The term “gamine” became famous through Audrey Hepburn’s iconic masculine style and short haircut that challenged conventional ideas of beauty. But gamine was always more than a hairstyle. It represented independence, individuality, intelligence, and a woman defining herself on her own terms.

After more than thirty years in the beauty industry, I’ve come to believe that the most interesting transformations have very little to do with hair. They happen when people find the courage to express who they truly are. This newsletter is a collection of those stories, observations, and conversations from behind the chair.

I’ve been working in beauty since 1992, though the journey started much earlier. By the time I was four or five years old, I already had a clear vision, and I mean a full download, of what I was going to do with my life. Whether you call it intuition, destiny, or simply knowing yourself, I’ve spent the last three+ decades following that path.

Many of you know me as your hairdresser, but my career has taken me through both hair and makeup, from salon life to freelance artistry and back again. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of learning from some of the most talented artists in the industry. I’ve been blessed to have my love for hair and makeup take me on adventures around the world. One of the reasons I still love this work after all these years is that the learning and the wonderment never stops.

But this newsletter isn’t really about my résumé.

It’s about the people I’ve met because of it. When you spend your life helping people shape how they present themselves to the world, you witness something deeper. Vulnerability, bravery, transformation, grief, hope. Beauty trends and beauty standards have nothing to do with seeing people becoming themselves for that next stage of life. You hear their stories. You celebrate their victories. You watch them reinvent themselves, oftentimes more than once.

Over the years, I’ve become fascinated by the connection between personal style, self-expression, confidence, creativity, and empowerment. Particularly as women, the way we choose to show up in the world can be far more meaningful than simply what we wear or how we style our hair, it’s how we feel inside. And, how we can and DO make bold moves to FEEL differently!

Through this little letter, I’ll introduce you to inspiring clients, friends, artists, entrepreneurs, mothers, dreamers, and rule-breakers. We’ll talk about beauty, personal style, identity, feminism, creativity, and all the ways people find the courage to become more fully themselves.

I’m so glad you’re here.