HEATHER LYNN BEAUTY
STARTED BEAUTY SCHOOL
JANUARY 2020
I made the big decision to chase my dream of becoming a hairstylist- and I was all in. I started the full-time day program at WCTC's cosmetology school, met some amazing people, and dove headfirst into learning everything I could. For the first time, I felt like I had found my calling... and I was ready to make it happen.
BEAUTY SCHOOL WENT ONLINE
MARCH 13, 2020
Yikes... yep. Enter COVID. Learning to cut, color, and style hair online? Sounds impossible, right? But somehow, we made it work- with Zoom calls, mannequin heads, and a whole lot of patience. We'd hold our mannequin heads up to the camera, trying to get the perfect angle (and not drop them in the process). Once we realized that maybe that wasn't the best method, we leaned into theory- color, texture, history of hair, barbering, skin and nail disorders, you name it. Not exactly what we signed up for... but we made it through.
FINALLY BACK IN PERSON
JUNE 1, 2020
We were finally back in person... just in time for a million exams. As soon as we returned, it was go-time. Everything we had learned online? We were tested on it. No pressure. But I was so happy to get back to real people (and real hair)- nothing against my mannequin, of course. Having that hands-on experience again felt like a breath of fresh air, and it reminded me why I started this journey in the first place.
GRADUATING BEAUTY SCHOOL
DECEMBER 2020
We did it! We graduated... well, sort of. The ceremony was virtual (basically a glorified power point), and somehow half of us didn't even have our names called. But hey- I still got my diploma and a royal blue beanie, so I'm counting that as a win. It wasn't the send-off I dreamed of, but it marked the beginning of something even better: the start of my career doing what I love.
TAKING THE LICENSING EXAMS
FEBRUATY 2021
Graduating was one thing- but now it was time for the real test.
The written exam? Brutal. I'm talking 3-4 hours of staring at a screen, getting quizzed on everything from hair, skin and nail diseases to what massage movements to use during a facial and beyond. And the practical? Even worse. We were crammed into a room like mice being stalked by hawks- every move watched, every technique analyzed. But somehow, some way I passed them both. And just like that, I was officially licensed.
STARTING AT MY FIRST SALON
MARCH 2021
I thought I had found the perfect salon. Beautiful space, great people, amazing energy. I was so excited to get started and begin learning from such talented pros. But behind the scenes, my personal life started unraveling- my mom was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. It hit hard. She's strong (and I knew she'd fight like hell), but it still took a toll on me. My motivation dipped, my mind was elsewhere, and I just wasn't fully showing up at work. I was distracted. And honestly? Not giving it my all.
PERSONAL LIFE HIT #2
APRIL 2021
Just as we started adjusting to my mom's treatment schedule, life threw another punch. My dad had been having some breathing issues- nothing major, we thought- but after a bronchoscopy, we got the news; he had a tumor blocking 90% of his airway. And it was cancerous.
He went through surgery after surgery to get it removed (thankfully successfully), and today he's healthy and strong. But at the time? It felt like life was on pause.
LEAVING AT MY FIRST SALON
END OF JULY 2021
With everything going on at home, my focus at work had slipped- and it didn't go unnoticed. My boss sat me down and told me I had some growing to do. She wasn't wrong. It still hurt, but I understood. I was let go, and for the first time, I had to ask myself: what now?
Do I give up or figure it out?
FINDING THE RENTAL SALON
AUGUST 2021
There was this salon near my childhood neighborhood that I'd driven past a hundred times but never gone into. I didn't know the stylists, didn't know if renting would be a smart idea ofter losing my first salon job... but I went for it. I knew I'd have to work my butt off. I had to promote myself, find clients, join Facebook groups, and start from scratch. No one was going to had it to me. But for the first time in a long time, I felt ready.
GETTING FOUND BY THE WATERS
FEBRUARY 2025
I had seen the building go up- a brand new senior living community. Honestly, I didn't think much of it at the time other than thinking that the building was pretty. But then I got a call from a family friend saying they were looking for a hairstylist with availability.
I figured, what's the harm in checking it out?
So I did. And I'm so glad I did.
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From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with kindness. Some of the sweetest seniors I've ever met said hello to me in the hallway, and the staff welcomed me with warmth and smiles. Still, I had to ask myself the big question:
Would it be worth leaving the salon where things were finally going well? It was time to decide.
TAKING THE JOB
FEBRUARY 2025
I won't lie- this was a tough choice. I had a good thing going at my previous salon. But I also knew I was ready for something more. I had started seriously thinking about buying a house, and I needed to grow both personally and financially to get there.
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If I'm being honest, my income at the time wasn't going to cut it for the goals I had. So I took the job.
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And now? I couldn't be happier. The staff, residents and their families- everyone has been so kind and supportive. It feels like I found more than just a job here.
I'm proud to be a small part of the Waters family.