Meet Tabby Holden (Marsden) | Independent Hairstylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tabby Holden (Marsden) and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tabby, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Taking risks are necessary for growth, you never know what you are truly capable of if you never step outside of your comfort zone. If you know anything about my journey you already know at the age of 16 I made the decision to pursue my career in a much bigger city away from my small little hometown. It was at the time the scariest decision I had ever made but I’m so glad that I did. Growing up with anxiety in an unstable home it seemed like it would be impossible for me to follow my dreams. If I ever dared to try and talk about the things I wanted to do I was told that I couldn’t. I wasn’t brave enough, I cried too much, I was too fragile, too eccentric, no one would ever want someone like me. There were days that noise was so loud I almost believed it for a moment, until I sat with her, and all those feelings of sadness and fear turned into anger then motivation as I thought to myself this is my life and nobody has the right to tell me what I am capable of because I knew deep down what I wanted out of my life and it was up to me to get me there even if that meant doing it alone with no support, no one to fall back on if I failed. It was all or nothing, I was tested to my breaking point but I never gave up I had to keep showing up for myself because no one else was going to do it for me.

What should our readers know about your business?
Since long before I started hair school, I wanted to open up my own salon I wanted to be my own boss, make my own rules and make people feel good and create a safe space and environment where people felt like they could be themselves, I worked for my first salon boss for nine years before Covid hit and we shut down and didn’t reopen our doors after I took a break and bounced around a few other places and decided it was time to branch out of my own. Now I have a studio where I can do all my clients be myself and make more money, I’m still learning and growing also trying to build my clientele up especially in these slow seasons but with the power of social media it’s been easier than ever to find new people who love your work. I love getting to meet all the different people hearing their stories working with their personalities. I deal with a lot of people on the spectrum so it is sensory friendly I have the option to turn off the music or dim lighting if I need to it’s quiet and private which creates a safer space for everyone.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love all the little small businesses that line the streets in downtown centerville it really Is a great community to be a part of. I am close the Wright Patterson Air Force base so there is so much diversity in the area it’s been fun learning about it all and meeting people from all over the world and leaning about their cultures and experiences. There is a lot of history there as well I love getting to see the old buildings and learning about them what businesses they use to be vs where they are now if you love brick oven pizzas Old Scratch is probably one of my favorite pizza places in the area 10/10 recommend you try it!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many incredible people that I met along the way that have impacted my story. My biggest safe space was always my Uncle Stacy he taught me what true love and kindness was when needed it most on the hardest days, he was always the one I fell back on He was my rock and knight in shining armor. I lost him at the age of 14 to a brain tumor, I thought my life was over when he passed he was the dad that I never had he was my best friend there hasn’t been a day since he left us I haven’t thought about him. I remember him being the first person that I thought of when I was given the opportunity to start my career. I thought of how excited and proud he would be he was always the one encouraging me to do things that were scary and he believed in me more than anyone else and probably even myself. There was also Jarred, my step dad, our relationship was very rocky at first until I realized it came from a place of love and he was just doing his best to try and raise broken children who never had the chance to know what it was like to be loved by someone so unconditionally flaws and all, him and my mom unfortunately went there separate ways and 10 months later and 4 months into my first year of hair school he took his own life. I hit a rock bottom so low I was sure I couldn’t climb out of it. I remember wanting to give up everything I worked so hard for because losing him was just too much. The person who didn’t have to but chose to over and over again, he chose to be there for us even though he was hurting so bad he couldn’t make it out of the darkness that took over him. I think about how lonely he must have felt and how I wish I could tell him how much I loved him and thank him for trying his best to be my dad when I needed him the most. He’s the reason for the ink behind my ear, the reason I can never listen to Green Day’s, wake me up when September ends without completely losing it, the reason I’ll never stop trying to be a light in people’s darkness and the reason I didn’t give up myself. My first salon boss Jesseca Turner is to this day my greatest mentor and friend she had to deal with the worst version of myself, I will forever be grateful that she didn’t give up on me. I came to her a very traumatized and anxious young stylist who was excited to learn but very un trusting in people. She taught me to be disciplined and helped me stay strong showed me how to stand up for myself and taught me everything I know about the hair industry. She helped me heal a lot of things I never knew needed healing she lifted my spirits when I was down and hasn’t stopped believing in me i owe that women everything and I’m beyond grateful to have her be a part of my life. There are so many more honorable mentions but these three had the biggest impact and I can never say it enough how special they are to me.

Website: https://www.fresha.com/book-now/hair-by-tabby-fzrkx745/all-offer?id=1036659&pId=982614

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