Meet Courtney Leavitt | Hairstylist & Educator

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

Hi Courtney, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I would have to say, it started out of necessity if I’m being completely honest. I liked the place I had been working at, but such is life, my circumstances had changed. I became an uncle and lost my father within 3 months of each other, and my thought process became “How do I set up my life to be present for the people who matter most to me?”

I had to then list the things I needed from my business to serve this purpose. Flexibility, a higher income ratio, and the ability to have control over my schedule. Since I wasn’t going to get flexibility or schedule control from my then working situation, I had to start planning to open my own studio.

Whenever I decide take on a big project, it all starts with lists. Lists are the most basic and most effective organizing tool one could use when trying to figure out how big your project actually is. They also keep you informed of your progress. In a nut shell, you can achieve literally anything, by making lists of your responsibilities and tasks, and just getting them checked off. With this approach it can make even the biggest life change more manageable in your mind.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I guess you could say I’ve been doing hair pretty much my whole adult life. I started as a receptionist in a salon early in high school, started cosmetology school in 11th grade, and graduated both high school and cosmo school within a few months of each other in 2004. That was before social media. See at that time, as a hairstylist in a smaller city like Phoenix, where you worked after school determined your path. I was absolutely determined to find where I fit in the industry. It was a hard road. I was 18 and wanted so desperately for people to take me seriously, so I confidently took every opportunity that came my way.

Before long, I was a regular guest on the Monday Makeover show on one of the local television stations, sharing styling secrets, bantering with the anchors as if I’d been doing this for many many years (not just 3). I went out into my local market and got to work, doing fashion shows, styling burlesque companies, magazine covers and spreads. I was hungry for creative work.

After the recession in 2008 it was a much harder landscape to get paid creative work. I didn’t want money to be the reason why I wasn’t being an artist, so I took what little pay was available, (and in a city like Phoenix there wasn’t much available) and continued on, knowing that this experience would be valuable later on.

This was the time that Facebook was becoming very popular, and Instagram really just hit the scene. In Phoenix in that late 2000’s, early 2010’s, nobody really used social media for business purposes, it was still just a tool for employers to socially stalk potential candidates to get a glimpse of their personal life. I used social media to see what people were doing in other places. At that time, I had reached the height of where I could go in that city, and I longed for more.

Once I hit Southern California in 2013, I knew I made the right move. I took a break from the salon and just freelanced, picking up any work I could find through networking. I was a makeup artist as well at the time, and found that working at a MAC Cosmetics store was an amazing resource to book freelance work.

My 5 years in San Diego was very much about finding myself. I finally moved away from the place I grew up in, and had the opportunity to really find out who I was and what I was capable of. I knew in my heart where I really wanted to be, but I also knew I just wasn’t quite ready to make the jump to LA. I thought you had to have something substantial to make a move like that and be successful, until I realized, you don’t. You need a plan, good time and money management skills, and an unwavering commitment to success. Check, check, check!

Now, that’s not to say it hasn’t been difficult… because believe me, being a creative in LA with zero connections when you first arrive, is probably one of the most difficult situations there is. That’s where I thrive. Against the odds. The burning desire to build my business is what drove me every single day to show up and be consistent (because consistency = success).

This journey here in LA has been theee most difficult. I came late to the social media party as it relates to branding and business because at this point I never had to use it. Discovering your brand this late into your career, I felt like I was never going to catch up. Like I was missing a secret that everyone else seemed to understand and know. Why is it I can’t seem to find my brand? What do I bring to the table that nobody else does? Endlessly trying to figure this out has driven me to edge of sanity.

And then it hit me…..

As a creative, your brand reflects who you are and your values right now…. Not forever. What are you about right now? That’s what your brand is. As you grow and change, so does your brand. It’s not a finite concept, but an ever evolving look into your values and what’s important to you about what you create.

This has been the absolute hardest lesson to learn in the 18 years I’ve been doing this. And I’m still learning it.

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?
LA has so many hidden gems. I love taking people to the Getty Villa, it’s such a beautiful museum, with so many photo ops, and really cool exhibits. Then lunch at Duke’s in Malibu, followed by a little beach time. I also love the hiking trails in Malibu, it really feels like you’re out of the city.

Sunday Funday in WeHo is a must. Catch a drag brunch and bar hop the day away is always a fun time.

For beautiful views of the city, Runyon Canyon hike never disappoints! Or if a hike isn’t on the menu, Griffith Park (Observatory) is a great place to see the cityscape.

During the summer, a rooftop pool party is definitely on the itinerary. Followed by a bite and drinks at Mama’s Shelter in Hollywood.

No trip would be complete without seeing a show (hopefully the LA Phil is in season) at The Hollywood Bowl (my fav concert venue).

This is just an introduction trip. There’s so much more but we only have a week 🥳

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My partner Andrew. We’ve been together for over 5 years, and every step or leap I’ve taken in my life and career, he has been there. Whether it’s to jump in and use his massively creative brain to help me, or to hold a mirror to me and show me what I needed to see in order to get my head in the right place, he has been instrumental in my growth as a person. So I dedicate this shoutout to him ❤️

Instagram: @boy.courtneyhair

Image Credits
Andrew Guiyangco Matt Kallish Sammy Singleton Evan Maricle Vico Velez