From Healthcare to Haircare: Sabrina's Inspiring Journey to Kate Kandel Salon
At Kate Kandel Salon, we’re proud to welcome Sabrina, whose career path is as dynamic and engaging as her approach to hairstyling. Her journey from managing medical office buildings to becoming a sought-after stylist reflects her dedication to creativity, client connection, and professional growth.
Sabrina’s transition into the world of cosmetology is a story of embracing change and following her passion. Here’s a look at her background and the experiences that have shaped her into the talented stylist she is today.
Q: What’s your background behind the chair?
Sabrina: “My background behind the chair starts with a bit of a career shift. Before I got into cosmetology, I worked in healthcare—I used to manage medical office buildings for hospitals. It was a great job, but I just didn’t enjoy it. The part I liked most was interacting with patients, which wasn’t actually part of my job.
I’d always wanted to do cosmetology. I enjoy being creative, I pay better attention when I’m working with my hands, and it just feels so much more fulfilling. Plus, I could get that same interaction with clients that I had enjoyed with patients. So, I quit my job, moved to Nashville, and went to cosmetology school with a bunch of 18-year-olds—I was twice everyone’s age! It was funny because they were all excited when I started dating their high school teacher, who was the ‘hot’ social studies teacher.
After school, I landed at this fantastic salon called Spoke & Weal, which has locations all over the country. I was one of the founding members of the Nashville salon, and we built it from the ground up. Nobody knew who we were or how we did things because we were departmentalized, so that was a great lesson for me in how to talk to people about hair. It also gave me a lot of time to really focus on getting good at cutting hair.
I was lucky to take advantage of Spoke & Weal’s connections, which meant traveling to places like L.A., San Francisco, New York, and Chicago for classes. Sometimes, I’d even spend a week in those cities, taking clients for a few days. It was an incredible opportunity. Through them, I also got to do Fashion Week, which was a really cool experience. After going through a strenuous assistant program that lasted a year and a half, I finally started taking clients and found success in doing hair.
Eventually, I became the educator for the cutting program at Spoke & Weal, a role I held for about four years. I absolutely loved it—watching people start fresh out of school and transform into super talented stylists was so rewarding. The other great thing about being an educator is that it kept me on my toes. People are always watching you, so you can’t go on autopilot—you have to know why you’re doing certain things.
After a while, I decided it was time for a change and started looking for a place with equally high standards. That’s what led me to Kate Kandel Salon.”
Q: What are you looking forward to most now that you're living in Greenville?
Sabrina: “I'm looking forward to spending more time with my family. Being closer to them is a huge plus. I'm also excited to explore the hiking trails around here, especially the Swamp Rabbit Trail since we're right downtown. And, of course, the weather—it's much more tolerable here compared to where I was before.”
“During our phone interview, it was so pleasant, and then at my first in-person interview, which lasted almost two hours, we were just laughing the whole time. That made a huge difference for me and was the deciding factor.”
Q: Why did you join the team at Kate Kandel Salon?
Sabrina: “I joined this salon because their work is high-end and just executed really well. But beyond that, when you walk in, everybody's so nice. You can feel the warm energy as soon as you step through the door. During our phone interview, it was so pleasant, and then at my first in-person interview, which lasted almost two hours, we were just laughing the whole time. That made a huge difference for me and was the deciding factor.
What also stood out is that Kate is a stylist, but she also has Michael, who has more of an analytical brain. It's a nice balance because the salon is run efficiently, but the focus is also on what makes the stylists' lives easier and helps us be more successful. I really enjoy the energy here—it's just so positive and nice. The people are cool because they're not trying to be cool; they're focused on being kind and doing a good job.”
Sabrina’s journey to Kate Kandel Salon showcases her dedication to her craft and her commitment to finding a place that aligns with her values. With her extensive experience and passion for hairstyling, she’s sure to make a significant impact at our salon. We’re thrilled to have her on board and can’t wait for you to experience her expertise firsthand.
