We had the good fortune of connecting with Audra Blumn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Audra, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
When I was 20 years old, all I could think about was makeup. My parents tried to get me into cosmetology school but I had no interest in hair at the time. In 1998, I went to Florida for a summer and graduated from Joe Blasco Makeup School. Being young and a bit naive, I came home after graduating because of a boy. That didn’t work out, and my family had already spent a fortune on my schooling and living expenses while in Florida so I got a job at home with hopes that I would save up and move back to Florida or go to Nashville and do makeup for country music.

Life being what it is, within a year, I was pregnant with my daughter and all of my priorities changed. I’d always regretted not going to cosmetology school but being a single mom, there just wasn’t the time or money to dedicate to it. I spent most of my adult life doing office jobs. While I enjoyed the people I worked with, the jobs themselves were nothing but a way to pay the bills. No fun or creativity. I missed that! Fast forward to 2015. At 37 years old, I casually mentioned to my then husband that I wished I had gone back to cosmetology school. His response was, “GO!” So I did. I took a giant leap out of my comfort zone and enrolled. I have never looked back! THIS is what I was meant to do!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
One of the things that still makes me excited today is the desire for constant knowledge. I hear so often from seasoned stylists that the hair industry wasn’t very forgiving 15-20 years ago. Stylists kept their formulas and techniques under lock and key for fear that someone else using them would take money out of their pockets. What I see today is that we are all routing for each other. We can ALL be successful! The hair industry is always changing and growing and morphing into something new. If you don’t keep up, you lose clients. Even back in the day, a stylist got new clients by word of mouth. Today, you almost have to have a photography degree as well because photos and social media have been a game changer! Social media is insane for posting new fads and styles and bringing back old ones. I am also a huge believer in educating my clients. Telling them the “why” instead of “because I said so”. I want my clients to know that everything I’m doing or recommending is for the greater good of their hair! As far as what I personally excel at…color is my passion. Balayage and vivid colors are my absolute JAM and I love cutting pixies! I do it all and everything in between. I don’t ever want to get stuck in a rut or lose my passion! I once heard a popular stylist say that if you’re only posting blondes, you’re only going to have blondes in your chair, only posting vivids, you’ll only book vivids and so on. This resonated deeply so I have always made sure to post my platinum clients, my black haired clients and every color in between! And as for opening my own suite…. I have dreamed of it for 5 years! Moving to Plano in February from East Texas with zero clientele and being able to do this in less than a year…my heart is happy! It is a complete DREAM and my amazing clients have made it possible!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In Plano, I’m a huge fan of UrbanRio for some high end Tex-Mex and amazing cocktails! Downtown Plano in general is just a fun area with a small town vibe! Lots of shops and restaurants to choose from. There is a great bar called The Fillmore Pub right next to McCall Plaza, which is an outdoor stage that frequents bands providing live music for the locals. Also in Plano, but not downtown is Legacy Hall. (Think food court on steroids). A 3 story venue with several bars and every type of food you can imagine. They have a huge outdoor area where there is always some sort of entertainment! Lots of great bands and events!

Outside of Plano, in Deep Ellum I recently discovered a fun place called Upstairs Circus. Kind of like the wine and paint places, but a full bar and you pick one of any craft you wish from jewelry making, different art projects in several different mediums, leather working, etc.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many. First, Lisa Beasley and Bo Cargill, my cosmetology school teachers, Rebecca Taylor, a truly miraculous hair guru who taught me all things fun, and bright through watching her social media posts when I was a baby stylist and every stylist I’ve been blessed to work with over the years. I’ve learned at least one valuable thing from each of them!

Website: www.Vagaro.com/TexasRoseSalon

Instagram: hairbyaudramarie

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