christina swiney

I was born and raised in the bautiful state of Alabama. My passion for the beauty industry began at the young age of 14 years old when I gave myself the "scene" haircut. In Alabama, this was an extremely taboo style to have and local hairstylists were also very against this trend. Naturally, my pack of fellow "scene kid" friends asked me to cut their hair as well. This was my first creative spark into the beauty industry, it came so naturally and felt amazing to transform how someone feels. That was when I decided to begin the Cosmetology courses at Dothan Technology center, a trade school program for highschool students. I was sold on the opportunity to meet new people, build deep rooted relationships with clients, and help others feel as beautiful as humanly possible. While in highschool I worked so much freelance hair artistry that I didnt need a traditional teen job. I did the majorettes hair and makeup every single game, styled countless pageants/weddings/school dances, and had a clientele that came to m home for cuts and color. The feeling you get when someone's face lights up as they see their final look is essentially what I live for. After finishing highschool and the cosmetology program I applied to Aveda in Birmingham, al. I was accepted, received a small scholarship, and moved to Birmingham August of 2015. My year at Aveda made me fall in love even deeper with this career and helped me come into my now large and free spirited personality; I graduated third in my class with highest retention of clients and second highest retail sales. After graduating I worked at Ulta Beauty Salon for roughly 9 months and then found my current hair home, Wheelhouse Salon. I love the family style team, ongoing education, and people focused customer service at Wheelhouse. My team members welcomed me with open arms and have always been there for me. At Wheelhouse I have realized my greatest passions and have had amazing opportunity to grow. Color will always be my first love in the world of hair, beginning with vivids. I started working with vivids in highschool and continue today; in Alabama I am one of the very few stylists that offer vivid color services.  Color corrections have also become a great joy of mine, which I believe stems from my love of vivids since so many of those clients bounce from color to color! Of course, my heart also has a place for natural color services as well, including: depositing color, balayage, foilayage, and foiling.Haircuting of all forms is also wonderfully fulfilling. Shockingly, I find kids cuts to be a very fun challenge and nice change of pace to my constant clientele. I can never turn down a chance to get silly and creative witha child! I think everyone should keep their inner child alive and well, especially when you are in sucha  creative atmosphere. etting creative with shapes and movement is such a blast. I love to cut anything from very structured styles to loose and airy all the way to wild and textured. As long as I can get my hands in a head of hair and make someone feel fantastic, I am there for it!I have never truly felt "at home" living in the state of Alabama. As I said before, I have a large personality and a free spirit. There has never been a moment that I have not marched to my own beat, I know who I am and I know exactly what I want. Alabama is a place that is extremely conservative to the point that my "wild" hair color, tattoos, and personal dating life (this is my kind refferal of homophobia) can keep me from working in many salons. This mindset has always confused me, especially since this is a workforce of amazingly creative human beings! Southern culture has always evaded me, I am very direct and to the point which is the absolute opposite of Alabama. Here you are to look and be what everyone else is to be successful and that fact is quite honestly, soul sucking. I think that all people have something amazing to offer and plenty of love to give. I hope to relocate to a more forward thinking state in the near future.