Meet Samantha Bujarski | Traveling Hairstylist and Colorist

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

Hi Samantha, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
When I think about risk, to me it is an opportunity or a learning experience. Whether if that risk plays out in the way you had hoped or a completely different direction you didn’t expect. The role that risks have played for me has ultimately been the biggest role. While navigating through a divorce and owning my salon, I took the risk to embark on my first ever one month long cross country road trip by myself from Ohio to work on a movie for Lifetime in Los Angeles. I took a risk in moving to New York City and starting my life completely over. Now looking back at everything, takings risks was the best thing I ever did for myself. They have become these amazing stories that I get to tell and have shaped me and the direction of where my career was going. There is not one risk that I regret taking.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
What sets me apart is how I consider myself an artist before calling myself a hairstylist. I’ve always been someone who loved creating art from painting, drawing, & playing music. Hair became another canvas for me. Growing in the industry, especially in the beginning, came with a lot of obstacles. But it helped me learn how to overcome toxic work environments & relationships, addiction & improving my mental health. My career has saved my life more times than I can count and I can’t imagine myself doing anything else. I’m truly grateful to have found a career that has become a healthy outlet when I feel the need to escape reality. The biggest lesson I have learned is you feel rich in life when you’re doing what you love. My happiness in what I do & how I live my life became my full purpose.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Since working in the East Village, it has become one of my favorite areas in Manhattan to take everyone, too. My co workers and I love to go to The Library for drinks after a long day of work. One night, took my best friends from back home to a place called The Book Club, a book store with a bar and coziest vibes with reasonably priced drinks and they were totally obsessed. The thrifting in NYC is amazing, but I always recommend Williamsburg for some of the best thrift spots like Beacon. I love The Bagel Smith for their Lox, but I’m in love with their tuna melt. My all time favorite place for drinks is Rocka Rolla which is rated one of the best dive bars in NYC and they play the best music if you love listening to classic rock. If you love drag shows, my friend Christine Diore who’s performed with Kesha, puts on the best show. I tell everyone to go see her at Boxers in Hells Kitchen if you’re looking for something fun to do on Thursday nights. NYC has everything to live for and it’s hard not to have a good time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I first want to give the biggest shout out to my team from back home in Ohio. They were there for me when I was going through one of the hardest times in my life. I wouldn’t have had the courage to do everything that I had accomplished if it wasn’t for their unconditional support. Stevie, Ellie and Erica, thank you for everything. Shout out to Lisa G, owner of Straight out of Cosmo and partnered with Paul Mitchell. Meeting her and having had the opportunity to be on her hair team for NYFW with The Lab opened so many opportunities that I never thought were possible. Thank you to my Aunt Kim for always being my biggest cheerleader and helping me with anything and everything business related. Thank you Shampoo Ave B for welcoming me with open arms when I made the move to NYC. Thank you Lacquer Gallery, located in Columbus, OH, for giving me the space to keep maintaining my clientele. Last shout out goes to Candice from The Lab. She gave me the incredible opportunity to be a lead of my own hair team for NYFW. She is a powerhouse and I’m so honored to be working alongside her and with the best production for this exclusive opportunity.

Instagram: @samanthabujarski_