News
James Wiggins of The Studio @ Gumtree visits Mi Esperanza
Posted Aug 02 2010
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We were delighted and honored to have internationally trained designer James Wiggins come to Mi Esperanza to hold a 2 day seminar in color and new cutting technique with our beauty school students and graduates. It was 2 days of energy and learning. The girls were honored and thrilled to be offered this level of training FOR FREE! Thanks to a Torch MIssion group from Mississippi and James for funding the seminar. Continuing reading about James in his own words:
I started my career in cosmotology in 1984 at the Vogue School of Hair Design, in San Antonio, Texas.
I was very lucky and blessed (didnt realize it at the time) to get an apprenticeship at George & Company Hair Studio, San Antonio, Texas. George Garcia and Richard Lange were co owners of this business. George was a Glemby International artist, and Richard in his own respect, was quite an accomplished artist as well. The education and experience there was incredible being that I was fresh out of school, and there just happened to be a postion open. These guys were very talented, so getting off to a good start I must admit, molded my career as well as my thinking within this business.
I then moved to Tupelo, Mississippi to be nearer my family. I had been in the USAF for 4 years, college for 2 years, and had missed being around my family. I had a great experience in San Antonio, but my back surgeory before Cosmetology school was taking a turn for the worse, so decided to get closer to family. I worked at a well respected hair salon in the area for 2 years, then opened up my first business named Hotlox. Just a one chair operation that flourished into one of the largest salons in North MS. During those years I worked as a education associate with John Paul Mitchell Systems doing in salon education as well as hair shows with Robert Cromeans, and Jean Braa. Hotlox also grew in those years into a salon/spa with 20 employees. I closed the salon in 1999.
I then joined a group as a technical assistant out of Darmstadt, Germany, New York City, New York, and Los Angelos, California. Wella AG is one of the leaders in the industry for color and artistry known world wide. In 2001 I became a full time Salon Educator. This experience took me to even a greater level with my color and cutting knowledge. I worked along with artists like Chris and Sonya Dove, Anthony Nasti, Christina Casilla, Josh Banks, and many many more. It was truly a blessing to work along with the calibur of hairdresser many people only dream of.
I then moved back to Tupelo in 2004. The miles and dedication proved to be too much when it came down to making a choice between my daughters and travel. I missed them very much, and decided that being there as their father was much more important than piling up sky miles and wearing the tread off countless tires. The experience was tremendous, but we all have to make choices. I then opened up my current business, The Studio @ Gumtree, and have never looked back. It is in the historic district of downtown Tupelo, and a very unique studio if I must say. Mississippi is a very rural area of our country. Wella owns many many company’s and one of them designed industry furniture. Their studio in Paris is very parisianne looking and their studio in Los Angelos is somewhat like a movie set. So moving back here I used an old barn and designed all my studio furniture in a rural look. You can find us on Facebook, the studio at gumtree. I’ll be adding pictures when I get the time.
One of the most wonderful things about my work is that I can share Christ with people that may not ever darken the door of a church where they could hear the gospel. So with my education and experience, love for Christ, it makes it a place where things can happen, and of course all the Glory goes to Him… and most of the time, get a really nice ‘du’...
