Hey! My name is Erika Krauze and I’m from Greenville, South Carolina. I’ve been in the industry for 12 years now. It hasn’t always been easy! (coming from a completely shy person, who couldn’t even comfortably make eye contact with someone) Now feeling confident in all I do and continuously learning all of the education I have learned within these years. From days in the past of just wanting to give up because I never felt like I was “there” yet. Some other stylist telling me I wasn’t “passionate. “ Or wondering how am I going to survive financial.
One thing I was always blessed with once I got out of hair School, was to have great mentors. They not only were there to encourage me but, saw something in me. They showed love and compassion. One advice I’d never forget was, don’t go after money. Don’t chase it, love what you do, make it a passion, and money will come to you. Something that always kept me going was Matthew 6:26. This scripture stayed close to my heart.
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable then they?”
I just remember thinking, ok… you’ve got me God. As I started pouring myself into learning as much as I could. I’ve never stopped trusting that some way somehow God has got my back.
Fast forward 6 years later I moved from Maryland, to Greenville, South Carolina. I found myself booth renting, hitting a rough patch in life, and still having negative feedback into my life of not being “passionate” enough, and not being “good enough.” To being cyber bullied at one point.
Finally one day giving it all back to God. Praying to him, remembering Matthew 6:26.
I remember having to build that confidence, and not be ashamed of who I am or where I was. I remember after being bullied, I just wanted to hide away. But, through His strength, I found the courage to keep pressing through, and growing as who I am and who I am as a stylist. Because at the end of the day. We aren’t that mistake we’ve made, and we aren’t what people “claim” we are. We are what God sees us to be.
I’ve taken that time in my life, and realized that there is so many people out there hurting. People just want to be loved. I decided for myself that I would open myself up, to be real and vulnerable to others, and let them know that they are beautiful. That they don’t need to be “something else” that someone told them they “have” to be. They just need to trust, and know that God has them.
To wrap it up this is what has made me blessed behind the chair. To be able to pour my life and passion into someone else. Even if it’s just creating a custom color/cut for them. Or being able to reach out and say hey you’re loved! I’ve been there. I can relate. And you’re so beautiful.
I thank God every day for giving me the blessing to be behind the chair. Knowing this is not a job. It’s an artistry. It’s an expression of creativity and a passion. I am very thankful for this opportunity to share a brief glimpse of how being behind the chair has blessed me so much.
Thank you for your time!
Erika Krauze
@erika_krauze