Today we’d like to introduce you to Cayley Newell.
Hi Cayley, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Our Tangled Life has been officially running since January of 2022. Here is how I got to today. I remember being in the 6th grade and watching my mom and older brother look at career paths so they could align his high school courses. Being the overachiever I am, I sat down and started looking at careers also. When I saw that you could “major in make-up” as my mom put it, I knew that was my dream. Theatre has always been an essential part of my life and I knew that I wanted to focus my skills into the theatre and film production side of the beauty industry.
However, growing up in small-town southern Missouri doesn’t provide many opportunities to flourish in this field. I knew that I needed a change, but without knowing anyone who had done this career field I was lost. I felt like Walt Disney who had a similar hometown and looked to him as an inspiration.
My family moved to Phoenix, Arizona where I finished my high school career and continued to college at Southern Utah University. I spent my first semester studying the aspects of theatre makeup and costuming. By the end of the first semester, I was scouted to work in the department’s hair and makeup team, I spent my second semester learning the foundation of my career. I was trained in backstage production, how to manage teams, ventilating hair, and design. It was a dream come true.
Sitting with my adviser to plan the next semester’s courses, she informed me that a college four-year path was not needed to reach the career I wanted, while a college degree can be extremely helpful getting most jobs, she understood that for me, the next step was not traditional college. After much prayer and consideration about my next step, I felt prompted to move back to Arizona and attend beauty school.
This is when I found Penrose Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona. Recently ranked as the number seventh beauty school in the nation, Penrose has a culture of encouragement. My beauty school experience was unlike most others I spoke with. The students, teachers, and staff all had my best interest in heart. I never felt judged or questioned and was able to flourish.
Halfway through beauty school, my lifelong medical condition had begun flaring up. This time worse than ever. After seeing multiple specialists with hundreds of tests, the only thing they could determine is that my body had an “auto immune panic attack.” This meant that everything I was around at the time of the attack, I became allergic to. Being in the beauty industry I became severely allergic to hair dye, soaps, makeup, fragrances, products, and specific foods. I truly felt like my career that I had poured so much of my life into was gone.
Despite all of my medical challenges, I finished beauty school with a certificate in Hair Design. I knew that there was a higher purpose to the difficulties I was facing. Working with doctors we found ways to safely keep me in the industry I love. I relocated to Orlando, Florida for better air quality and the humid sunshine. I found a makeup brand called 100% pure that uses only plants to create their products. Being inspired by their pioneering in the industry I have been studying chemistry to hopefully make a 100% plant hair dye. It has also allowed me to focus in on what I really love which is hair.
Now I proudly own and run “Our Tangled Life.” Getting the inspiration for the name was based off my experience in the beauty industry having a medical condition. I want to build a platform of inspiration and inclusion. I am living my childhood dream of designing wigs and facial hair for clients. While I would love to work for the film industry one day soon, I am more than happy to create beautiful custom hair pieces for all.
I hope to inspire others who may be going through a similar experience. Whether it is not living in an area where you feel you can achieve your dream or discovering you don’t “fit the standard for your career.” I truly believe that anyone can become anything and I can’t wait to help them get there.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I feel that my title “Our Tangled Life” is the perfect description of the path to where I am today. As previously mentioned, without my medial journey and the trials I faced reaching my goals, I wouldn’t have the passion and dedication necessary to creating a successful business. I had always thought of working for myself one day but saw it as a pipeline dream. It was because I had the choice to stop this career I had set up and “throw in the hat” when I was diagnosed, that I am in return so passionate about people living their dream no matter their situation in life. I believe that the bumps and bruises we receive on our journey are so that others realize they can do it too. If we hide every stumble or hard step of the way then it creates this facade of instant perfection and can be extremely discouraging. I have had many struggles and I look forward to the growth I will receive from the many struggles ahead.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
When I tell people that I am a Freelance Wig Designer, the responses vary from “a what?” to “is that even a career” or “was does that even mean.” As a wig designer, I specialize in creating custom lace hair pieces from wigs to mustaches and everything in between. I also do styling and design work helping characters come to life through hair and makeup. I love working with those who have a story to tell. whether through a production, party, or cosplay. I can create a wig from scratch or modify an already existing wig to ad lace or new features. My education in both theatre production and hair design gives me an advantage as I know how to cut, style and dye all types of hair. I spend my days hand-tying hair into lace through process called “venti-stitching.” When my eyes need a break from the tiny art form, I set rollers, cut hair, and create designs. My work is my happy place and I love being challenged on new projects.
How do you define success?
Success is a byproduct of when you combine your passion with your work ability. Everyone has a passion or dream and most have a great work ethic. Success truly comes when you ask yourself where you would rather be right now and apply yourself to make it a reality.
Pricing:
- Re-style 70-200±
- Lace Work $20/hr
- Additional services on website
Contact Info:
- Email: ourtangledlife@gmail.com
- Website: https://ourtangledlife.godaddysites.com
- Instagram: http://Instagram.com/our_tangled_life
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ourtangledlife
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCqVM-rEQE18A6qzbNKpz6BQ
Image Credits
Asher J. Swan
Cayley Newell
