Meet Celia Skerritt of The Station Hair Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Celia Skerritt.

Celia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Not to sound incredibly woo-woo, but I dropped out of college to pursue a career as a craft hairdresser after I started having dreams about doing hair, and I’d never been happier. My family wasn’t exactly thrilled that I was bailing on a degree for a literal dream, but I knew in my bones it was the right move for me. Fifteen years into this industry, I think it’s safe to say I made the right call.

I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside some of the most influential hairdressers in Boulder, Denver, and NYC, but landing at The Station Hair Studio in the Golden Triangle still feels like living a dream. Beyond making my community feel incredible in their hair, I’m also fortunate enough to lead creative direction for an ever-growing salon and gallery project, while mentoring a group of deeply passionate, wildly talented stylists.

Education and mentorship have always been at the heart of my work, so helping shape the success of my team is more than enough reason to keep getting out of bed in the mornings.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
You know, it’s actually been smoother than I sometimes give it credit for. I think when you’re truly following your destiny, as long as you keep showing up consistently, the path has a way of clearing itself. That’s not to say there haven’t been struggles along the way.

After Covid, I took almost two years off to return to the East Coast and decompress. I think most people can relate to post-pandemic burnout, and wow, did it hit me hard. Before Covid, I was pushing myself relentlessly toward my goals. People warned me I was going to burn out, but I had so much fire that I didn’t listen. Turns out I’m not immune.

After my “little” break, though, I felt more ready than ever to continue advancing my craft. I was incredibly fortunate; most of my clientele were thrilled to have me back in Denver, and my business picked right back up.

Having experienced such extreme apathy toward what had once been my greatest passion, it’s now hard to get me to shut up about the benefits of work-life balance and self-care. Chasing our dreams is beautiful and important, but at what cost? It turns out slow and steady really might win the race sometimes.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a craft hairdresser and educator. I intentionally use the word craft because, while it may be an unpopular opinion, I don’t personally resonate with calling hairdressing “art.” No shade, but what we do is craftsmanship, and I think that distinction is something to be deeply proud of. Craft implies skill built through repetition, discipline, and respect for the process, not just inspiration.

I specialize in color, and more specifically, I’m known for hand-painted techniques, often referred to as balayage. That said, I’m cautious about leaning too hard into specialization. While I’ve spent tens of thousands of hours refining balayage, I’m an exceptionally well-rounded colorist. I cut hair, I do extensions, and I believe versatility is a strength, not a weakness. For newer hairdressers especially, I think developing a broad, solid foundation is far more valuable than buying into the myth that specialization alone makes you better.

What truly sets me apart is my intuitive approach to discovering and creating the best possible look for each guest, paired with a relentless commitment to refining my craft. My edge comes from understanding the science behind what I’m creating so thoroughly that I can let creativity take the driver’s seat, without fear.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I consider myself incredibly lucky. Right at the very start of my career, I stumbled into an apprenticeship with one of the most brilliant and well-rounded hairdressers of our generation. I had no idea what the right or wrong moves were starting out, but being taken under her wing completely changed my life.

So that’s my advice: please, for the love of the craft, don’t jump straight from beauty school to working behind the chair, or worse, a salon suite. Find an apprenticeship. Find a mentor. Or even several. Spend at least a year or two post-beauty school learning everything you can, even if it doesn’t feel glamorous. Your future self will thank you.

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