Karina's journey into the beauty industry wasn't exactly planned. After her first year of college, her family’s finances took a turn. She made the hard decision to leave college and trust her intuition, she enrolled in cosmetology school with one goal in mind: to learn a skill that would allow her to create a better future for herself and her family.

After discovering Aveda and its customizable approach to hair color, something sparked her curiosity, leading her to enroll at the Aveda Institute in Chicago.

With tuition to pay off and a strong drive to become financially independent, Karina was focused on making every opportunity count. While attending school, she also worked as a salon assistant, surrounding herself with artists whose work inspired her.

She soaked up everything she could, learning from her instructors, observing her colleagues, and witnessing firsthand the creativity and intention behind beautiful hair.

Looking back, what felt like an uncertain decision became one of the most defining moments of her life. Sometimes the path you're meant to take isn't the one you originally planned.

The more Karina learned, the more she realized how much there was still to discover. Her curiosity and passion for the craft pushed her to invest in education beyond the salon, learning from artists like Candy Shaw, Gina Bianca, and Masters of Balayage.

She became especially drawn to the artistry behind balayage, dimensional color, and intentional placement. It wasn't just about learning another technique, but understanding why it worked, when to use it, and how to make it her own.

Every class brought a new perspective, challenged what she thought she knew, and reminded her that there's always room to grow. That willingness to keep learning, experimenting, and evolving continues to shape the artist and educator she is today.

Before Karina ever imagined teaching beyond the salon, C'zar Salon Spa was the first to recognize her potential as an educator. What began with training apprentices eventually grew into a larger role, working alongside salon owner Gina Sowa as one of the salon's lead educators.

Together, they taught foundational theory, and coached emerging stylists through hands-on model work. This was also the time Karina began developing her own curriculum. It was an opportunity that allowed Karina to share everything she had learned while discovering just how much she loved helping other artists grow.

That experience gave her the confidence to pursue becoming an Aveda Hair Color Educator. She studied 22 different color techniques and Aveda's three primary color lines before completing an intensive audition. The process included three hours of mannequin application, one hour to develop a presentation, and a final teaching demonstration in front of fellow candidates.

It pushed her technical knowledge, creativity, communication, and ability to think on her feet.

Karina's journey into curly hair education started with a simple frustration: she was tired of not knowing how to properly style curls and give her curly-haired guests the results they deserved.

Determined to change that, she began seeking education from artists like Leysa Carrillo, Aisha Strickland, eventually pursuing her Rezo Cut & Color certification and advanced training through Forever Curls Academy.

What started as a desire to become better at styling curls opened the door to so much more. She discovered a deeper understanding of texture, cutting, color, product knowledge, and how differently hair can behave from one person to the next.

Once again, her curiosity led her somewhere she hadn't anticipated. What began as filling a gap in her knowledge became one of her greatest passions, transforming not only how she works with curls, but how she approaches hair of all textures.

What started as Karina simply wanting to better understand curls eventually opened doors she never imagined. After years of investing in her education, challenging herself, and finding her voice as an artist, Forever Curls Academy approached her with the opportunity to become an educator.

Since joining the team, Karina has traveled to New York, Miami, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, connecting with artists, sharing her knowledge, and continuing to learn from the people around her.

Another exciting milestone came when she was recognized as a finalist in BehindTheChair's One Shot Hair Awards for her educational haircut video, an accomplishment that made her especially proud because it celebrated both her artistry and passion for education.

For Karina, this chapter is a reminder of what can happen when you trust your instincts, continue showing up, and allow yourself to pursue opportunities you once thought were out of reach.