Meet Grace Dawson of Nashville, Tn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Dawson.

Hi Grace, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hi! I’m Grace Dawson, a 22 year old Murfreesboro native.

I am a Nashville based hairstylist & freelance makeup artist.

So far in my career, I have gotten to work with celebrities, on movie & commercial sets, music awards, etc.

I want my story to be one of perseverance and passion, because there were days 18 year old that Grace was convinced she didn’t hold the power to lead a life of purpose.

There were days that settling for the easy choice seemed more worth it than working towards what I knew would truly fulfill me.

My career holds such a special place in my heart. It’s truly made me realize that when you do what you love, it doesn’t have to feel like work.

Today, you can find me behind the chair Wednesday- Saturday at Local Honey East Nashville; or maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll find me working on one of my many passion projects in the industry.

I love to chat and get to form meaningful relationships with each and every one of my clients.

I can’t wait to hopefully meet new faces and to create more magic in both 2025 and for years to come.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For my entire life, I’ve always heard that college equals success.

I had a LOT of push back from guidance counselors, teachers, and other adults in my life telling me that I was making a mistake by “wasting my potential” not going to a traditional college.

But for me, something just never felt right about the “traditional” path.

After taking aptitude tests, college prep classes, and multiple rounds of the ACT test… I knew something wasn’t right.

Makeup was the first passion I can remember having that shaped me into who I am.

From the time I was 13-14, I remember waking up in the early hours to get ready & walk around the school halls wearing a “Grace Dawson signature cat eye”.

When I really started thinking about my future and how I wanted it to look, I knew I wanted to do something I was passionate about. Something I could do to impact my community. Something I was proud of.

And for me, that has always been the beauty industry.

Once my decision was made to pursue that passion began, it’s been FULL force everyday since.

I attended Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro beginning in fall of 2020.

I also graduated high school class of 2020, so to start a VERY hands on career during a global pandemic was no easy feat.

I went from a carefree teenager to career driven adult almost overnight.

While in school, I worked at a local salon as a shampoo tech.
After graduating, I immediately completed my licensing test and began an 18 month long RIGOROUS apprentice program at my current salon.

During those 18 months, I worked 2 jobs while being in continued education classes.
I was 19, living away from my parents for the first time, all while trying to make ends meet. I quite literally was donating plasma to afford groceries most weeks.
It pushed me to my limit and taught me just how hard I was willing to work for the career I had dreamed of.

I’ve been rejected, talked down upon, and told brutally honest truths that made me want to crumble.

Taking those words and using them as fuel is such a powerful tool if you’re willing to stand your ground and not run away from the face of failure.

I’m a big believer in the phrase “If it was easy everyone would do it”

Because not everyone has the fire within them to stay afloat in a such a cut throat industry. Again, there were days I truly questioned if I had that very fire.

But I wanted it SO bad.
I DREAMED and FOUGHT for the life I’ve made for myself.

I’ve worked 60+ hours a week of minimum wage jobs that felt dead end.

Days like those do not and will not last forever if you’re brave enough to keep consistent towards your goal.

Becoming the stylist I am today has been no easy path, but no dream worth having comes easy or without setback.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve had blue hair since I was 14, so to say fun colors are my passion would be an understatement.

Growing up in a small town always made me feel so different for having a funky style

Having a sense of unique personal style is such a big piece of my identity and truly makes me who I am.

Because I gain so much confidence from having the craziest hair in the room, I love getting to create that same feeling for my clients that want a look that’s out of the ordinary.

I would say my speciality/ heart lies in all things fashion colors.

Since moving to Nashville, I feel such a sense of belonging with the unique community that surrounds me. It’s such a joy for me to give someone a look that they can use as a form of self expression.

I’m most proud of my “crazy projects” where I have creative control to create a one of a kind personalized style.

A few notable projects include doing a sunset inspired pink look, a prism/rainbow inspired look, and a ying/yang black & white inspired look.

Creating one of a kind looks like these I believe are what sets me apart. Being innovative and experimental are two things I pride myself on when tasked with these “crazy” projects.

Of course I know that rainbow hair isn’t for everyone, so my heart definitely also lies in lived in brunettes, flowing layered cuts, and so much more.

I really love to challenge myself to say yes when working with a client. To find solutions and take on projects that scare me. To work with my clients to learn & grow together.

When I get to come to work to create living art, the feeling is indescribable.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
As someone that’s still so young with so much to learn, I feel sometimes that I am hardly in the position to offer advice.

But If I had to share anything, I would share a piece of advice given to me by a mentor that has truly changed my life.

Say yes to everything.

Say yes to things you’re under qualified for. Say yes to things that are underpaid. Say yes to things that scare you.

Because saying yes now will pay off.

All it takes is making one right connection and suddenly saying yes will have made all the difference

I let so many opportunities pass me by because I didn’t have the self confidence to rise to the occasion, but I will never allow myself to sell myself short again

Because I see what the power of saying yes has done for me and continues to do for me every step of my journey.

As cliché as it sounds, I wish I wasn’t so hard on myself in the beginning of my career.

If I could go back and have a conversation with my 18 year old self, I would tell her to slow down and accept that no one is a master of anything in the beginning.

Being in the beauty industry is hard sometimes in the sense that everyone expects your work to be flawless because of the expectations laid before us on social media.

With beauty filters, photoshop, etc. it’s easy to lose sight of your own accomplishments by comparing yourself to everyone else around you.

I wish I could tell my younger self that all the hours you put in will pay off if you’re willing to put them in.

I will never claim to be a master at anything because I always want to consider myself a lifelong learner.

It took me a lot of tears, anxiety, and stress to learn that it’s not just okay to be a lifelong learner, but an absolute necessity to keep growing and evolving.

Pricing:

• (Please refer to links in my social media profiles for pricing information)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/hairbygracedawson
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairbygracedawson/profilecard/?igsh=MWx1dDAyZXZxYWhrMg==