Meet Kara Richard: Hair Colorist, Educator, & Salon Owner

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

Hi Kara, how do you think about risk?
I believe that when you tune in to your own personal intuition, signs will appear that guide you from step to step. Risk is always a factor in everything we do, but when I feel this pull from my intuition, it’s like a voice is speaking much louder than the risk. Each time I overcome a fear its like I’m strengthening a muscle that helps me continue to grow without the constant worry of failure. When something doesn’t work out in my business I can quickly move on to the next idea or plan that I feel called to. I’ve learned that its better to go for your ideas instead of waiting for your idea of perfection to guide your next moves. This has helped me also find what works and what doesn’t for my business.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have been a hair colorist in Santa Barbara for the last 15 years. This wasn’t necessarily a dream of mine, but I always knew as long as I was doing something creative I would be happy. The beauty industry seems to have no limits and I loved being able to create my own path just from the ideas I was called to pursue. My love for inspiring and motivating lead me to a career in education, where I teach hair colorists to use their own artistic intuition to empower them with the skills they need to create beautiful hair color. My journey has been a long one but each step as been guided in a way that feels seamless because I have continued to listen to my inner voice. In 2017, my long time co-worker and I had the opportunity to become salon owners and we wanted to create a space that was filled with peace and tranquility…somethings that rare in a salon setting. Summerland Salon & Spa was created and it has been amazing to watch the growth and evolution of our business.

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.
Santa Barbara is such a beautiful city, but many people don’t know about the gem of Summerland. A tiny beach town tucked in between the foothills and the ocean, Summerland is a haven for anyone looking for peace and beauty. A first stop would be a morning walk at our local beach, with views of the Santa Barbara coast. After a long walk we would head over for lunch at Field & Fort, a beautiful home interior and design store that is also a cafe with delicious California style dishes. We would then walk right next door to Sacred Space, a home and metaphysical store and enjoy tea in their beautiful gardens. Once we’re all relaxing we will continue this mode by heading over to my space, Summerland Salon & Spa for the most tranquil experience. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shoutout goes to my Grandmother. I was 6 years old when my parents divorced, and my Grandmother helped my mom raise her 3 kids. I grew up in Louisiana, and she was from Los Angeles, so her influence on my life was pretty impactful because I learned about the cultural differences and the opportunities she had as a black woman in California. Her constant encouragement though out young my life helped me discover that I was meant to leave my hometown to pursue my dreams in a state that was known for making dreams come true. Maybe this “American Dream” is just a story being told from generation to generation, but I believed her story wholeheartedly and I still have so much gratitude towards her.

Website: www.santabarbarabalayage.com

Instagram: @santabarbarabalayage

Linkedin: Kara Richard

Facebook: santabarbarabalayage

Yelp: Summerland Salon & Spa

Image Credits
Photo by Lauren Maeve Photography