Meet Alexandra Medel

We recently connected with Alexandra Medel and have shared our conversation below.

Alexandra , so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

It’s something I work on everyday. There are days I feel confident and beautiful. That I can do anything. I feel like I’m shinning.

Then I have days I don’t feel confident and my self esteem isn’t there; those are the days I have to push myself.

A long time ago I accepted my humanness.

I have lymphedema in my right leg. I wear my bandages and compressions like my second skin…

It’s me constantly learning to love myself in all my imperfections.

My insecurities about my leg, I’ve had opportunities to work with brands. Do photo shoots showing beauty in my imperfections.

The days I’m not feeling that confident is the moments I’m scared.
I pray about it. I give myself grace.. & then I show up. I give it my all.

That has helped me grow. Doing hard things..

I’m terrified of heights. I jumped out of a plain to prove to myself I can do something that scares me.

I wouldn’t want to do it again. It was an experience that I showed myself my mind was stronger then my feelings..

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I help people feel their best.. lol
I love to say, “hair is an antenna”
Our hair speaks to the world before we do.

In a work title, I am a barber and extension artist. Lol

A haircut and extensions are two ways to change your look.

I love transformations. Seeing a client see their finished looked. Their smiles and eyes get big with excitement.

I’ve had a father once come back for me to cut his hair and thank me for giving his son his confidence back. after our appointment his son didn’t wear a hat for the first time in years.

People come to me for extensions for many reasons. They want longer hair or thicker hair, I do the toppers for people experiencing thinning.

I love seeing their energy when I finish their extensions and they have their new look.

I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to cut hair at festivals backstage in the artist lounge.. music and cutting hair merged together, I have to give thanks to God for these opportunities. For not letting me give up on myself.

I am an educator with curl cult. I had just finished beauty school. Hairbrained was having a show. The founder of curl cult was having a contest for two tickets to the show. I entered and won.

I met the curl queen that day. She was just the sweetest human. I saw her on stage do a curl cult perm. It’s definitely not your grandma’s perm. Fell in love with curly hair. After being licensed and working for a few months I arched out to the company. Had an interview with the director of education. She was appreciative in my excitement. I didn’t have the experience yet. She let me come to the class to watch.

I knew I could do this. I did my best to show them I would be a good educator for their brand. She trained me and gave me a chance.

My heart won’t let me quit. A large cup of cafecito helps fuel me too lol

I’m currently working on partnering with brands & doing more photo shoots to help share a different view with lymphedema. Differences are beautiful.

It’s not only affirmations and words we tell ourselves. We can actually believe it!

Growing in my art as a barber. Hoping to show people that no matter what challenges or set backs there are, don’t give up. Like my favorite saying,” Resilience is the purest form of art.”

I’ll forever have a resilience heart.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I am stubborn. Getting started I was going through a lot of difficulties.

I was trying to get started. I was also over coming something.

I would cry myself to sleep at night I was so angry that I should be excited and focused, my entire life feels in pieces.

The timing wasn’t right. It was my moment. I felt all the feels and showed up.

My advice for people starting out would be, to find a mentor. Surround yourself with people who are doing what you want to do. Never forget your humanness…
Celebrate your smallest wins. They mater. No matter how small.
This journey is insane. It really is worth not giving up on yourself.

Be yourself.. don’t be afraid to show the world who you are. With social media we all try to show our best filtered parts. I connect more to people who are real.

I had a journalist friend tell me once,” there is a huge difference between venting and sharing your message.”

The challenge is finding how.

You are your brand. It doesn’t have to be filtered and well put together everyday. It just has to show who you are. Let your actions be the message & the reason people want to work with you.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I love this question! I am speaking it into existence.. lol

I would love to work with modeling companies and do more photo shoots for clothing brands and products..

I did a photo shoot for a lymph press company. It was such a fun experience. I love being in front of the camera. I don’t think about my imperfections and feel beautiful.

I would love to be an educator for an extension brand. Teach stylist how to add this service to their menu. I want to be a mentor for them.

After you take your certification course, you are on your own. It takes a lot of practice. I was lucky to have a friend in this business doing extensions to help me.

Not everyone has that. There was still times I felt lost. I want to be that person of support I needed for others starting out.

Cocco trimmers are one of my favorite trimmers right now.. those lines are crispier than a straight razor. I would love to learn more about their tools and work with them.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Iamalixrose