Cindy Adra / Founder

Interview with SD Voyager

Cindy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started doing hair when I was about 24 years old. I found that I enjoyed the creative energy in the field and was confident quickly that I had a talent for it and liked it—you know-how. You “know” when something’s a good fit. I apprenticed for two years, managed a salon, then opened my small studio, which led to three expansions. Then I started getting involved with photoshoots, hair for ads. I always was trying something – and it all was a natural progression, or it felt. I styled wigs for the San Diego Opera., then went to study hair in London with The Tony and Guy Academy. This career has never been boring. I still work in the salon four days a week. My new focus is The Hair Share – an online career development platform for stylists. I’m giving back to a great industry in any way I can to help my fellow artists create more and grow their business.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s been both – the road is usually smooth when you’re coasting, more challenging when you’re growing or expanding. Trying new things means you’re always in a learning curve and for artistic purposes it’s imperative that you are always stretching your creative boundaries. At the same time , being in a salon and serving my clients every day has allowed me to master my craft and build a business by repetition and consistency . It’s a balance.

Tell us more about the business.
The Hair Share is an online education platform for new stylists. I wanted to create a fresh, holistic and conscious guide to creating an intentional and rewarding career beyond Cosmetology school. I have over 30 years of experience and continue running my own business every day. The Hair Share teaches young stylists both foundational techniques and elements of design. We also share tips on working in a salon environment that you only usually get from experience. For a stylist, creating a hair design is more rewarding than following a template designed by someone else.

The Hair Share also encompasses the soft skills needed by any stylist, or anyone for that matter, to grow a career by connecting to their client. We have seven principles of energetic growth that are essential to success. The hair industry is constantly evolving and changing. By being a conscious stylist and business person, a stylist will be able to anticipate trends and create ahead of the curve. We have so much information we want to share and are planning on launching our website by summer.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Haha! Call it luck, destiny, fate and hubris. Divine intervention, all of the above! I’ve learned that life is more than the sum of its parts and if I can stay open and positive to what comes down the road, one of the above will show up. Eventually, when I got my first job “on the floor, “I was there for six months when the salon manager quit suddenly. This created a big problem for the absentee owner who promptly offered me the position. I promptly took it and two years later opened my own salon. Who can say what path I would have been on If that salon manager hadn’t quit that day? Luck? Or fate?

Cindy Adra / Founder

Our Values

The Hair Share focuses on seven principles of energetic growth. They apply to being in charge of your conscious business and are key to begin succuessful.

Awareness

Be upfront with the cost to them. Be clear on what they will get during the service. Keep an open mind to listening to their concerns. Address their concerns honestly. You are building a partnership with them based on trust.

Intention

Having a business intention and acting on that intention assures that you will be in control of your career and won’t become stagnant or feel stuck. We are going to assume you want longevity in your career.

Knowledge

If you’re ready to open your own business get as much knowledge as you can about what it takes to run it. Just being a great hairstylist won’t be enough.

Skill

In business the more knowledge you have , the more skill you’ll have also. You can’t make a profit without business skills. There is nothing more demoralizing than working hard and not turning a profit or making what you’re worth.

Time

Many stylists are steady all year round with their business but most have seasonal fluctuations that are perfectly normal. The general economy may also affect your business. Keep track and chart your busy and slow times

Energy

There is no growth in business without energy; Whatever you focus on is where energy will flow. You have to keep your styling on point but don’t neglect putting energy into your business life as well.

Gratitude

Ultimately you are in charge of your success or failure, you are in charge of your connection to your clients, you are in charge of designing a hairstyle for each client. That’s by we are so fulfilled when we do it right. It’s freedom to be you

see what our graduates have to say

Alicia was my mentor when I worked in a cute little salon/boutique Solana Beach, California.  

I felt a connection right away with her kind heart and humble nature. Her teaching style is very detail oriented and also very supportive.

I’m very grateful for the time I spent with her. I learned so much about cutting and coloring hair and also about the business side of hairdressing. 

I still hear her guiding words when I feel a little stuck in my own business, she really made an impact on the person stylist I am today. She truly believed in and supported me and I am forever grateful

Maricel Murphy / Cara Hair Studio

After Beauty school, I got my very first job as an apprentice with Cindy in her beautiful trendy boutique salon in the heart of Delmar California. Cindy inspired and continuously motivated me.

In beauty school, you learn the basics, and when you work in a salon with a talented mentor, that’s where it all starts in setting a solid foundation. Cindy is an artist in color and her haircutting techniques with great explanation of the hows and whys. She always made it interesting.

In 2002 I opened my own salon. It was very successful and I owned and operated it until 2018. With the right foundation and a mentor who cares, nothing is impossible to be a success in this amazing profession.

Charmaine Matic / Hair Share Alumni