Today we’d like to introduce you to William Thomas Farago.
Thanks for sharing your story with us William. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born in the Bronx, raised in upstate New York and always loved doing hair. My sister and I used to play beauty shop, we cut her barbies hair, coloring them with markers and chalk. I got my license when I was 18, graduating high school and vocational school simultaneously — bounced around four different universities, including the Fashion Institute of Technology, where I studied fashion design, which brought me down to Fort Myers FL as a costume designer in ballroom dance wear. Eventually, I went back to doing what I loved, which was being a hairstylist. I met my husband in Naples and we moved to Fort Lauderdale six years ago this June. I finally opened my own place this past April 2019 and I couldn’t believe that my childhood dreams have been coming true.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I never had a mentor in the hair industry. Now every industry has its challenges but I never had a clear path to success by apprenticeship. Everything I’ve learned has been try and error. When I was growing up the guidance counselor sent you to the library to look up jobs, careers and colleges you might be interested in. There were no social media to showcase your talent or what was possible career wise. I, unfortunately, picked up a lot of poor work habits, attitudes and like many stylists partied way too much. When I worked for a hair school for a short time, I really saw how unrefined and raw I was compared to the senior students and knew I needed to up my game. So I avidly train and educate myself to become a better stylist and colorist every day.
Please tell us about your business.
Owning my own hair salon is truly a dream come true! I have worked for many corporate salons and larger salons where you can quickly feel like a cog in the machine. I strive to set my salon apart. I don’t adhere to a dress code or stay to just one brand or try to compete by looking like everyone else. We live in south Florida and I love the beach, the culture, the outdoors, music, travel, and all that this area has to offer. So I try to reflect on the beauty of the beach and keep a professional fun atmosphere. I want people to feel at ease and be comfortable and experiment with their hair. This should be fun, not boring.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Doing my sister’s hair, we are so vastly different as people and it was one of the times we could really bond and let our walls down. She’s a sporty girl and I was an artist, but we got to know each other better in those times, and those are my favorite memories.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1602 Cordova Rd, Ft.Lauderdale FL, 33316
- Website: www.wtfhairsalon.com
- Phone: 954-774-7465
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/wtfhairsalon
Suggest a story: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
