Meet Mia Lawson | Hairstylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mia Lawson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mia, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
Oftentimes clients don’t realize how much thought and chemistry goes into hair color. We love to seem like miracle workers, but really, it’s just science. Say a client with dark brown hair comes in and they want blonde highlights, we have to think through whether or not bleach is eating through previous color. If it is, then we have to prepare to counteract the color the hair lifts to. If it’s not, we’re able to lift the hair to a lighter tone, but then we have to get the blonde to the right blonde. It all comes down to having a good consultation and knowing color theory. So , when we spend a little while at the back mixing color it’s probably because we’re thinking through the million different ways to get to one color.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The hair business is a lot tougher than I thought it’d be and with our dependence on social media we’ve had to become social media managers in addition to hairstylists. Thankfully, before hair school I got three years into a communications degree (I finished it after hair school), so I had an idea of what to do. Building clientele isn’t easy. It takes time, consistent results, and a lot of trial and error. Through word of mouth and beautiful hair pictures I’ve been able to get people into my chair, but the real work comes once they’re there. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that a smile and a curious attitude makes all the difference. Approaching consultations or life stories with a curious heart draws out so much truth. I can’t read minds and so I ask questions.

I’d like the world to know that my aim is to listen to understand, reach your dream hair in the safest way possible for your hair, and to be a smile on a tough day. I love hearing my clients’ stories and I’m honored to be a person to brainstorm with, vent to, or just sit in silence with.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Food wise we’d be visiting Marietta Pizza Co. it’s a must anytime anyone visits. We’d go to a classic—the Varsity. And we’d visit the Zoo to see all the animals. We’d hike Kennesaw Mountain and take a trip over to Stone Mountain where we’d make sure to get some fudge. And we’d probably go catch a game at Mercedes Benz—football or soccer depending on the season.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Samantha Hernandez is currently a stylist in Columbia, SC and she mentored me more than she realizes. My color confidence comes from her and how often she let me pester her with questions. Additionally, Courtney Squires who is a stylist in Mobile, AL was my hairstylist and friend who convinced me to go to hair school. These two women have had a huge impact on my career.

Instagram: @MiaLawson_hair

Facebook: Mia Lawson-Hairstylist