Meet Megan Walker | Cosmetologist

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

Hi Megan, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Hospitality and staying personable. In the beauty industry it’s easy to get busy, overworked and frustrated. Especially with rising prices and high expectations due to social media, filters and false advertising. I have always made it a point to allow more than enough time for each client. And contrary to popular opinion, I prefer to not double book unless it’s a quick haircut during another’s’ processing time. I’d rather take one to two time well-managed highlight appointments in a day than three to four rushed ones. I keep a space that feels warm and welcoming above all else. I cannot tell you the amount of times someone has walked in and commented how nice it feels in there. My goal wasn’t to have a boujie downtown La Jolla salon—although I absolutely love everything about the area and always have—but I wanted to make it a point to feel open and welcoming to anyone and everyone that comes in.
I worked as a restaurant server for about 13 years and that teaches you things you can’t learn anywhere else. It’s second nature to me to offer beverages, get clients comfortable and continually check in with them as we go. These small but important details can sometimes be lost amoung the chaos of a busy work day. With one on one time this allows me to stay present and personable with my guests.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I didn’t start Cosmetology school until I was 24. For years I was working on nursing prerequisites and working in a medical office because nursing seemed like what I was supposed to do. While I have the utmost respect for those professionals, it was just not for me. I needed to work with and for people in another way. Once I stepped into Paul Mitchell for the first time, I felt like it was the beginning of my new life. I took school seriously and finished as quickly as possible while still working full time. As much as I felt I was ready to hit the ground running after graduating and passing my State Board test, I decided to enter an assisting program in La Costa. I protégéd for a French Master Colorist for ten months and learned invaluable skills and techniques. My next jump was another assisting position in La Jolla. Within five months I was a booth renter in a reputable salon in the village of La Jolla and that’s where my career really began to grow. Five years of learning behind the chair and growing a steady clientele gave me the confidence to move to my first private studio which then lead to my very own shop a few short years later! Taking my time to continue to learn from others at first, really gave me the opportunity to do it right in order to keep it going for the long haul.

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 would start our day with an awesome brunch spot, which La Jolla has many of. My personal favorites are Sugar & Scribe or Richard Walker’s Pancake House. Pancakes, bacon and mimosas are a must. After that, I would head to the cove or Windansea Beach for a walk along the coast. My favorite thing about La Jolla is its accessibility. It might take some time but you can get anywhere by foot. Trilogy, for lunch and a rooftop view; sometimes you can catch the aerial yoga classes which are really cool. The Public House is another fun place to hang out, have a beer and some upscale bar food—shoutout to the onion rings and ranch! I also really enjoy The Lot, especially at night, it has a great ambiance and lounge area that always has the current game on and they will let you hang out as long as you’d like. They also have a movie theater, with lazy boy reclining chairs where you can order food and drinks directly to you at any point during the show.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A huge thank you to my mother—a powerhouse of strength, determination, and heart. As a single mother and business owner, she worked tirelessly to provide for us while also teaching us the value of hard work. She made me work for her at a young age, I was on my first payroll at 13, and while I may have hated it then, I now realize it was one of the greatest gifts she could have given me. Her example shaped me into the person and business owner I am today.
Both of my parents blended their efforts together to help me completely gut and remodel my shop when I took it over. We spent six weekends together quite literally fixing it from the ground up; from floors to ceiling, plumbing and cabinetry. I absolutely could not have done it without them!

Website: https://www.hairbymeganwalker.com

Instagram: GoldenBrondes

Facebook: https://Facebook.com/hairbymeganwalker

Yelp: Lumine Hair Studio

Other: Google
Hair by Megan Walker, La Jolla