Meet Amanda Ek | Hairstylist

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

Hi Amanda, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I believe whole heartedly that you can be an amazing hairstylist, natural talent is a must however, I am in the business of relationships. My clients and friends sit in my chair every 2, 4 or 6 weeks, sometimes 2 times a year but I am with them for their ups and downs, weddings, funerals, graduations. And that is what brings people back in your chair and what brings referrals in.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I started doing hair in Cincinnati in 2008. In 2010 I moved back home to San Diego. I need to 100 more hours for California regulations to take the California state board. And I passed first try thanks to Johnny the educator at Paul Mitchell the school in San diego. I because an asset for almost 4 years. I started as the salon assistant, they called me Cinderella. I was a yes person I said yes to anything to get my foot in the door. After Oscar passed I went on my own and it took about 5 years to really build my clientele. I took as much extra education and classes as I could got certified in everything extentions, smoothing treatments, curly hair, because an educator for loreal professional. I think it was a different time. But assisting was where I learned what hairstyling is. Its very different these days.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I usually pick my friends up from the airport. And we immediately head to the beach because that’s what people come to san diego to see. Usually an old standard like world famous take a walk on the beach, head up to mission hills maybe a little dinner at communion or cellar hand. I show them my home and we will bbq and hang with some of my friends and family. When we stay local we love the riviera and turquoise room for some drinks and live music. Maybe take a ride around the bay and head over to Coronado for happy hour at stk

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have had a plethera of mentors in my life. But 3 that really made me into the stylist I am today. The first was Shannon Matteson. Shannon was my first hairstylist and when I was sitting under the dryer at 11 years old with foils in my hair, I said this is what I want to do. The culture, the comrodery, I thought she was the coolest person in the world. When I moved back to san diego and had to take 100 more hours of cosmetology school and take the california state board Shannon gave me job. And pointed my in the next direction where I met my second mentor Randi Hosking. Randi owned indigo salon, we called her the mayor. She knew everyone, ran this huge salon full of the most amazing hairstylist that made the industry what it is today. The stylist at this salon were the big dogs of san Diego. Vidal sassoon and tigi trained they created the hairstyling business in the 80’s to be a luxury experience. Randi was amazing running a salon like that making sure everyone was happy and running her own business behind the chair. That’s when I met Oscar Melero. Oscar taught me exactly how I wanted to run my business, about color, about cutting, styling but most of all relationships. Sadly Oscar was killed February 15, 2915 at 7am by a drunk driver. I was his right hand man for 2 years. It was devastating. But indigo salon was my family and they really helped me to decide to go on my own and that’s when I did. It was a rough start but people stuck with me and here we are 10 years later.

Instagram: Hairbyamandaeksd