The reality of working as a hairstylist
It’s not just playing hair and makeup when you work 75 hour weeks
Onder Yavuz is a very successful DC hairstylist. He currently has hundreds of clients (about 5,000 per year), but it didn’t start out that way. He’s actually so good that some of his clients from Turkey traveled to the U.S. to get their hair done by him. Some of his clients are regular and some (even from other states) pop in because they heard about him. He told us his story and what it took to become a big deal in the industry.
You’re from Turkey. When did you come to the U.S. and why?
I moved to the U.S. In 2007, I have family here, my uncle, cousins, that was the reason to choose Washington, D.C. And of course for my career – I wanted to be known in this business .
When did you decide you wanted to be a hair stylist?
I grew up at the hair salon because of my father. He owns a salon in Istanbul and I have an uncle who is a hair stylist in the U.S.
When you decided to be a stylist, what was your first move in that career direction?
After helping my father during the weekends, holidays and summers, I decided to spend more time at the hair salon. Then I started somewhere else because of my father’s genius idea. He wanted me to work at different places and said you learn more things when you watch different hairstylists.
Where were you educated?
İstanbul. I worked at many salons from ages 14 to 18 while I was an assistant. It’s like a school, all hairdressers in Turkey work at the hair salons as assistants and help the experienced hairstylists and learn from them.
What was the first salon you worked at?
That was my father’s friend’s salon, plus I worked at world famous salons like Toni & Guy İstanbul and Jacques Dessange İstanbul.
When and why did you move to Georgetown Salon, where you currently work?
2013.
Are you more or less successful in your new location than your previous one?
I will say more because I have a lot more freedom.
What was your biggest challenge when becoming a successful hair stylist?
I promised my dad when I was 14 , he always supported me. If I decide to do something, I do whatever it takes. I remember not sleeping many nights, trying to do different things on mannequins. I worked a lot and I still do. There are some down times while you’re learning but I never gave up and learned from my mistakes. Those mistakes brought me where I am now.
Have you won any awards?
My clients are my biggest awards, but I decided to be in competition. You’ll see me more on stage at the hair shows and competitions.
Who are some of your biggest clients (celebrities, political figures)?
I don’t know if I can give names because of security but I have a lot of celebrity clients, political & TV figures.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Creating something beautiful and seeing happiness on your client’s faces is the most rewarding part of our job.
What is your advice to students who want to become as successful as you in the industry?
Education, hard work, believe in yourself and never give up. You are successful as much as you’re available. I work about 75 hours a week and take education classes every two months. Education is the key, you can always learn new things.