Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Cooper.
Hi Jessica, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
So as you know my name is Jessica but I go by Jess these days. I’m 31 years young with a family I obsess over, truly! Im married to my high school sweetheart and together we have three of the most beautiful little girls. Im one of the proud Co-Owners of Hair Magic Studio, a hair and energy healing salon. Which leads me to why I’m here! To talk about my career as a stylist (and now healer) on my personal (stylist) Instagram forum, mamajesshair! I knew at a young age that I always loved to do hair but at 18 I felt this need to follow my parent’s footsteps and enlisted in the military, so I did! If you were asking 18-year-old Jess what my future would be that would have been my response, the Navy!
Though as most things go in life the universe always has a plan and she had bigger, much different, plans for me.
When I was on active duty, I discovered I had a genetic autoimmune disorder that affects my bones. This ultimately led to the military deciding I was no longer a valid candidate to lserve which is a sad complicated story for another time. This was a low point for me, truly! I had dedicated so much time and sleepless nights perfecting my IT career in the military and now I had this giant world that I somehow had to find my part in, once again. At the end of it all, IT WAS A BLESSING! The universe was looking out.
I interviewed at many places, had a top-secret security clearance and all the bells and whistles to be hired on as a sec+ IT in the civilian world and I didn’t want it. I knew I needed something different than the Navy because at the time I was still young, hurt, and slightly bitter. One morning I woke up and it was as if I dreamt it because I knew that would be the day I enrolled in cosmetology school. My family thought I was crazy but I’m stubborn, so I did! It was one of the best decisions I ever made. I went from feeling lost to completely found.
From there, I got a job at a chain salon to build my clientele and learn. I didn’t realize at the time that this salon would change my life forever because this was where I met my forever sister! I think this salon’s main purpose in my life path was for us to cross paths and that’s probably about it. I barely stayed there a year before I knew I was ready to branch out to the booth renting side of the industry, I yearned for more! Thinking back I know I had worries but I was mainly worried about leaving my sister.
Once you work with your best friend and sister it’s just not quite as fun without them! But I left anyways and luckily she ended up coming to work for the same salon! This salon was where I’d say I learned the most. I learned all the things I did and didn’t want my business to be. What products I liked and what products I didn’t. I even learned what type of clients I wanted to attract and what type of clients didn’t mesh well with my personality. It was an amazing learning experience that I’m forever grateful for and I had my sister by my side the entire way. But alas, all good things must come to an end and Covid was like pouring gasoline on a fire for us.
Once Florida began to open back up we, my sister and I, wanted a different setting where we could better accommodate our clients during such a scary and difficult time. To do that we needed a new space that was less crowded and more intimate. We dreamt of a place that included all people from all different communities and walks of life and so instead of finding one, we decided to create one. Thus giving life to our sacred space, Hair Magic Studio. It’s within these walls that we have perfected a beautiful and harmonious balance between hair and spiritual healing. We love to offer healing for the hair, heart, and soul.
From perfecting complicated chemical services to becoming trained Reiki healers we truly immerse ourselves in our client’s journey from start to finish. I find so much joy in helping other people within my community and love that I get to call this “my job”. I’m forever grateful for the lives that have enriched my life and helped me provide for my beautiful family. Without the support from my clients, my husband, my babies and my sister I wouldn’t be here today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would have to say that the road to now actually hasn’t been very smooth. Unfortunately, this industry can house a lot of childlike behavior and jealousy. You’re constantly being judged by your looks and beliefs and it took a lot of biting my tongue and masking my identity to make it to where I am in the industry. My first salon felt like working at a job where everyone is trying else to claw their way to the top.
This was insanely annoying because I knew my future there was limited from day one. My sister made it bearable as our casual glances could scream a thousand words without having to say them. I love that we can read each other’s body language and just know, it’s super convenient in awkward situations! Our bond is probably the only reason I didn’t leave sooner than I did! My second salon challenged me and I found myself questioning so much of my identity. I had finally felt comfortable in my spirituality and that didn’t feel supported. There were many moments that I wanted to walk away but I remained stubborn and continued to tell myself it would pass. While the road is smoother now it didn’t come without challenges but at least now I’m in complete control!
When it all boils down to it there were many moments filled with tears. The hours were long, the clients were not always kind humans and I felt burned out. I stayed extra days and worked long hours to build my clientele and some days it felt like it would never end. I’ve been stolen from, lied to, manipulated, overworked and underappreciated. As if that wasn’t enough we were in the middle of unexpectedly adopting our first child and then miraculously getting pregnant with another and I felt immense guilt about not being home more often. Yet to do that I’d have to cancel clients and canceling clients meant I wouldn’t be able to make money to provide for my family.
This a perfect example of a double-edged sword! Haha! So no, it wasn’t smooth but it was worth it and I would do it a million times over if it meant the same outcome.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Gaia Beauty Nurturing at Hair Magic Studio?
Well first the first thing to know is you’re going to leave my chair feeling completely refreshed and brand new. I’m the fun mom, turned stylist! When you’re in my chair there will be laughs to be shared. My personality is very up beat and I’m always unintentionally mothering or nurturing those around me. For as long as I can remember I nurtured the people in my life. Friends, siblings, family, clients, strangers, you name it! I can’t help it, I just do. I love nothing more than to nurture others and support them, it truly brings me great joy. It’s through this personality trait that I’ve been able to flourish as a healer, stylist and salon co-owner at Hair Magic Studio.
I’ve been asked many times, “What is your specialty?” That’s such an interesting question and always one that’s hard to narrow down. One day it came to me! If you’re sitting in my chair my specialty is everything YOU! I’m confident in my skills as a seasoned stylist and as a healer. So if you schedule an appointment and I accept it I’m confident that this is the salon home you deserve to be a part of. When you sit in my chair it’s more than a trip to the salon it’s an entire healing experience.
Imagine beautiful hair, healing, and therapy all wrapped up in one shiny package and that’s me! I’m here for the laughs, the hugs, the tears, the jokes, and everything in between. Do you want to scream about it? Let’s scream about it! Do you want beautiful blonde hair? Let’s do it! Would you rather be a rainbow? I got you! Are you feeling drained or looking for spiritual guidance? Let’s do some energy work and align those chakras!
I believe that being a safe space for people in our community is the thing that sets me and our salon apart from others. As we all know things are consistently becoming unsafe for minority members of our community. If I can be one more person that supports them and helps them feel seen and heard and safe, then I’m happy. My chair doesn’t have room for hateful behavior or people.For so long I let people sit in my chair that weren’t kind humans and now there’s no room for that. I’m not that same young stylist who didn’t want to hurt others’ feelings even though they stomped on my own. Our space is too precious and my energy is too valuable to be taken for granted. I think this is what I’m most proud of, too! Just having this little slice of paradise with my sister. It makes sense that we would love being in the space we’ve created but when others reciprocate that sense of security and peace it’s insanely satisfying. I’m proud to be the stylist behind the chair, the healer working on your energy, the mom you come to for advice, the friend you vent to, your confidante and human diary.
I’m not just the person you’ve chosen to do your hair or be your healer I’m here for all the life events. To celebrate your baby’s first word, your child’s high school graduation, that big promotion you’ve been wanting at work, the day you marry your best friend, the pregnancy you’ve been praying for, I’m here for all of it. To nurture, create, heal, and love because this world needs a whole lot more of that. The bonus to all of this? You get GREAT hair in the process!
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
This is a great question! At first, I had to think about it because my work is me using my energy and skill set but then I realized I was thinking too small! There are multiple ways to support my work and business as well as ways to collaborate with me. The first thing you can do is BE A GOOD PERSON! No seriously… I mean it! Haha, there’s so much hate and division in the world right now that it’s a physical pain for empaths such as myself. I want to see my clients and friends walk in smiling and happy!
They walk in smiling (because duh, they’re at Hair Magic Studio hehe) but they’re drained from everything that is going on in the world. It starts with US. it starts with COMMUNITY. I don’t expect you to be the president of your children’s school PTO (if you are, that’s great!) but be kind. Kindness goes so far and to see so many cultures and members of the LGBTQIA+ community (and many other minority communities) being constantly hated and belittled is gut-wrenching. Put your energy into the people around you and that positivity can spread like wildfire, I’ve seen it! You might be thinking now, “Well how does that help you?” It supports everything my business and healing is trying to do and it does it on a grander scale! I can only do so much and while what I do is great it would be a lot more impactful if we spread more kindness while supporting the members of our community.
As far as collaboration goes I’m forever searching for beautiful brides with a shared spiritual mindset. Formal hair is one of my favorite services to offer and it’s a dying art so working with brides brings me so much joy. While I’m in the process of revamping my bridal packages I would love to collaborate with local venues to get on their service menu of suggested stylists. We recently offered our first wedding with reiki and the entire experience was magical.
We received the most beautiful feedback from our blushing bride and my healing hands cannot wait to offer another wedding reiki package! If you’re a bride reach out, mention this article, our magic is waiting for you!
I would also love to collaborate with social media content creators who are looking to trade services! As the social media world grows at a rapid rate I’ve become hyper-aware that I have some catching up to do! Reach out! Let’s help each other grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: Hairmagicstudio.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/gaiabeautynurturing?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089630180167&mibextid=LQQJ4d
