Aces of Trades: Making Waves Hair and Color Studio embraces loving, supportive environment
CHILLICOTHE – Sometimes a career path takes a very unexpected turn – toward curly hair.
“I was very quiet but a bit ordinary,” assessed Carrie James. “I dreamed of being a veterinarian until I shadowed a local vet in junior high school. He was removing an abscess off a dog and that dream went out the window!”
Today, James is the owner, curl specialist (“and cheerleader!”) at Making Waves Hair & Color Studio.
“I started Making Waves in the fall of 2021,” she said. “It all happened so quickly. I drove a different direction home than usual, saw the ‘For Rent’ sign, went around the block and made the call. That was the very end of September and by November I was open for business. It was definitely a whirlwind!”
“I always wanted to create a professional, supportive, loving environment,” she continued. “I see other stylists as friends. I love supporting the other girls! I'm not competing with them, only myself. There's enough hair, skin and nails to go around for us all. I want to see us all succeed!”
James grew up in Chillicothe, graduated from Zane Trace in 1997 and two decades later, after working for a medical supply company, she graduated from the Ohio State School of Cosmetology.
“I actually started on this career path for my love of makeup and nails,” she said. “I was blessed with training under Lacie Wehrle in Fort Wayne, Indiana, right after graduating and learned different Balayage techniques and started falling in love with hair.”
“Then later in my career,” she added, “I fell in love with natural curls and studied under multiple brands learning many techniques. I take pride that I’m the only Devacurl certified stylist in southern Ohio.”
Her clients appreciate the skills.
“Carrie’s salon is stellar,” assessed Paige O’Dell. “I sought out Carrie as a curly haired gal. I drive from the Portsmouth area to her salon. Her attention to detail is impeccable. My curly hair has never, ever looked so good. I found out, after almost 50 years, I was doing everything wrong for a person with curly hair. My granddaughter and my daughter-in-law are also now clients with Carrie. She’s amazing!”
Jan Green, another “longtime guest,” agreed.
“Carrie is an excellent stylist, smart businesswoman and a wonderful, fun person,” said Green. “I always leave her shop with a smile on my face.”
“I couldn’t be happier,” Skaggs responded. “The look on my guests’ face is everything to me. Curly hair is my passion!”
Making Waves Hair & Color Studio is located at 76 East Main St. in Chillicothe. For more information, call 740-701-6404 or look on Facebook.
About the Series
Aces of Trades is a series focusing on people and their jobs – whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at gaznews@nncogannett.com or 740-349-1110.
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Aces of Trades: Making Waves Hair and Color Studio embraces loving, supportive environment
