We are spotlighting the winners of Beauty Launchpad’s 30 Over 30 contest, sponsored by Denman Brush.
Get to know Amanda Lyberger (@thehairygodmotherr). She is a hair colorist at Thair Salon in Los Angeles, CA.
Q&A:
Beauty Launchpad (BLP): What is a fun fact about you?
Amanda Lyberger (AL): I’ve lived in seven different cities in the US, and I’m licensed in four different states!
BLP: How did you get your start in the industry?
AL: I went to a tiny hair school out in rural Texas (shoutout to Hill College)!
BLP: What is your proudest achievement in the industry thus far?
AL: I was featured in a New York Times article in 2022. It was such a huge honor.
BLP: What advice would you give to the younger version of yourself just starting out in the industry, looking back on your whole career?
AL: I would tell myself to jump into color immediately and soak up every resource the internet had to offer.
BLP: What is your current favorite hair trend?
AL: Scene hair – For the first time in my 13 years as a stylist, I’ve had multiple requests for “scene” haircuts and colors this year. It’s coming back, baby!
BLP: What is a valuable hair tip that you want to share with your fellow stylists (whether it’s a business tip or something related to styling/working with hair)?
AL: Don’t be afraid to go where you’re valued. If you know your services are worth more than what your area values, move or commute!
BLP: What inspires your work?
AL: So many things: other stylists, nature, fashion, my amazing clients and sometimes the unconventional canvases I’m presented with.
BLP: What is something that keeps you passionate and motivated in the industry each day?
AL: My amazing clients. Whenever my creativity runs dry, I picture myself as a vessel to manifest the most fantastical limits of their imaginations.
BLP: What changes would you like to see the industry make in order to grow/change/evolve/be better than it was before?
AL: I would really like to see the beauty industry step away from the western beauty standard, and embrace and celebrate unique facial features and body shapes and types. The beauty industry needs to cater to bringing out the beauty of each individual rather than focusing on changing everyone to bring them as close to a Barbie-esque beauty standard as possible. I think it really starts with editorial publication picks and contest judging, focusing on the hair rather than the model.
BLP: What is a career goal you have for yourself?
AL: I would really love to collaborate with as many other hairdressers as I can. I absolutely love this community and seeing how other artists work and create is fascinating and so inspiring. It's something I’d love to push myself to do throughout the rest of my career.
To see the full list of winners, read Beauty Launchpad's May/June issue.
