The Beginning

I want to start off by saying hello! If you don't know who I am, my name is Karina Swinford. I'm a hairstylist and entrepreneur in Athens, AL. I'm a wife to my husband, Logan and mom to Carter, my two year old son. I've been doing hair for...like three years now. October will be three years! Wow, the time is seriously flying by.

When I started Paul Mitchell the School Huntsville I was dating my now, husband. I had graduated high school a semester early so I basically took an extra semester off and started Paul Mitchell the following fall. It was a last minute decision honestly. I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I knew I couldn't sit at a desk doing the same darn thing every single day. I wanted financial freedom, an avenue to be creative, I wanted to work for myself but not necessarily by myself, and I definitely didn't want to work from home. (Still don't!) Corporate America has a place but not in my life. I also knew that I wanted to make more $$ a year so I could go and do whatever I wanted. I thought about being a vet or a nutritional coach, but there was so much school involved in both. Although I am not one to shy away from hard work I like the idea of "working smarter, not harder." So! Enter: cosmetology. Fun, less expensive, and accomplished in a fraction of the time. By less expensive I mean in comparison to a standard four year school. I'm still paying off my student loans (whoo, freaking, hoo). 

Moving on however! This year I've been working on a few different techniques to improve my toning and layered colors and I'm finally getting good at it, yay! I'm telling you, this is one of the only industries where once you think you have it figured out, the entire game changes which is both exciting and stressful. I wanted a challenge and I got it! I didn't want to be bored, and I literally never am. Check out my lovely sister who was basically a guinea pig for this technique: 

We're both in love, and it's fading off beautifully! 

This year I've really put a focus on learning how to market myself, keep my growing business organized, and growing as a person. I'm super proud of everything I've worked on this year, and I couldn't have done it without God's help! I'm 100% in the belief that He's blessed me over and over throughout this journey as a stylist. 

So! That's me. I'm looking forward to being on this journey with you. ❤️ 

Have an amazing day, you guys, and I'll see you in the salon!