Oliva has been employed at a salon since she was 13 years old and
has always been stimulated by the hairstylists around her, who at the time were the finest in the industry. As soon as she started the salon Oliva was constantly booking up freelance jobs and recognized the need to create a brand for herself. Eventually she wanted to turn her company into an agency, where she would have freelance artists available to work on celebrities, concerts, events and weddings. "As of
right now, I currently have 10 hair and makeup artists working under the OMG
name and on a day to daybasis and get asked by potential artists to join the
ever growing OMG team." - Oliva Smalley
HH: What your favorite Hotheads Hair Extension colors?
OS: I have a partial opinion toward blondes considering I am
one, but by far number 24 is my favorite. It’s what I refer to as true “baby
blonde.”
HH: Is there anyone that you would like to work with whom you
haven't yet?
OS: Yes! By far my favorite person I would love to work with
would be Jennifer Laurence, I feel like we would be best friends!
HH: Do you think this is a skill that successful beauty
professionals are born with or is it one that can to be cultivated and
perfected?
OS: I can honestly say anyone can train to apply makeup and curl
hair but it takes a genuine artist to produce magic, to engineer face-altering
techniques with contouring and highlighting and create unbelievable designs
with solitary strands of hair. The difference between ordinary and extraordinary
is exercising your mind on a daily basis and becoming inspired. It’s possible
for all but it may come easier to some than others.
HH: How can young men and women who are aspiring to work in the
beauty industry begin their journey?
OS: First step is always schooling, ask around to other stylist
where they went and get recommendations. Now depending on your financial
situation, this will determine your next step. Explore hair/makeup idols in the
area to reach out to and see if they employ assistants and gain as much
exposure and experience as possible. Don’t keep your eggs in one basket. Ask
around considering some artists are not consistently busy enough on a weekly
schedule. Go on YouTube and educate yourself, I will tell you 50% of my
knowledge is based off this site; the other 50% is my experience and coaching.
Your other option is to find a position in a high traffic salon and start as an
assistant to a hairstylist/makeup artist. The reason for seeking freelance
artists first is the majority of events are on the weekend and surely your new
employer will want you to work weekends.
HH: What are some career goals that people should set for
themselves before attempting a career in beauty?
OS: 1. Find yourself and
don’t waste your time: This industry is not for everyone. It kills me when I
have an assistant who just looking for a job. No no… this is not just a 9-5.
You surely will fall off the beauty high in 6 months. It needs to run in your
veins, you will have good and bad days but your passion will keep youprogressing
forward.
2. Have a financial
plan: Though your salary is limitless, it does not all come at once. Luckily
some academies have grants, financial aid or scholarships. You need to look
into all of these. I was having a financial hardship when I started school and
after being turned down for financial aid, I looked to my administration for
help and the school actually gave me a grant, saving me thousands! You have to
keep in mind yourROI (Return of Investment). How long will it take you make
back the money put out.
3. Dress for the job
you want not the job you have: Dressing nice does not have to be expensive.
Luckily for us, we have our Forever 21’s and online shopping. Buy yourself some
professional/chic clothes! I dress professional everywhere I go. Like they say,
you never know whom you’ll meet!
HH: What is the hardest part about working in beauty?
OS: You have to sharpen your pencil everyday you step out and
become better today than you were yesterday. There is always someone more
qualified than you out there and the only way to the top is to start at the
bottom. The hardest part about the beauty industry is breaking into it. I did a
ton of free work until I felt like my portfolio was decent enough to receive
payment for my work. I felt as if free work led to more free work but those are
the growing pains! Everyone’s free ride on my coat tails ended roughly 1 year
after I graduated. I do trade work every once in a while as long as I know it’s
benefiting myself and not just someone else. Know your worth!
HH: Is beauty school a
necessary step to take toward a career?
OS: Beauty school is not necessary but I would recommend it, its
practice. Practice makes perfect and it will have you a full step above where
you would be starting by yourself. Not only does it teach technique but also it
teaches confidence!
HH:Who has inspired you the most throughout your career in
beauty?
OS: I have two teachers in particular who inspired me throughout
this journey and I name them in order of the date I’ve met them. My cosmetology
teacher Mrs. Henry at Sheridan Vocational was by far the most humbling of
teachers. She made sure you understood every lick, of every word coming from
her mouth. She kept it real with her students and connected with us on everyday
events. I thank her for mentally preparing me for what was ahead in the hair
industry. Mrs. Victoria Duke of Academyof Glam was everyone’s Greek mother. She
always knew how to keep it interesting. You could smell passion coming from her
pours. In makeup school is where I learned who I was. I had previous baggage
holding me down and it was not allowing me to mature. I absorbed every ounce of
advice and put it into thought and action. This was not just an ordinary makeup
school; it was my building block to success. Mrs. Duke lifted our spirits and
encouraged us to be whomever we desired to be.
HH: How can girls highlight their best features without going
overboard?
OS: Listen twice as much as you speak. I use social media as my
bragging rights. I post what city I am in, what celeb I’m doing and as soon as
I see whomever, I say nothing and only speak about the individual in front of
me. If they want to talk about me, they will ask about me. There is nothing I
can’tstand more than a selfish talker. The best way to highlight you is
Instagram, Twitter, Facebook etc!
HH: Why do you think you decided to become a hair stylist?
OS: My desire to help others over exceeds my paycheck. There is
nothing better then the look on a teens face when she sees her hair and makeup
for the first time for her prom or a mature woman who does nothing for her self
on a daily basis. I love to help others with their confidence levels and bring
out the inner beauty in every client that sits in my chair.
HH: What inspires you?
Who inspires you?
OS: My surroundings inspire me and the people I surround myself
with. I am a very business oriented person and there is nothing I love more
than bouncing ideas off another artist and making the unthinkable, do-able. I
read blogs and magazines all day everyday. 24 hours just isn’t enough time for
me on a daily basis. I find myself always craving more. I always hang on to
every piece of advice I’ve ever been given. I take criticism as motivation.
HH: What are your favorite Hotheads hair products?
OS: My favorite Hotheads hair products are by far the hair brushes.
They make it so easy to care for the hair.
HH: Which styling tools do you use most often?
OS: My CHI! I love my 1-inch Chi Curling Iron. If my house were
on fire, it would absolutely be the one item I would take! It creates shiny
curls that last for days. Not to mention the Hot Head extensions hold so
beautifully.
HH: What are some good tips for young people trying to break
into the industry?
OS: From a moral standpoint, don’t let success go to your head
and failures go to your heart. Be kind to everyone and give gratitude at every
point necessary. From a business standpoint, do your homework and stay on top
of your game. This business is ever growing and it’s easy to be left behind
when you’re not continually educating andevolving with your skills.When you’re
green you grow, when you’re ripe, you rot.
HH: How do you feel hair relates to personal style?
OS: I would say hair absolutely reflects the way you take care
of yourself. If hair is dull or has spilt ends, chances are your health isn’t
as up to par as it should be. Vegetables and vitamins keep strands strong and
shiny. When I see an individual with gorgeous locks that have been blown,
straighten or curled, to me it looks like that person has their life together.
Funny to say, but think about it!
HH: How do you think that hair relates to a person's confidence?
OS: Speaking for me personally, if I walked out of the house
with air-dried hair I would be mortified. Not that some people don’t look great
with air-dried hair, I just know personally that my hair would be a fro-y mess.
It would absolutely lower my confidence! The same in reverse, having lustrous
bounce in your hair from a great blow dry definitely puts a nice pep in your
step. It’s amazing how much hair makes a difference when guessing someone’s age
as well. Good hair can surely make you look younger. Grey can work for some but
not for all!
