Name: Laura Leigh Williams

Age: 24

Location: Brooklyn, N.Y.

Education: Degree in Cosmetology from Lively Technical Center in Tallahassee, Fla.

Job Title: Hairstylist

What She Does: Laura cuts and styles hair at Public, one of the hippest salons in Williamsburg, Brooklyn—a neighborhood known for its young, style-conscious artist population. With a few simple tools, she spends her days transforming dull, outdated ‘dos into sexy statements—all while listening to music and gabbing with friends (her co-workers and clients, that is). She has a solid customer list and works solely on a referral basis, and she also works independently on magazine and fashion shoots, recently styling “Victorian” hair for indie actress Leelee Sobieski’s spread in Spoon magazine.

How She Got Her Gig: Laura grew up in Tallahassee, Fla., where she first learned beauty tricks from her grandmother. “She was into putting eyeliner on me and was always coloring her hair,” laughs Laura. “I started dying my hair with box color when I was 11, and by high school I found myself cutting friends’ hair with clippers.” Laura left high school to attend cosmetology school before moving to Orlando, where she worked with a handful of talented stylists who helped train her. She found her first job in New York at a tiny Russian barbershop in the East Village, and worked there until being referred to Public by a friend.

Aches and Pains: While Laura loves her job, she doesn’t love its effects on her body. Long hours on her feet have given her back pain, carpal tunnel, arthritis, and bunions. “You have to be very conscientious and take care of your body,” says Laura, who does yoga and acupuncture—and always wear comfortable shoes.

Why It’s Worth It: Despite the sore shoulders, Laura loves spending time with her clients and co-workers. “I love the physical contact and exchange of communication I get to have with everyone,” she says. “And I work with incredible people. When you walk into Public, it’s like stepping into someone’s living room. It’s a nice little family.” She also has an enviable schedule—in at 1 p.m. and out by 9 p.m.—which leaves her nights and mornings completely free.

Do the ’Do: To work as a stylist you must obtain a styling license, which is acquired after completing cosmetology school. Licensing requirements vary by state but may include a written as well as hands-on exam. Once licensed, you can expect to work up to a year (sometimes more) as an apprentice—which sometimes means just sweeping hair and washing heads (not exactly glamorous). If you do pursue the trade, it also pays to consider geography: It can be harder to build a clientele in small towns or suburbs, where there simply isn’t as large a pool of potential clients. What’s more, your artistic leanings will be more limited in conservative or traditional areas.

This Job’s for You if: You’re creative and witty, and you love people. A love for locks is an obvious prerequisite, but it’s not enough to make you successful, since success depends largely on your relationships with clients. You also have to be willing to make mistakes. “You have to go into it with no ego and an open mind, because you can’t learn otherwise. People are so often afraid of being wrong,” says Laura. “But the more open you are, the better you’ll be in the long run.”

Photograph by Nicolas Ray.