My name is Shellie Vega, and I was born and raised in the borderland of El Paso, TX. Since 2012, I have called Austin, TX my home where I have been growing as a hair artist. I am a new mother to a beautiful baby girl named Jayde and have been in the hair industry going on 10 years now.
During that first moment walking into cosmetology school, I knew I had stepped foot into my future. I had this sense of belonging and excitement looking at the stations, the color bar and all the cool people with amazing hair. I knew this was exactly where I needed to be. I can honestly say I am as passionate about the hair world now as I was when I started cosmetology school. It’s been an amazing journey of educating myself and finding what really fueled my fire along the way. I’ve done a lot of growing to get to where I am in my career.
Being a hairstylist is not just a career; this is my passion. I view things on the brighter side and have a love for all things color, including mermaid and unicorn hair transformations. Inspiration is not just about what I can visually see but also the connection that is gained through working with my clients. The ability to create a look tailored to each individual person that makes them feel confident about themselves is such a special part of what I get to do. Along with that, I get to create a unique piece of art by using hair as my canvas. Utilizing vibrant fashion colors gives me a creative freedom that brings out the true artist in me.
Another special aspect of my career is not only working behind the chair but also educating fellow hair artists. I’ve been given the amazing opportunity to educate with Pulp Riot, which was a huge goal and accomplishment of mine. I now get to share my knowledge and passion with other artists who want to continue to grow and perfect their art in the industry. I love getting to interact with others and showcase techniques that get them excited about doing hair.
Now in this age of social media, education is all around us. It has become a great tool to not only market yourself but also connect with other artists from around the world. I utilize social media to stay motivated, gain inspiration and learn about different trends in all different areas.
The best piece of advice I would share with the new generation of hair artists is to set your goals, visualize where you want to be in the hair industry and keep your dreams alive. If you can see it, you can do it. Even if you don’t quite have the clientele yet and aren’t exactly where you want to be, just keep pushing and keep that fire burning. With dedication, consistency, hard work and passion, you can achieve your goals and become that successful artist you dream about.
