We were lucky to catch up with Tessa Scissorhands recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tessa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

Haha, is this a question to get someone to spill their family drama? Kidding, I’m kidding.

It started with my great grandfather, or maybe great-great grandfather. Our family had a hat store in New York, I joke that it’s why we’re all crazy artists (musicians mostly) with “Mad Hatters” disease. At the time, mercury was used in the glue to bind the hats together and would absorb into someones skin and over time mercury poisoning lead to people being crazy. Just a fun tidbit.

My grandparents had a business called The Eastern Cowboys. Along the South West they bought and traded Native American art state to state. My parents and uncles all joined the business at one point or another. Actually, Disney was a client of theirs, and my mom has her “employee” ticket stub from when they would go backstage for business.

My dad soon realized he couldn’t work with his parents anymore, and they left and created Arizona Custom Knives. My parents were often at trade shows with my knife maker “aunts and uncles.” It was fun to go to shows as a kid and see knife throwing, or the sword from Zorro. They sold the business in the early 2000’s and moved on to the next venture. Jewelry. Jewelry led to pens, with a few cases of knives. In 2019 my dad closed the pen store to retire. One year prior to COVID shut down.

I think seeing my parents, particularly my dad, own many successful businesses by himself – showed me that I could do it too. I worked many retail jobs, and had two salon jobs before I opened my own business independently. It was good for me to see the chance and possibility of success from a young age and it allowed me to not be scared to open up my own shop.

Tessa, 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?

First and foremost I am an artist. Hair is my canvas, hair color and extensions are my paint. I primarily paint bright colors and help make everyone into mermaids.

I am also an educator. I advocate for healthy hair above all else, and work only with brands that add to that aspect. I offer private one on one education sessions for stylists on color and extensions, as well as smaller intimate classes in my salon space.

Above all else, I knew I wanted to go into a field where I helped people. First it was psychology, then it was American Sign Language. But in the back of my head, and on top, I had always been interested in cosmetics. At 18 I toured the school I ended up going to 10 years later, but didn’t go at the time. I personally don’t think if I had started when I was 18, I would still be in it. I’ve seen how the industry has changed while working in other forms of the Beauty Industry and know that everything happens for a reason. I don’t think 18/20/24 year old Tessa would’ve been capable of handling the things that 28+ year old Tessa has been able to do and accomplish. I also probably would not have met my fiancé! We worked together in the technology industry prior to me entering the cosmetic industry. So I am thankful for the path I’ve walked to get here.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Oof. Social media is so……finicky. In under a year of consistent posting and engaging, I was able to grow to 10k followers! It seems silly but it was a fun milestone to reach. The amount of followers on social someone has doesn’t determine how their business is. Most of my audience is fellow hairdressers in the industry and enjoy my content.

When I was recently attending a L’Oreal event, I was stopped often by both hairdressers and corporate employees saying “oh my gosh are you Tessa Scissorhands? I love your content!” Honestly it was fun but I’m sure it could get to someones ego quickly. My response more often than not is “oh thank you, I am only human! It’s just social media!’ But I do love that it gives me a chance to connect with others in my industry.

Pointers:
– Consistent posting of engaging content!
– Connect with pain points your audience may have.
– Engage with comments and replies on previous posts, 5 minutes before you post something new.
– Be yourself! No one else can do that.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Online education has been extremely helpful. In school, you only learn really how to pass state board. I look up to @theplatinumgiraffe @crystalchaos @trionicshaircare @NinaTulio and more on social media. Learning more chemistry and color have helped me make my business what it is.

I think it’s important to know that other hairdressers are your community and collaborators, not your competition.

I would say if there are sources you look up to, see who they follow and advocate for an look up to and then see if there is education offered. Never stop learning.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.TessaScissorhands.com
• Instagram: @TessaScissorhands
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tessadoesyourhair
• Linkedin: Tessa Scissorhands
• Other: Book online via tessascissorhands.glossgenius.com

Image Credits
Tessa Scissorhands/Technicolor Salon LLC 2022-2023