What Doing Hair Taught Me About Trusting God With My Career

I'll be the first to admit I was in the middle of a quarter-life crisis. Rediscovering the faith I had at 14 — with every intention of keeping it this time. Settling into friendships that were proving themselves to be the lifelong kind. Building something that looked, from the outside, like it was finally coming together.

But then there was my career...

Once, I was told — out loud — that I'm "too smart to be doing hair." A few times, people said to either me or my parents that they wasted their money sending me to school if I was "just going to be a hairdresser." Lots more than once I've gotten an absolutely confused look through the mirror when I tell clients where I graduated from. Oftentimes, I lose myself in these thoughts. I spiral into deep, gut-wrenching ideas about how I'm not doing enough to prove I'm smart; not making enough to recoup what feels like the L of a business degree; simply not charismatic enough to turn those confused looks into dazzled awe — followed by a book purchase or two.

And in all those raging thoughts, it settles in me that I have to find peace. Peace I find in God's sovereignty — especially when I'm doing hair.

God's Sovereignty Is a Big Idea (Stay With Me)

God's sovereignty is a pretty big concept. Basically: God is God, He does what He wants, when He wants, how He wants — for His pleasure and glory — and in that, He's got me. Me? ME. As a Christian who decided to not just say she believes in Christ but actually follow Him for once, I've decided it's best to trust Him. Because if He can create the universe and hold it together for all this time, why would He throw me off the rails now?

So when I feel like I'm losing it — when I have not a clue what to do next — I do the only thing there is to do. I trust that God has it under control, and I take the next client that walks into DryBar White Plains.

Yes, I Said DryBar — And Yes, God Shows Up There

If you've never heard of DryBar, you've been under a rock for a decade. It's the no-frills, no-cut, no-color, blowouts-only salon that replicates a bar right down to the bartender titles and cocktail-named styles (Mai Tai, Cosmo, Southern Comfort). $45 for a blowout. In and out in 45 minutes. Wine, coffee, mimosas, or spa water if you're fancy. It is, without exaggeration, heaven — and it shows me God every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

What Hair Has to Do With Faith

Close your eyes and picture a head of hair. Open them quickly so you can keep reading. I'm sure you saw color and length. Red hair. Brown hair. Blonde hair. Grey hair. Purple hair. Short hair. Shoulder length. Long.

Let me tell you about hair. There's fine hair, medium hair, coarse hair, thin hair, thick hair, straight hair, wavy hair, curly hair, coily hair, frizzy hair, manageable hair, damaged hair, porous hair, balding hair, too much hair... and then there are heads. Huge heads, big heads, normal heads, small heads, tiny heads — and any combination of the above hair can be growing out of any one of them. GOD DOES WHAT HE WANTS. He gives you whatever head He wants and grows out of that scalp whatever type of hair He chooses.

That amazes me every time. It amazes me when the biggest heads have the tiniest bit of hair. It amazes me when pounds of hair fall from a messy bun and it's the easiest blowout I've ever done. It amazes me that God is so vast He can give us however many strands He feels... and still so personal He knows the exact count off the top of His invisible head.

When the Pieces Don't Make Sense Yet

So when the thoughts come — that I'm not smart enough, not doing enough, that it's not working out the way it should — I consider that God is the creator of all things. He knows exactly what He's doing. All the pieces that don't make sense to me right now (hair, writing, marketing) are part of His plan.

Like when a client is convinced she has the worst hair ever — and sometimes she's right — and I sprinkle my magic on it and make it beautiful. God works all things according to His will, and I'm glad He finds gentle ways to remind me. Submission to His sovereignty isn't easy. But it is a good choice. If He can manage something as specific as hair, He can surely handle something as complex (as I make it) as my life.

"I work all things according to the counsel of my will." — Ephesians 1:11