Bars &
Music Notes
Bars &
Music Notes
Bars &
Music Notes
Sadja Monet
Sadja Monet was born in Staten Island and currently resides in Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania. Sadja moved to Pennsylvania when she was a child because her family wanted a better life for her and her siblings. Sadja attended Pleasant Valley School district and was a cheerleader for the PV Bears football team. During her sophomore year in high school, Sadja attended MCTI to become a licensed cosmetologist. Becoming a hairstylist was something Sadja wanted to pursue. She was inspired by her Aunt Tara who always had the latest hairstyles from the south. Now if you are familiar with the hair shows from down south, big, colorful and full of life. This kicked started Sadja to want to become a hairstylist and own her own shop. From, mentoring and working for Alternatives Hair Salon Sadja decided to take life by the wheel. She opened her shop in July of 2018, and the rest is history. This is her story!
What is Sadja Monet Beauty Bar?
Sadja Monet beauty bar is a hair salon with an upscale feel with reasonable pricing for our community. With being a mom and being around many female friends you want to be able to get beautified. Every so often you don’t have the money to do so because you have other priorities, so I want men and woman to come here and get their hair done for a decent price but feel good at the same time.
What is your mission, and do you provide a mentoring service?
My mission is to take over the Poconos with the latest styles along with hair and makeup. I want to be known as that salon that everyone goes to. Since I lost my best friend, I have been on a mission to be the best I can be because there is no limits to what I can do.
How do you wish to inspire young people with your craft?
I would say to keep going because you’re going to have hard times, good time and bad times. The bad times are what’s going to make you grow as a stylist and as a person, so will you mistake. I’m only 26 and I cannot say I know everything or that I have everything mastered and down packed. Yes, I own my own salon, but I’m still in the learning process. So for those people who want to do it keep striving it starts from a dream. From a dream, you have to speak it into existence and from speaking it you are nurturing your seed to make it possible. Whether it’s being a cosmetologist, owning your own shop, being an artist or whatever it is you desire. You have to believe it can happen and believe that it is possible. And just remember it is up to you to believe in you. There are people that thought I was not going to make it this far and I DID! You just have to prove yourself wrong.
What advice would you give someone who wants to become a hairstylist and open up their own shop?
Research, do not just jump into it thinking you know everything I would advise you to get a mentor. Take that time to learn because you are always going to learn something different. Whether its hair related, or business related because it is not a one, two, three I got it. Humble yourself! There are celebrity stylists I have met and I always let them know “I want to work with you but I do not know everything."
Why did you want to become a hairstylist?
My aunt use to have these crazy hairstyles it was extremely hard that if you knock on it you can hear how hollow it was. She constantly had some down south looking hairstyle, but she lives in New York. I use to observe her all the time, and that is why I began to take an interest in doing hair. During my tenth-grade year, I wanted to attend MCTI for cosmetology, but I didn’t get accepted. I figured t I was not going to do hair at this point in time. During the middle of the school year, MCTI contacted me to let me know they had an opening. I began attending MCTI and graduated in 2010 and got my cosmetology license. After graduating I started working at Alternatives Hair Salon on Main St in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, that was the first job I had as a hairstylist.
When did you start your own business, and have you done any hair shows?
I started my business in 2018, and my shop has been open for three months. I have attended hair shows while I was working for Alternatives Hair Salon in Atlanta the Bronner Brothers, Natural Hair Care and a few in New Jersey. Attending these hair shows teach you a little bit of everything, it shows you the business aspect of doing hair and the latest hairstyles. It’s good to know these things because with the hair industry things constantly change. There is always a new hairstyle, trend and I always tell people to be on top of the latest. Even though you can do hair, there is someone that can do it better.
What services do you provide?
I specialize in natural hair care, extensions, twist style, dreads, braids and custom units. With custom units I want to be able to provide that service for cancer patients because it Is not easy losing your hair and to make them feel beautiful is a reward within itself.
Besides Sadja Monet Beauty bar what else do you venture in whether its personal or business?
Well I’m a jack of all trades! I don’t want to limit myself, if you need a photographer I will learn how to do that. If you need a stylist I can definitely put them outfits together, I can do anything. Why? Because nobody is going to stop me from doing it.
Other than hair you also venture in makeup, how did that come about?
To be honest, I use to hate makeup; I use to see girls in high school with makeup on. Eyelashes, lipstick, mascara, the works and me all I needed was my Blistex or Vaseline and I was good. I want to be a travel stylist and celebrity stylist and I learned hair and makeup comes hand in hand with one another. When people book you for events they want to know you can do makeup along with doing hair. Maybe a natural look or a quick glam look. I’m self-taught, so I learned a lot from YouTube, hair shows, and makeup shows. I attend all of those events to be able to master my craft but to master it, you have to just do it and get better. In the beginning, I did not know what I was doing as far as makeup. I looked like I had a black eye, it was horrible. I realized it was not for me.
Mentorship at MCTI