Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Samantha Padilla. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Samantha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

Canvas Creations.

Whatever is in front of me is my, Canvas.
I’m the Creator.

Samantha, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

With the New Year approaching I couldn’t understand why this year in particular felt so daunting. Well, with some simple subtraction. I realized – oh crap, my 10 year high school reunion is quickly approaching.

Graduation marked the end of the structure of high school and we were all pushed out into the real world, ready or not.

I knew I wanted to be a hair stylist in high school (maybe even before) but… in 2013 the industry wasn’t what it is today. So when graduation came around, and I was offered a softball scholarship I signed and did what it seemed like everyone else was doing, going to college. To make a long story short, I dropped out before my first year was over. I entered the workforce and the world of adulting quickly began to close in around me.

I was working two jobs and after taking a year off, I reenrolled at a community college.
But’s face it… college isn’t for everyone. I don’t know if it was the idea of being in school for another 2-4 years or the traditional learning setting didn’t appeal to me. But I spent more time staring out the window daydreaming about what it would be like to work at a fancy salon than paying attention to my professor. I dropped out again.

Living on your own at 19… and having no true idea of how expensive the world really was, bills piled up faster than I could blink. Getting paid $13/hr wasn’t cutting it. I had spent most of the money I had for college on the classes I did take. The reality was I had no money to pay my bills, no money to pursue what I knew my dream was all along, which was to go to cosmetology school. I felt like I had completely derailed my life at 18 years old. Before I knew it 7 years had gone by, perpetually stuck in the struggle. My dream might have gotten lost in all the chaos but it never went away.

January of 2020. Everything changed, my son was born. And at even just a few hours old, I was staring at my him wondering who he would grow up to be then I asked myself, “What kind of example would I be setting for my son if I never even tried to pursue my dreams?”

“Once upon a time you were a small child with big dreams that you promised you’d make real one day. Don’t disappoint yourself.” -Unknown

I grabbed my laptop, applied for FAFSA and every grant I was qualified for and began touring cosmetology schools. Walking through the doors I knew immediately I was where I was meant to be. 1500 hours, was all that stood in the way between me and my dream. I graduated from Paul Mitchell Denver at the top of my class in June of this year and began my career at She Loves Hair Salon in Westminster.

Now I get to combine my dream with the skills I gathered along the way: to help others make their dreams come to life, whether that be your dream hair or taking your business to the next level.

I know that there are times in all of our lives when we think to ourselves that some things are just impossible. But the difference between long term success and failure is the reaction to it.

It all starts with a dream. What’s your dream?

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson that I had to unlearn is that I am not a victim of my circumstances, but a product of my choices.

Everyone of us faces obstacles in life. No one ever promised life would be easy.
The way we choose to respond to life’s obstacles determines whether we have the attitude of a survivor or a victim.
Circumstances, situations and catastrophes are opportunities for decisions that we can either allow to hold us back or move forward in life.

I wallowed in my self-pity for 8 years too long. I convinced myself that the choices made were definite. But I’m here to tell you they, are not. Think good thoughts. Speak good words. Take good actions. Three simple steps that have brought me more than I could ever imagine.

I put my head down, focused up for two years, and I changed my life. What could two years do for you?

Does your business have multiple or supplementary revenue streams (like a ATM machine at a barbershop, etc)?

The hair industry has come a long way since I graduated in 2013. In 2015, social media completely changed the game, #livedinhair. Face framing highlights and beachy waves swept the nation and it’s never been the same since. Posting online allows people from all over the world to see your content, but just uploading a couple pictures here and there is not enough to stand out. I began researching social media trends, marketing techniques, and began building my own website to showcase my brand.

Being creative + helping others are my passion. I have many creative outlets that helped me grow in my career and build out other areas that excite me within my industry and others.

Do you own a small business and feel like you need to be more accessible online and visible on social media but don’t have the time? I can help!

Are you in cosmetology school and the idea of the State Board scares the crap out of you? Did you know… nationwide less than 50% of people pass and receive their license to practice? The test isn’t impossible, but it is hard. I’ve developed what I truly believe is the best study guide out there that houses the most important need to know material all in one place.
-100+ flash cards to study on the go.
-300+ questions included in 9 different practice tests tailored to be most similar to the questions given on test day.

Visit my website to find links to portfolios, etc.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.canvascreations.art/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairby.samanthap/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hairby.samanthap
• Other: tiktok: s_manthap

Image Credits
Megan Padilla Briana Sanchez