Rising Stars: Meet Camryn Parker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Camryn Parker. 

Hi Camryn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
First off, thank you so much for choosing me to be a part of this! I knew I didn’t want to go to college as soon as I started high school. I always loved learning but hated the testing side of things. Thankfully, my older sister’s best friend started hair school around the same time I was entering high school— and it blew my mind. I loved the idea of doing something creative every day without having to go to college for 4+ years! She was gracious enough to let me shadow her around the salon all throughout high school, so I had a lot of experience before starting cosmetology school. Although my interest stemmed from not wanting to go to college, my love for doing hair has grown into something a lot more special to me. It’s a really rewarding feeling knowing I’m helping someone feel more beautiful and confident in their own skin. My business mantra is to help my clients feel like the best version of themselves! 

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?
Definitely not! And if you know me personally, you’re laughing at this question. I started hair school in August of 2019 and was on track to graduate May 2020— until Covid hit. Once the initial shutdown happened, almost every educator at my school quit, so once we were allowed to reopen, we didn’t have anyone to teach us. The school ended up being shut down for about 8 months in total, but after 4 or 5, I (along with a few other students) was finally able to convince State Board to transfer our hours to another local school! When it was all said and done, what should’ve taken 9 months ended up taking 15 months! Even through all of the closures, I never doubted this was the career I wanted to pursue— and I’m glad it’s paying off now! 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a hairstylist who specializes in effortless, lived-in hair color. My focus is on creating color that looks amazing months after you’ve been in the salon. I would say I’m most known for my love for brunettes! There are plenty of stylists who specialize in blondes, so I’ve found my niche in catering to brunettes. I’m really proud of my attention to detail for my clients. I approach every appointment with a fresh outlook— never wanting to do the exact same thing twice! 

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
So many people! Most of all, I have to thank my incredible boyfriend, Mason. He is my #1 fan and biggest support in everything that I do. I wouldn’t be where I’m at without him! I’m thankful to be with someone who loves me the way he does. I have to give a shout-out to Emily Westerbeck (who is currently a stylist at High Five) who was the first person to inspire me to become a hairstylist! She has been so encouraging to me over the years and is always a phone call away for any questions I have about the industry! 

I also need to give my BFF, Sonne, some recognition. We met in hair school and have quite literally been though every step of this journey together! She has been and continues to be, an important part of my support system. She’s also one of my work neighbors now as a nail technician at Spruce Nail Shop! 

The list could truly go on forever. I believe life isn’t intended to be done alone, and I’m very thankful to have so many amazing people in my corner! 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/_glamcam

Image Credits
Annie Ryan Photography