Ruth Roche
I have always had admiration for people who chase their dreams and actually make them come true. Ruth Roche is one of those people.
She began her career in cosmetology by dropping out of college where she was pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. It wasn’t what she really wanted to do and she didn’t feel passionate about the career path she was headed in. As it turns out, dropping out of college and gracing the world of hair with her incredible talent was a very smart move on her part, if not “shear genius.”
During the span of Ruth’s career, she has won NAHA awards multiple times and has contributed to the ultimate hair bible, “Milady’s Standard Textbook of Cosmetology.” The hair industry is lucky to have such a talented artist who is so open to sharing her wealth of knowledge with those of us in the industry.
Her classes on business, current trends, and how to run a successful business have helped out so many professionals; I would love the opportunity to take a class with her one day.
Like Ruth, my life has taken many twists and turns to get me where I am today. It has taken me a solid 10 years since high school to finally get my cosmetology license. Being a single Mom, dealing with various hardships and lack of funds, I attended 3 different schools to get my 1600 hours. But I never gave up my dream.
I, too, will one day be a master stylist. In my 10 years working in the field, I’ve been published in magazines in the U.S., U.K. and in small magazine in Australia. My thirst for knowledge has gotten me where I am today, and my dream is to learn as much as I possibly can so that like Ruth, I can share my knowledge with the future generations to come. Because it is never too late to pursue your dreams.
I know with great confidence that Ruth or any master stylist’s second hand shears would benefit me in a great way. It will be one more tool to inspire and enable me to achieve an even greater career in this field.
You should pick me because, ever since middle school, friends and family have utilized what they recognize to be a natural talent for hair styling. At first, I didn’t see it. Over time, I realized I loved to look at people’s hair like a canvas and turn it into something they love to look at.
When I was growing up, I kept changing my hair styles constantly. In those days, my mother wouldn’t let me color my hair. I took matters into my own hands and was “caught red handed” when I stained my hair with red Kool Aid. Then I started cutting my own hair and really liked how I would mimic face framing like the models in the magazines.
Now that I’m older and even more passionate about hair, these 2nd hand shears would really feel like a stepping stone to my future dream.
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What beacon means to me, is that I get to push myself even further in my career: meeting those who achieved greatness in our field of beauty.
Ruth Roche’s Collection
At first I didn’t want to send in an application. When I looked at those who won in the past, I was in awe of their work and didn’t think I could compare.
But now, knowing that the skills I have accumulated over the years has helped me through my schooling. And to enter into a contest and being one of the winners made my heart drop when I found out.
I was a little stressed at first when I received the photos, two were awesome, but one I received from a photographer the hair was cut off. I decided to use a photo from the past. It still went with my theme but you could tell with lighting and clothing it was from a whole other shoot. I wanted them to be as cohesive as possible. At that moment with the deadline I didn’t have a choice and putting together another photoshoot would have been too much work; I wouldn’t know if I would of gotten the photos on time.
I’m so grateful I decided to enter. Now in a few weeks I will be off to Vegas in hopes to sit near master stylists and pick their brains on the latest trends and tools they love to use. Maybe even work for one of them in another state. We will see.
Click here to read Justina’s blog after attending the NAHA Awards — where she received Ruth Roche’s Second Hand Scissors on stage!
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