazing husband Tim for 5yrs. I arrived in the beauty industry in 2020 right after the covid “shut-down” was lifted. I started off working as an assistant in a salon for a year and a half, and during this time I learned so many things about salon life. Standing on your feet all day, is vastly different from being sedentary, which is what I was used to. Learning about scheduling clients, greeting clients, building a clientele, hair care products, sanitizing tools, purchasing, products, consulting with new clients, and so much more!!! Everyday is different with each encounter, and a lot of your time as a stylist, of course, is servicing your client. First knowing what they need and providing that need in a professional manner. Listening is key because clients want you to know what they want, and you need to know how to provide. The services I provided to my clients include, blow-drys, silk-press treatment, haircuts, relaxers, braids, color services, as well as wedding hair services. I’ve assisted with fashion shows, and hair shows, which is a lot of fun!!! I enjoy time with my clients, listening to their joys, and sometimes their pains and struggles. I’ve been told that the way I conduct business is professional, and I always hope their experience with me makes them feel appreciated, and cared for. What I’m most proud of is keeping a promise to myself, that I would get my cosmetology license after all these years, and what I would like for potential clients to know is that they will always be greeted with a smile, I will listen to their wants/needs, and I will work with them to the best of my ability to achieve their hair care goals. It’s All About Hair is the name of my business and you can find me on Instagram under the name @jasmine_hair_artist where you can book under the link in my bio.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In 2007, I made an attempt to take my life, but thank God I was unsuccessful!!! I found my whole world transformed after this situation occurred. At the time my daughter was 9 yrs old, she didn’t know what was going on with me, and as a result of my action, I was hospitalized, and my daughter had to be without her mother for a while. While in the hospital all I could think about was her, and this is what helped my healing and road to recovery. Once I was released from the hospital, the support I received from friends and family was overwhelming, and there were som major changes that had to take place if I was going to get better. I made the decision to leave the state we lived in and move to California with family, it was a difficult decision, but one that was necessary. Once my daughter and I arrived to our new home the work began, this journey of healing led me into therapy, medication, doctors appointments, and creating new ways to cope with my depression, on top of being a mother. After a few months I felt like getting a job, but my uncle said “no job we will take care of everything you and your daughter need, I want you to find something that you really want to do”. So I decided that I wanted to finish cosmetology school. I was responsible for finding a school, and my uncle and aunt paid for it in full. I went to school at night so it would not interfere with what I needed to do with my daughter, my individual therapy, and therapy for my daughter and I. I was able to transfer my hours from the previous school I attended to the new school, and eventually I graduated and went to state board. Unfortunately I did not pass the exam and it would be another 11 yrs before I went back to try again. After moving back to Colorado in 2013, working for a company for 5 yrs, resigning, and then taking a job with another company that lasted 4 months I decided to find a school that offered a 10 week refresher courses, and in October of 2020, I received my cosmetology license.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being a hair artist is how my clients feel after I’ve finished their hair!!! Also the opportunities that come along with this business. Years ago I would purchase Essence Magazine issues every month, and when I was in cosmetology school I had a project where I had to build my own salon, so I used the clippings out of the magazine and some ideas to create my project. In 2022, I had the opportunity to style hair for a model who was featured in the Essence Magazine, and my name was featured there as well. This was such an amazing feeling and something I will always be grateful for, but what makes this career equally important are my amazing clients, without them I cannot do the thing I love!!!

Contact Info:

• Website: its-all-about-hair.square.site
• Instagram: @jasmine_hair_artist