We were lucky to catch up with Stephanie Otoya recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Stephanie with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
When it comes to my work ethic, it’s pretty simple – it all comes from my immigrant parents. They are the definition of hard work.
Growing up, I watched them build a life from the ground up, facing challenges with a resilience I’ll always admire. They didn’t just tell me to work hard; they showed me what it meant every single day. I learned from them that you have to be resourceful, get creative when you hit a wall, and never give up on what you’re trying to build.
Their journey taught me that success isn’t given to you; it’s something you have to earn through dedication and grit. That’s the mindset they instilled in me, and it’s the foundation of everything I do today.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Thanks so much for having me! A smidge about me: I am a mom, art enthusiast, artist, business owner, and hairstylist. In July of 2024, I started my solo business journey in Lindenwood Park called Velvet Magnetic Hair Co. We are an open-concept hair salon/barbershop providing quality professional hair services for all hair types. We specialize in creating a welcoming, inclusive, and safe space for people to express themselves through their hair. My team and I focus on delivering not only exceptional technical skill but also a personalized and compassionate experience for everyone who walks through our door.
Each hairstylist/barber provides their own unique services based on their area of expertise and simply, what they enjoy doing. Currently, I primarily focus my time on haircuts of all kinds while our other stylist focuses more on color services (vivids, color corrections, blonding, all-over colors) as well as haircuts, of course.
I recently just added two new services to my service menu that I’m really excited about: “The Donation Haircut” and the “Comfort Cut &; Shave”. We recently partnered with the non-profit organization, Children With Hair Loss, who provide human hair replacements to children and young adults at no cost facing medically-related hair loss. We help individuals prepare and cut their hair to be donated to this awesome organization. It’s a meaningful way for our clients to make a tangible difference in someone’s life, and it reinforces our belief that a haircut can be a beautiful act of kindness.
“Comfort Cut & Shave” is a service specifically designed for individuals undergoing chemotherapy who are facing hair loss. It includes a gentle, all-over head shave or buzzcut, performed with the utmost care and in a supportive environment. We are proud to offer this service at no cost to the individual undergoing chemo.
Velvet Magnetic Hair Co. is also a registered salon with two non-profit organizations: “Strands for Trans” and “Hair Has No Gender”. Both organizations are networks that identifies and maps salons and barbershops that are welcoming to transgender clients and provide gender-neutral hair services.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Adaptability, Client Empathy, and Learning/Training.
My advice for those just starting out is to embrace every challenge as a learning opportunity. When something doesn’t go as planned, don’t just fix it – take a moment to understand why it happened. Talk to mentors, practice on mannequins, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
When it comes to empathy, make it a habit to truly listen. Ask open-ended questions and pay attention to body language. Remember that sometimes people just need to talk, and being a good listener builds trust faster than any product.
And finally, for learning, dedicate a small amount of time each week to it. Whether it’s watching/studying a tutorial, attending a Look & Learn, or practicing a new technique, consistency is key. Never think you’ve learned it all, because the next big thing in this industry is just around the corner.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
Great question. I do a few things, not always all of them, depending on the scenario. When I feel overwhelmed, the first thing I do is recognize that that is what I am feeling and why. Then I take a few deep, slow, mindful breaths. There are a few things that I remind myself in these moments: “This too shall pass”, “this is only temporary”, and “this does not define me nor my worth”. Also, I look inward and see if there is anything that my body physically needs, like food or hydration, then cater to. Sometimes, we just need to slow down and have a drink of water. Lastly, I remind myself that big goals aren’t achieved in one day. So, focus on today’s 10% shift. It’s just not realistic to make a 100% shift in one day. We need to give ourselves some grace.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.velvetmagnetichairco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/velvet_magnetic_hair/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VelvetMagneticHair
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/velvet-magnetic-hair-saint-louis
Image Credits
Chris Bauer
