We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kiara Carmon a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kiara, we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
The biggest thing I learned since being diagnosed with depression is that our brain has a tendency to lie to us, especially when things are going great. Any challenge with mental health can cause us to forget how far we’ve come and all that we have. That’s why it is important for us to recognize those lies and refuel them with something good, positive, and most importantly true. I persist, despite the challenges, by leaning on God and expressing gratitude in all areas of my life, big or small. There are definitely times where I have fallen off and forgotten to lean on Him but I take those moments to find ways to practice intentionality by deliberately setting aside time to connect during the good and rough times to enhance or restore my joy. That has not only helped me maintain mental stability, but I have noticed that this habit has rolled over into my life as a stylist as well. I make sure to intentionally show up for my clients the best way that I can whether it be setting aside time to check my bookings for the week on my days off, studying and practicing techniques for upcoming appointments, signing up for any training or class that I find so I can continuously grow, and allowing a full 24 hours to myself once a week so that I can recharge and show up as my best self for my clients.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
On January 28, 2023 I graduated from cosmetology school and received my license of cosmetology shortly after. I am now a stylist at Ulta Beauty’s Salon in Citrus Park where I offer a variety of services behind the chair such as curly cuts, blow outs, braiding, formal & everyday makeup, regular & dimensional color applications, and so much more! What excites me most is styling, cutting, and maintaining curly hair. As a curl specialist, I am currently in the process of receiving additional certifications in all forms of curly cuts – I have already started by training with Ulta’s Academy! I also get excited when I have clients that come in and request to have their hair and makeup done. Having the opportunity to provide multiple services to a client to achieve their desired outcome is not only a blessing to me but it also makes the lives of my clients easier because they don’t have to go through the trouble of finding more than one person to accomplish what they desire. Due to this experience, I am now excited to announce that I will be offering Bridal services and I am more than willing to travel to provide anything my clients need. More information will be posted on my social media platforms and my website soon, you can find all immediate updates posted on my Instagram page @arkadiaxstudios !
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
First, I want to start off with a little advice for those early in their journey. If this is truly your passion, don’t give up. It may be rough for some time but perseverance builds character and resilience. A full clientele may not always happen right off the bat but please trust that your clients are coming! Perseverance got me through a lot during my journey, especially being that the road to becoming a licensed cosmetologist is far from cheap. There were many times where I questioned which I would lose first, my spot in school or the roof over my head because both were equally as expensive. Honestly, I was ready to let cosmetology school go so I could afford my rent but I am glad I didn’t because of my faith. Without my faith, every obstacle I faced would have knocked me down completely and I would not be living out my dreams today because I soon learned that no matter what, even when the numbers don’t line up, God ALWAYS makes a way. I understand that now more than I ever have before. Lastly, and it may sound cliche, but patience is truly a virtue. Cosmetology school may feel long and dreadful at times, especially when you are basically paying to work for free as you build your knowledge in the industry, but it will be over before you know it and every hour and dollar spent will have been worth it! Once you’re behind the chair, there may be days that are slow but there WILL be days that are fully booked as long as you remain patient, keep the faith, and persevere despite the imposter syndrome you might feel or what you overhear from the naysayers. Before you know it, you’ll be servicing clients you rebooked and will see that your clientele has already been building–it just takes time.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Unfortunately, my confidence wavers often because of perfectionism. Living in a world full of aesthetics and instant gratification makes authenticity feel unrealistic and even fraudulent at times. I personally struggle with feeling as though everything I do has to be perfect to be seen in order to be seen. I would always wonder if I was doing enough until I was informed many times that I am an inspiration for other stylists out there. It was unbelievable to me at first because of all of the negative thoughts I allowed my brain to harbor. Now, I make it my mission to continue to inspire others through showing my vulnerable moments, being transparent, and even showcasing my mistakes to prove that nobody in this industry – in this world – is perfect. All in all, I learned to stop taking things personally because it did nothing but hold me back and made me doubt myself. So I keep striving, whether I am seen or not, because I’m not doing this for clout, to get rich quick, or to prove that I am better than anyone. I am doing this to change lives by being an agent of change in the beauty industry to break boundaries for true inclusion and diversity.
Contact Info:
- Website: hairbyarkadia.com
- Instagram: arkadiaxstudios
- Facebook: Hair By arKadia
- Youtube: arkadiaxstudios
- Other: Link to buy makeup and skin care products: https://arkadia.seintofficial.com/en/shop/party-380450/new-releases
Image Credits
Personal Photo by Stretch Life Visuals
