Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Zoe Ziegler. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Zoe, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
Beauty school played a major role in helping me build the foundation of my craft, but just a few months in, COVID hit—and it set me back quite a bit. Despite the challenges, I kept showing up. The real growth, however, began once I was fully behind the chair in a salon.
I naturally had a talent for doing hair, but I knew there was plenty of room to improve. Unfortunately, education wasn’t a priority at my first salon, so I took it into my own hands. I spent countless hours watching videos and studying different techniques to become better and more efficient at my work. I applied what I learned on the job and practiced consistently until I truly mastered each skill.
One thing I’ve learned is that in this industry, you’re never done learning. Staying current with trends and techniques is essential, so now I make it a priority to attend every class I can. Education has become a constant part of my journey—and one I’m deeply committed to.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My path into the beauty industry was anything but traditional. Growing up, I was always in love with the beauty world—but my focus was mostly on makeup. Hair wasn’t really on my radar at all. After high school, I took a completely different route and joined a missionary program. I definitely stood out as the black sheep—the one obsessed with fashion and makeup in a group that wasn’t.
During that time, I traveled to Thailand and worked with an organization that helped women transition out of the sex trade by teaching them valuable skills like baking, cooking, and hair. One day, someone in my group said something that stuck with me: “You should learn how to do hair and makeup professionally and come back to teach these women.” That moment hit me hard.
When I returned home, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I started researching what it would take to enter the beauty industry—and before long, I enrolled in beauty school. From there, I never looked back. It was the best decision I’ve ever made.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding part of what I do is bringing people’s visions to life. There’s something so special about when someone sits in my chair, shows me a photo, and says, “Can you make this happen?”—and then seeing their entire face light up when I do. That moment brings me more joy than anything else.
I think back to when I was younger, doing the exact same thing—bringing in pictures and hoping someone could make that vision real. Being able to be that person for someone else now means everything to me.
Hair is such a big part of many people’s identity. Helping someone feel confident, seen, and comfortable in their own skin is a kind of joy that’s hard to put into words. It’s truly what fuels my passion for this work.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
It’s important to remember that hairstylists are people too—just like everyone else, we’re trying to make a living and navigate life. Too often, our work is undervalued or misunderstood. There’s a common assumption that our job is easy because we “just play with hair all day,” but the reality is very different. This career comes with its own set of challenges—mentally, physically, and emotionally.
We’re frequently questioned about our pricing, and sometimes even criticized for it. But what many don’t realize is that hair is a luxury service, not a necessity. This is our livelihood—our income. The prices we charge reflect the time, skill, education, and care we put into our work, and they help us pay our bills, just like anyone else.
All we ask is for a little understanding and respect for the craft and the people behind it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://msha.ke/sheardesignsbyzo
- Instagram: @sheardesignsbyzo
Image Credits
professional photo of me: @nikkihancockphoto