Jessica Scott Santo (@jessicascotthair), owner of Jessica Scott Hair (@jessicascotthair_salon) in Sciota, Pennsylvania, wasn’t always going to be a hairstylist. She started her college career in a different caregiver profession, nursing, but an emergency health issue derailed her original plans. “In my second year, I suddenly had to get my appendix out and drop out of school,” Santo recalls. “But, I wasn’t about to sit back and do nothing with my life, so I decided to go to cosmetology school. I was always good at hair and had a natural talent for it.”
Educator, salon owner, influencer and balayage guru, Jessica Scott Santo, stops at nothing to fulfill her life’s dreams.
Jessica Scott Santo (@jessicascotthair), owner of Jessica Scott Hair (@jessicascotthair_salon) in Sciota, Pennsylvania, wasn’t always going to be a hairstylist. She started her college career in a different caregiver profession, nursing, but an emergency health issue derailed her original plans. “In my second year, I suddenly had to get my appendix out and drop out of school,” Santo recalls. “But, I wasn’t about to sit back and do nothing with my life, so I decided to go to cosmetology school. I was always good at hair and had a natural talent for it.”
Jessica Scott Santo is a salon owner and behind-the-chair stylist who uses her clients as models for her booming Instagram page.
Passion Play
Despite her innate abilities, Santo’s new career was no walk in the park. During her third month of schooling, at 20 years old, Santo became pregnant with her first child, then struggled to find her niche in the salon industry. “I knew getting pregnant was not going to hold me back, and I graduated at the top of my class,” she shares. “But, looking back, working behind the chair for years seemed almost repetitive until I really found my passion in balayage.”
At the same time, Instagram was evolving. Santo was constantly brainstorming ways she could create a memorable presence on social media, though she couldn’t have predicted how the platform would change her life. “I started filming myself doing handpainting techniques and talking about balayage, since a lot of stylists still didn’t do the technique. I started to teach a lot of classes, since there was a need for balayage education,” she remembers. “Then, I saved up for more than a year and opened my salon in 2019—without any loans!”
Obsess, Rinse, Repeat
Santo assumed the roles of educator and influencer—a full-time job in themselves, especially when just starting out. “I remember being on Instagram 38 hours a week while holding down a full-time job, teaching classes and raising three children,” she explains. “When I have a goal, I always think to myself, ‘I will, no matter how long it takes me.’”
Meanwhile, Santo started an online education platform (@elitestylistedu) for stylists on Instagram, serving those who can’t take in-person classes. After all, she knows what it’s like to juggle the myriad responsibilities of both family and career. “My biggest obstacle has been balancing home life and having a family, but still wanting to have a successful career,” Santo reflects. “This is the number one question I get from other stylists: ‘How do you do it all?’ I’m a very driven person, and I’m always looking for ways I can better myself. I’m lucky that I have a good support system in place at home; it allows me to do all I can for my career.”
But, Santo’s success also hinges on old-fashioned hard work. “I’m the type of person who went to bed at 3 a.m. because I was researching all I could about social media, camera photography or anything hair-related,” she laughs. “Things don’t come easy in life, and you have to really work to see growth.”
Talent Show
In addition to winning multiple hair competitions, teaching at mega events as an international artist and winning Colorist of the Year at the American Influencer Awards, Santo accepted the role of global color ambassador for Moroccanoil in 2022. “I’m now traveling to events and hair shows, meeting amazing people along the way, and showcasing this color line and new hair techniques,” she notes.
Fortunately, Santo is accustomed to managing multiple roles. “As hairstylists, we all have to overcome—especially if we’re involved with social media—the fact that we are not just stylists but also photographers, videographers and content creators,” she concludes. “That was a big challenge, so I had to really research and learn. I’m not the type of person to do things halfway.”
Push Your Luck
Jessica Scott Santo, with her stop-at-nothing zeal in rising to the top, shares five fail-safe practices that can help shape your career.
1. Follow your passion. I feel passionate about my work because I love what I do, and my skills have turned my passion into a successful career. I eat, sleep and breathe hair. I could not imagine doing anything else, but that is what makes me work so hard and strive for success.
2. Never give up. If you fail, try again. Nothing comes easy in life.
3. Get outside your comfort zone. Try new things. Setting new challenges and goals will lead to new opportunities.
4. Master social media. Social media marketing gives you a voice. It helps you build connections, earn more loyal customers and even attract new ones. You can be everywhere at once.
5. Seek out education. Education can help advance your career. Have a willingness to learn. New trends arise every year and it’s important for professionals to be familiar with different techniques. There are hands-on workshops and online courses available to help you further your education.
