We were lucky to catch up with Olivia Smalley recently and have shared our conversation below.
Olivia , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Any advice for creating a more inclusive workplace?
This has been a passion of mine since I started working in salons at age of 14. Ever walked in a business for the first time and had no idea where to go? When you walk into a salon and you’re greeted by everyone it makes you feel much more comfortable. I like to teach the importance of this to everyone in the industry.
Olivia , 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?
My name is Olivia Smalley and I am a celebrity hair and makeup artist. I started working in the salon with my mom at the age of 14 and have always had a passion for the beauty industry. I studied videography in school and some how figured out how to marry the two. I work in the salon as a Blonde & Extensions Specialist as well as teach other beauty professionals how to advance their career through social media.
Have you ever had to pivot?
My career started with a big pivot. After high school, I went off to college. I was there for only a short time before my mom lost her job and I was unable to attend school anymore. I moved home to be with family and that’s when I decided to attend beauty school. I went to Sheridan Vocational and applied for loans, told them I would sweep the floor just so I could go to school and learn. I finally was able to land a scholarship there and that’s how my career began!
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
My biggest advice for building an audience on social media is simply to do it. Consistency is key when it comes to building on social. Determine who your audience is, what they want to know or learn, and then give it to them! I was using Instagram for years before I got verified. All it took was one silly video of me creating curls using a water bottle to go viral. You never know if you don’t try.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.omgartistry.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/omgartistry?utm_medium=copy_link
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/OMGArtistry
Image Credits
Photographer, Hailee Jhaveri