As per the ethos of America as a cultural unit, pursuing financial accomplishment through the mechanism of owning one’s own business is integral to the American dream. For many, the woes associated with working in an underling position do not resonate with themselves or their life path, and thus many look for alternative paths towards making one’s name known.
The economic climate in the United States is as diverse as it is large. Many varied avenues for careers are open to citizens, but a large number of them require a skill set that is hard won for many.
According to the legal framework for licensing requirements, the hoops to jump through to become a licensed hair stylist are daunting to those looking for a quick sprint to the top. A GED or high school diploma, over 1,000 hours of in the field training, and diversity of skill set expectations are all mandatory hurdles to be licensed to cut hair across much of the United States. Because of this, becoming a hairstylist is a high skill job with income that is often sporadic.
These hurdles do not stop many from pursuing their artistically related career goals, and it certainly did not stop Tammy Valltos, a 50-year-old single mother residing in south St. Pete.
**For a more comprehensive look at Tammy, click here to see her personal interview**
For many employees who survive off of tips, with lower hourly salary, income largely depends on the financial status of the customers that one interacts with. Servers, hairstylists, and many others have run in to deep financial concerns due to the current economic landscape in Florida, a climate that has been worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tammy has been a small business owner for much of her adult life. Currently working with her long-term friend Cameron Feldman, the two cut hair out of Cameron Hair, a small hair styling studio located on 28th Street North in St. Petersburg’s North Kenwood neighborhood.
In our interview, Tammy spoke extensively about the difficulties facing a single mother running her own small business. With a family depending on her as the primary source of income for her household, the salary and tips she makes goes towards building a life for herself and her children.
The income stream for many hairstylists across the region largely depends on tips, word of mouth customer outreach, and the relationship between the stylist and the business they rent a booth out of. Given that this type of income can be dependent on a large number of transient factors, many who work in this industry have experienced deep frustrations as cost of living and rent increases, even as many locals’ who depend on tips income has been affected by the lockdowns relating to the pandemic that has gripped the world for the last two years.
Tammy had to begin cutting hair privately at customer’s houses while her business was shut down as per the governor’s lockdown order towards the beginning of the pandemic. This was largely dependent on preexisting relationships Tammy had with customers, and many were not getting their hair done, often because of fear of getting sick, or loss of financial stability many experienced due to the pandemic.
As rent and cost of living has risen, many wages in the greater Tampa Bay region have remained stagnant. Many of the individuals polled have stated a decrease in their wages largely due to less money being stimulated in the economy, thus harming many lower income and tip-reliant employees. Tammy is lucky enough to be a home owner, but many in her predominantly impoverished neighborhood of south St. Pete have not be so blessed.
Tammy being a single mother, and Cameron being LGBT, both epitomize an example of demographics who society has systemically disenfranchised being able to make a name for themselves despite the social pressure to the contrary. Both have had a fraught history in the industry they work in, largely having struggles relating to inter-business politics, landlord issues, and difficulties gaining enough customers to make ends meet.
Cameron Hair, pictured below, located at 1725, 28th St N., St Petersburg, used to be a home which was converted in to a hair studio. A few stylists work alongside Tammy, building a unique business for those looking for hair help.
**Tammy can be reached at 1-727-831-5317 to book an appointment**
In recent years, things in the St. Petersburg region have become increasingly volatile for those in the rental or home buyer’s market. It has become notoriously difficult to find a home to rent or buy at a price point that many would be able to afford.
Many businesses have had to close shop or move due to issues with this climate, and several of the hair studios Tammy has worked with previously have had difficulties keeping their doors open as cost of rent increases. Tammy has a long history of beautifying customers across the southern Pinellas county region, but many have not been so blessed to have a stable work space, a reliable home, and a stellar emotional support system.
The issues facing many in this local region are systemic and untenable, and have left many reeling as they have been priced out of their neighborhoods. Many smaller businesses have fallen on hard times, and the future of the region and the affordability of living in Tampa Bay has become more and more unachievable for many lower income and minority individuals.
Whether this trajectory continues without legislative change is in the hands of local and statewide elected officials, but bills need to be paid regardless if the funds to do so exist altogether or not, for businesses and local citizenry alike.
Saint Petersburg Forum For Rent Affordability 