We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Fatima Fares. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Fatima below.
Hi Fatima, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
I think I’ve always been a very optimistic person, growing up I didn’t have a lot but I always knew there was more to come. I never gave up hope for better, I never gave up hope for my future. I just knew that if I worked really hard I could get through anything. I am a firm believer that if you want something bad enough you will achieve it. The desire to do better has to be greater than your comfort level. I think we as humans get comfortable and it’s easier to stay in that space because it’s what you know, but once you step outside, your comfort level is when you start to achieve your goals.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I started out in the hair industry in 2007. I knew I always wanted to become a stylist. It was my dream since I was a kid. This industry is forever changing and it’s so exciting to learn new skills of this craft. I believe education is super important no matter what level you are at education is key. I am So inspired daily by a lot of amazing artists. I love working backstage, styling hair has always been my favorite. This career has given me such an amazing creative outlet. I truly feel happiest when I’m doing hair. I love working with curly hair texture, as someone with curly hair it was always hard to find someone that could work with my texture so I wanted to specialize in that because I know how difficult it was going into a salon and trusting somebody with my curls. I understand what hair means to people. It’s not about the hair that’s on the floor, It’s about what’s left on the head and how you utilize that. Something that’s also super important to me is giving back to the community, A lot of people can’t afford to get their hair done so I like to volunteer my time and skill for people who can’t.
I feel grateful I get to do this for a living. I have been super passionate about this for as long as I can remember. I’ve been fortunate to work with amazing stylists that have taught me so much along the way, I’m grateful for all the people that I’ve met every time somebody shares a story with me in my chair and trusts me with their hair I feel honored.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think being a people person has helped me a lot in this career. I understand people from all walks of life. I think when consulting with somebody about their hair it’s important to get to know them on a deeper level as well to understand them and what they want.
Upgrading your skills constantly is the best advice I can give to any stylist really. As soon as you think you know everything is when you stop learning anything.
Sometimes we get comfortable in doing what we know. My advice would be to step outside that comfort zone and start taking in clients with hair texture that you are not familiar with. It helps when you’re starting out to have some friends and family who are willing to let you experiment on their hair! Doing is learning and mistakes are mandatory for growth.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I would love to meet new people for collaborations/partnerships. I love meeting new makeup artists, hair stylists, photographers, designers, models, clients/people from all over the world. It takes a village! My Instagram handle is hairby_fatima That’s where I typically communicate with people, I can’t wait to meet you!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: hairby_fatima
