Life & Work with Marisa Atwood of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marisa Atwood.

Hi Marisa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been a licensed cosmetologist for 17 years now, attaining my training and license through my high school career-tech school Pickaway Ross CTC in 2009. I always knew I wanted to work in a creative field and environment that I was able to fully be myself and to welcome others to do the same!

Growing up going to the salon was a treat and something I looked forward to for weeks. I always thought it was so fascinating to enhance your looks and be able to express yourself through your hair with just a single appointment all while feeling rejuvenated. When given the opportunity to attend the Cosmetology program it was a no-brainer for me & I never wanted to waste that opportunity or take it for granted!

Over the year’s I’ve worked in 4 different salon’s with lots of different stylists servicing many different types of hair. In 2019 I landed in Deacon Hair Co. where I’m still part of the team. I was drawn to DHC because the mission was different from any other salon I’d been a part of. While our intention is to always do our best while keeping the integrity of the hair DHC also valued our connection with not only one another but our clients and community too. Focusing on giving the highest quality overall experience – not just great hair. Girl gang was something cutesy and catchy at the time but after attending some continuous education classes at DHC I could tell Sarah the owner truly meant it. At DHC everyone has a voice and is seen. At this point in my career these are my core values that are non-negotiable and I’m so thankful to have the space and other stylists to support that in one another.

Last year I was given the opportunity to rent a more private studio in our second location to fulfill even more of my dreams! I run a vintage resell shop out of part of it and am able to have more intimate appointments with clients addressing more personal hair challenges or clients who need a one on one appointment. It’s given me the chance to focus on crown chakra work, trauma haircuts, and help navigate through the emotions of a fresh start appointment. I do believe our hair holds our energy, memories, and emotions. I believe it stores what we’ve been through both heavy and light. Sometimes transformations can bring out emotions and feelings we didn’t realize were dormant. Being in a studio has given me and my clients the privacy to release what is no longer serving us and a fresh start inside and out.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been the smoothest road but like most things worth fighting for they’re often on the other side of a hardship. I had a lot of fun during my training but also a lot of struggles. One of my instructors didn’t enjoy my company as I didn’t hers so it was definitely a time for me to shift my focus on the long – term dream instead of the day to day annoyances. This was my first lesson in working so intimately with others- sometimes you’re simply not going to be someone’s cup of tea and that’s okay! Luckily I had two other teacher’s (Mrs. Marriott & Ms Miele) who helped support me in seeing this dream through to the end & I cannot thank either of them enough!

Starting my career and believing in myself was my next battle that came as a lot to juggle & understand but I continued to believe in my decision to be my own boss. At this time so often I would have clients complaining about their days or being called into work which only fueled my passion for more freedom in my own life. Like any independent career you have good months financially and bad months financially. I had to learn to prepare for those. I’ve had to learn to set healthy boundaries not only for myself but my clients and environment as-well. As everyone knows setting boundaries is not always the comfortable conversation or position to take but so necessary.

Opening a studio brought on more learning curves than I thought were possible. There’s so many more responsibilities I minimized until I was the one who had to deal with them in a timely manor. I really didn’t think running a storefront, cleaning schedule, product orders, and scheduling clients on top of my day to day work behind the chair just to name a few was going to be as time consuming as it has been. While I do enjoy it I have had to learn how to make it all a healthy routine and remind myself to be thankful for these problems! I am fulfilling many of my dreams and I’m so lucky to get to be the one with these responsibilities although they do feel heavy sometimes!

Through the years I’ve had to learn to manage finances, juggle all the roles a stylist holds, and refilling my own cup that I so often pour from. I’ve still not mastered this but each year it gets a little better and I learn a little more.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Over the years my goals behind the chair have shifted to accommodate life. Starting out I was really excited to do fun fashion hair colors then I as I grew into a softer and slow paced life I shifted my work to a low maintenance blended style of coloring.

After Covid I started sitting in my own natural hair color and started valuing a good haircut over color changes so naturally I started educating myself on more versatile hair cuts and technique’s.

At this time I’ve got a steady amount of clientele that range from root retouches, blended low maintenance color, to precision cuts.

My favorite services to offer are haircuts! I feel like so much of our industry is focused on haircolor -don’t get me wrong rightfully so it’s an art but I believe a good haircut is too and would go as far as to say a good haircut is the foundation of a good color execution.

I feel like our hair is so much more than a style. I believe in many ways it can be our first impression to others and show’s what we’re going through on the inside good or bad. While not everyone enjoys or wants to color their hair at this time I enjoy having a seat for those clients who don’t and valuing their appointment time with just as much intention to detail as color appointments so often receive.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory is being a child itself. I miss that oblivious feeling of no concept of time or the weight of hurt and pain that comes through life’s experiences. I miss the feeling of just being present and the most important thing being what I’m currently in the middle of. I miss when life was simplistic and all the lost loved ones still in good health. When I recall those feelings the memories that come to mind are family get together’s running barefoot through the fields collecting lightening bugs and wildflowers. Making potions from creek water and grass clippings. Playing dress up in what I always thought was the fanciest fabrics with my childhood friend Crystal to put on our Spice Girls concert on her fireplace ledge. Riding bikes and taking hikes through Tar Hollow State Park. It’s hard to pick just a single memory when really it’s those feelings I miss most!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.DeaconHairCo.com
• Instagram: @MarisaAOhio
• Facebook: Marisa A Hair