From dreaming of working with animals to finding her passion in makeup and hair color during her school days, Allison's journey took a courageous turn towards cosmetology school in 2012. Her advice to budding cosmetologists: perseverance is key. Beyond the curriculum, seek mentorship and explore salon environments that resonate with your vibe.
At Olive + Onyx, her personalized salon suite, Allison orchestrates hair transformations that transcend mere aesthetics. For her, the most rewarding moments arise when clients discover their inner beauty amidst personal turmoil. Outside the salon, Allison finds solace in aerial yoga, relishing guilty pleasures like Reese's and moments of unapologetic relaxation, labeled "potato days."In Allison's vibrant world, failure isn't an end but a stepping stone towards growth. Her journey encapsulates resilience, creativity, and the unwavering belief in one's potential.
Q & A With Allison
Get to know Allison as she shares her journey of becoming a licensed hairstylist, her rise on social media, and her tips for success.
Fun Facts About Allison
Q: What is your full name? Age? Reside in?
A: Allison Webber - 29 (yikes) - Charlotte, NC.
Q: When and where were you born? Where have you lived?
A: September 20th! I was actually born in Oklahoma but lived in Pennsylvania until we moved to Charlotte when I turned one. One of few Charlotte natives that stayed here. I did live in Philadelphia when I tried college out (obviously that didn’t stick) at Temple University.
Q: What is your zodiac sign and what does it say about you?
A: I am a virgo and I’m DEFINITELY a virgo. Definitely a super driven perfectionist with a looming sense of feeling like I can always do more and be more, but also have the ability to hyper-focus on one goal at a time and live in the chaos around it til I get there!
Q: Do you have a nickname? How did you get it?
A: I really don’t have a nickname. When I was younger, people called me Allie, but there’s currently only one person who still does, my childhood best friend, Kadian (who I’m the only person still calling her Kadi).
Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?
A: I think originally I wanted to work with animals, but once I hit middle school and high school I loved makeup and gradually ended up loving hair color.
Q: What is an interesting/fun fact about you?
A: I had back surgery when I was a kid and have two rods and screws in my lower back. I have also had stem cell treatment on my knee.
Q: What is your favorite activity or hobby?
A: Definitely aerial yoga. It’s so fun and helps keep me active.
Q: Favorite candy, treat, or guilty pleasure?
A: Oh I am such a sweets person it’s sick. I love Reese’s, blackberry frozen yogurt, and Haagen Dazs coffee ice cream.
Q: What is your favorite self care routine?
A: Definitely not washing my hair lol. My self care is probably going for a walk in nice weather with one of my dogs or having a potato day where I get to do nothing most of the day with my phone on DND!
Time At Cosmetology School
Q: What year did you start Cosmetology School?
A: 2012.
Q: What was your biggest obstacle and how did you overcome it?
A: Well, I didn’t have an easy time convincing my parents to let me go to hair school. Back then everyone had to go to college and you didn’t see quite as many hairstylists like I am now. But I knew I could do it and made sure to find a way to go. I lived alone with my soul dog (who is 12 now) in a scary apartment in school and working at a restaurant while going to school. My grandma was always my biggest supporter through hair school.
Q: What advice do you have for current cosmetologist students?
A: Do NOT give up. Just remember hair school is temporary. It’s a year (for us in NC) and you never have to look back. Learn as much as you can outside of school, shadow a hairstylist in your area, and look for a salon that you vibe with with a training program. Don’t forget to interview your salon yourself.
Q: Have you continued your education and if yes why do you think it is important?
A: Oh god yes. I have gone to so many extra classes over the years I have lost count. You can ALWAYS learn something from someone. You have to stay up to date with trends and techniques, but I think we often forget about creative block and finding inspiration. If you’re feeling burnt out, stagnant, etc. TAKE A CLASS. Get inspired again.
Social Media Journey
Q: How important of a role has social media played in your professional career?
A: What a question. HUGE. Social media has been incredibly useful for my journey. Instagram was still new-ish when I started in this industry. It has changed so much over the years, but it was a huge tool in how I grew my clientele and now my network and community of hairstylists.
Q: Which platform has been most impactful to you?
A: Instagram has definitely been the biggest growth for me. I’m trying to do Tiktok but I definitely have grown so much on Instagram. I’m also starting to look into youtube channels.
Q: What advice do you have for someone starting out as a stylist and trying to get their name out on Social Media?
A: Be consistent. It doesn’t matter if you post once a day, twice a week, whatever. Just do it. Interact with your explore page and other people in your niche.
Life As A Hairstylist
Q: What's your specialty service you offer? Blonding? Color? Color Correction?
A: I’m definitely known more for my vivid specialty, but I actually do the same if not more blonding behind the chair.
Q: What salon do you work in?
A: I have my own salon suite called Olive + Onyx.
Q: What do you find most rewarding about being a stylist?
A: Behind the chair, I love being able to help my clients get to their hair goals. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing the look on their face when they feel beautiful, especially when there are personal things going on. As far as education goes, it is so rewarding to see other stylists connect with me and others. I also love seeing the “aha!” moments.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working in your salon?
A: Since it is just my assistant (and friend) Sloane and I, it’s been really amazing to have a customized environment. We can be fun and really get to know our clients and let them be themselves without anyone else around to judge. It’s a very inclusive environment in all aspects, and I love seeing people be themselves. I feel it makes it such a more personal experience and builds my relationship with my clients.
Q: What advice do you have for your fellow stylist, followers, and people you inspire?
A: Honestly- be your damn self and be proud. Be who you want to be. Post that post. Don’t worry about the people around you watching because just like you look up to someone, there is someone around you thinking how amazing you are and wish they could be like you.
The Passion
Q: Who inspires you?
A: Oh wow, so many people. My first ever vivid artist I followed was @pinupjordan (and she just recently followed me back which was a total fangirl moment for me). I also find inspiration in people who have similar stories to my past and have overcome so much and have crushed their goals like @hairrockerbet.
Q: What is a cause you are passionate about?
A: I have been involved in dog rescue my entire life, fostering dogs growing up and my adult life. I have been doing mainly senior hospice fostering for the last few years which is so rewarding. Currently I’m taking a little break with all the travel I have planned this year.
Q: What inspired you to become a hairstylist?
A: I got my hair done when I was younger at the hair school I ended up going to. I loved the environment and always knew I wanted to be in the beauty industry. I never thought I’d be here now.
A Positive Impact
Q: What mark or impact do you want to make in this industry?
A: My goal as an educator is to be the support that I didn’t have when I started out. Everyone deserves to have support, be inspired, and be able to grow into the stylist they strive to be.
Q: What do you love most about this industry?
A: I love the community of artists coming together. All the friendship and inspiration we give each other is worth so much. There is so much to learn from one another and there is no need to compete.
Q: What legacy do you want to leave behind?
A: This is a hard one for me haha. I guess I just want to know that I have helped others in this industry to grow and learn that we are all better as a community.
Q: Short term goal you would like to achieve?
A: Ugh this is a very hard question for me. I am VERY goal oriented, and I literally just said to my fiance the other day that now I need a new goal. I became a Danger Jones educator, have been invited to LA to do video shoots with them twice now, have my suite with my friend and assistant working with me, have a great and full clientele of amazing, badass people, and am getting to travel teaching what I love to new friends! It’s been a whirlwind. But I think now my goal is to get some online education up and running in the next 3 months.
Q: Long term goal. Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years?
A: I never thought I’d say this, but I think I’d like to own or co-own a small salon space that’s big enough for myself, my best friend (@thehoneyhive_hairsalon), our education, as well as some like-minded stylists. I also think I’d like to be working a little less behind the chair by then and be mostly doing education.
Words Of Advice
Q: What is one thing that you like to share with your followers? One is one piece of advice you can share that will help them grow personally and professionally?
A: Always remember that failure is relative, but it is always an opportunity. You can always learn from yourself and your failures to grow.
See some of Allison's amazing hair works!