We recently connected with Rebecca Perez and have shared our conversation below.

Rebecca, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I have been a hair stylist for 10 years now. When I got into this profession, it was the artistic aspect of it that drew me in. I grew up going to art camps and painting all the time when I was younger. A career where I got to paint people’s hair? Sign me up! But then, it became more than just creating art every day.

As a woman, my hair is part of my identity, whether I like it or not, especially in my profession. It’s part of who I am. Some people may think that’s silly, and that’s ok. But some people may completely agree with me. And there are women who struggle with not having the hair they’d always hoped for or dreamed of.

Our bodies go through crazy changes as we age. There’s postpartum changes, menopause, thyroid issues, hormonal imbalances, hereditary hair loss, chemotherapy, and even just aging. So many factors contribute to things in your body changing and your hair can take a big hit from any of those issues listed. Speaking as a pregnant woman, every week I am constantly telling myself, “um, well this is new.”

I began working with extensions in 2016 and I quickly realized it was my absolute favorite service to provide for my clients. A good hair color can make someone’s day but a total extension transformation? There are no words to describe the happiness and emotion it brings to a client.

I offered an array of hair services at the salon I was working at, but extensions were what I really wanted to focus on. I wasn’t able to offer only extensions services so with the encouragement from my husband, close friends, and family, I decided to open my own extension business in early 2022, Opal Mane Extension Studio. It was the best decision I’ve ever made.

There are people who believe it’s just hair, who cares? I have had clients come in, self conscious to even take their pony tail down because of how their hair has thinned so much over time. The power that an extension appointment holds is just unreal. It brings out this bout of self-assurance that you didn’t realize was in you and it’s like you become this unstoppable bada** that can conquer the world. Funny thing is, you were always this person. It just took a little extra hair for you to realize it.

If you asked me in 2013 when I started doing hair where I saw myself in 10 years, I don’t think I would have been able to tell you it’s where I am now. My job is so much more than go to work, come home, sleep, repeat. Everyday I get to change people’s lives and the fulfillment it brings to my heart, there’s really nothing I would trade it for. I want Opal Mane Extension Studio to be a place women can come to break out of their shell and channel that inner confidence. I want you to realize you can conquer the world, even if it means your blowdry may take a little longer :)

Rebecca Sinclair Perez

Opal Mane Extension Studio at Wild Heats
2 1/2 Greenville Street
Newnan, GA 30263
(678)673-8979

Instagram: @opal.mane___

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Rebecca Perez. I grew up in Fayette County, Georgia. I started doing hair in 2013. I graduated from Southern Crescent Technical College.

Ever since my first hair appointment at a real salon when I was a little girl, I can remember it would always be the HIGHLIGHT of my weekend. I looked forward to it every 10 weeks. I gave myself a round brush blowout for the first time when I was in second grade and I just thought I was the cat’s meow. I was so proud! I think deep down I always knew I was destined to be a hair stylist. It wasn’t until 2016 that I realized my passion was hair extensions.

When it comes to being a hairstylist, you really don’t learn how to do hair until you’re out of school and in a salon. It’s a very hands on learning experience. You have to accept that you’re going to make mistakes in the beginning of your career before you can really soar. It happens to everyone and it’s so scary but it is what it is! You have to pick yourself up and try again!

It’s the same when it comes to learning any new techniques in the industry. I have taken multiple color and extension classes. It’s always nerve-racking applying a new technique you’ve learned on someone for the first time in the salon. You have to practice practice practice. That’s how you get better.

I have been certified in multiple extension techniques. I’ve done tape ins, fusion keratin bonds, and my absolute favorite that I solely offer now is Natural Beaded Rows(NBR) which is a hand tied method. Using the NBR method, you create a track out of thread and beads that follows the natural curvature of the head. With NBR, it is customizable to the density of your hair. It involves less points of contact with the hair therefore causing less stress and tension on your hair. The track is built to then sew the hair wefts on to, distributing the weight of the extension row more evenly for comfort and a more seamless blend. The amount of wefts, again, is customizable to the client’s hair density. You can choose from 1 row(fullness), 2 rows(fullness and length), or 3 rows(extreme fullness and length). With 3 rows, the 3rd row acts as a connecting piece between your shortest layer and the length of the extension.

Contrary to popular belief, extensions aren’t just for length. NBR can be used on anyone from just wanting fullness and volume in a chin length haircut to wanting 22, 26, even 28 inches of length to live your best life, girlfriend. They are great to fill in areas of breakage or for clients whose hair just doesn’t grow past a certain point. Another great candidate would be someone who is trying to grow out a haircut or someone who even just wanted to add some subtle dimension without putting bleach on their hair. The options are endless!

Being an extension specialist, it’s my job to educate my clients on what is and isn’t possible for their hair journey. There are times where I have to say no. Not everyone’s hair can handle extensions, but there are other options stylists offer. There are wigs, toppers, hair growth vitamins, hair treatments and transplants. I’m not just looking at you as a service charge. As stylists, we should want the best for our client’s hair and sometimes what they are wanting just isn’t possible. You know the phrase, “I’m a beautician, not a magician.” Well, someone came up with that for a reason!

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I have found the most effective strategy for growing my clientele is posting regularly on Instagram. Posting before and afters, product knowledge, even posting silly videos just to make people laugh and show I’m a normal human being, not just a hair stylist. Referrals and word-of-mouth helps a lot too. Your friend sees your new locks and is like,”omg your hair is amazing, who did you see?” Which then of course leads them to my Instagram where they can see all kinds of work that I’ve done.

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

In the 9 years I was working in Buckhead I was fortunate enough to have been awarded Best Colorist in Atlanta for 2 years and Best Extension Artist in Atlanta for 5 years. This did bring in some new clients, of course. I remember feeling like I had “made it” being voted “the best”. It was a very churn and burn mentality up there. Get as many clients in as you could in a day and get them done quickly. Now, I don’t feel I need publication saying ‘I’m the best and you need to come to me!’ You need to see someone you’re comfortable with, someone you mesh well with. If that’s me, awesome! If it’s not, that’s okay too! I want to be available to clients who have questions about application, extensions maintenance, or whatever they want to ask. I have my number listed on my Instagram for easy access to me as well which I think nowadays is more convenient for people. I try to share parts of who I am and a peek inside my personal life on social media so people can see me as a person, not just a stylist. I try to be relatable and I think people appreciate that. I love all my clients and am so happy they chose me to put their trust in.      

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Opal.mane___
• Other: [email protected]