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By Mandy Haggerson

For the Clemmons Courier

Hillary Sapp stepped into an opportunity at the age of 14 that ended up making a big impact on her future.

“I had a family member that worked at a local hair salon in Winston-Salem that had an opening. I stepped in and started helping, and learned quickly how much I enjoyed the artistry behind the hair profession, and also working with people,” Sapp said. 

After graduating from Parkland High School, Sapp went straight to Regency Beauty School and took 1,500 hours of classes.

“It was full time, so I couldn’t really work outside of class during that time,” Sapp said.

While soaking up all of the knowledge she learned during beauty school, Sapp also found out that she was expecting her first child, Levi (12). Working hard now for herself and for Levi, Sapp was even more determined to start her new business venture after she graduated. 

Specializing in color, Sapp began to build her client base through word of mouth and referrals.

“It’s not easy to get color correctly, and I work really hard to make sure I achieve the exact color and highlights that each of my clients are looking for,” Sapp said. “I like doing redheads, blondes, you name it. I also appreciate a good challenge, like color corrections too. I just like making sure my client is happy, and that whatever they are looking to achieve makes them feel good about themselves. I really enjoy the artistic side of doing hair, but I also get a lot out of the relationships with people. I go through every part of their lives with them. I also double as a therapist too for many of my clients.”

Currently, Sapp works at Ember + Sage Studios in Clemmons.

“We have a great time in our salon,” Sapp said. “I enjoy the people that I work with just as much as my clients. We’re always making sure to stay up on the latest trends, and continuing our education so that we can be better for our clients. Traveling is a huge perk for the job, to the shows where we learn new techniques and products that are available in our industry. We also host workshops at our salon too, so that we can maximize learning opportunities as much as possible to stay up on latest and greatest in our industry.” 

Sapp has also learned how to tap into her entrepreneurial side. She has amassed a social media following that has gained substantial momentum.

“I had started out styling my hair for fun and posting the videos,” Sapp said. “After my first video posted, I realized that it had over 1 million views. I was shocked, but I realized it was another useful way to reach people and educate them, so I’ve embraced it. My friends joke around that I’m TikTok famous.”

At the end of her day whether it’s creating content in the hair industry or styling a client, Sapp is most in her element when she’s at home with her children. The single mom to Levi, Riley (10) and River (1) loves opening the door to their hugs.

“I love coming home at the end of the day, and my kids are so excited to see me,” Sapp said. “You can have the hardest day, and they are just excited that you exist. They love you for you with no strings attached. Of course, being a mom can be challenging, but it’s also the best thing in the world. We stay pretty busy. Our extra time is filled with their activities now too. They are trying new extracurricular activities like baseball and softball. It’s fun to see them experience new things and enjoy it. I don’t want to miss out on any of it, and I have appreciated the flexibility with my job to allow me to be a part of that with them.”