Today we’d like to introduce you to Carmela Marcellino.
Hi Carmela, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I went to college and tried to make it work. I just was not thriving in the setting and when Covid shut everything down I decided I was going to drop out. Before I dropped out without a plan, I had enrolled in Polley and Associates Real Estate School. I received my real estate license. I’ve been doing real estate part time since 2021.
As I work my full time job and worked real estate I never really felt I was in the right place. I decided to enroll in cosmetology school. That was a journey! I took classes part time. Sold two houses and closed on a rental while in cosmetology school and working full time. I took my test and passed my exams a month before I graduated.
While in school I had the opportunity to work with a team for New York Fashion Week. I’ve been working NYFW for three years and love it.
When i first started out everyone told me I can’t do it all. I have actively been doing it all. I’ve had a lot of help and support in the background and I’m so appreciative of those who have supported me.
Cosmetology: for 2 years licensed
3 years working fashion shows
I work on clients after my full time job and make house calls and do cuts and colors.
Real estate: 5 years I work weekend and nights mostly and most holidays. I’ve sold three houses and closed 3 rentals. I have two that I am currently working with now and hope to close on something before the end of the year.
I do work full time as well. I have received two promotions in the 4 years I’ve been employed with them. I am always testing and moving up. I do feel more secure with my current full time position than the one I was originally hired for.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No.
I mean deciding to change careers and learn new trades is always difficult. It took a lot of courage to tell my parents I wasn’t finishing college and that I was perusing other avenues.
With real estate it is hard to show you’re working when you’re on your phone and making calls and no sales are happening. I will say in the first year or two it was very hard. I had help from a team mate in my brokers office he helped me with scripts and a referral. Real estate is very much learn on the job. They explain contracts and have classes but until you’re walking the walk it you don’t known what to truly expect. Then my cousin in New Jersey gave me a Referal for a listing and I listed my first property in 2023 and sold it in 2024 and sold another property in 2024.
It was 2023 when I decided I was going to go to cosmetology school. I’ve always loved doing hair and would do all my sisters and cousins hair. I was great with styling hair.
I also decided to go into cosmetology because during Covid I decided I was going to have bangs. I went to a salon with my twin sister. We both have very different textured hair. My hair is very curly and most of the stylist did not want to cut my hair. When I said bangs they looked at me crazy they said your hair is way too curly for bangs. Growing up with Zendya, Rihanna, and so many influential celebrities with curly hair and bangs I was so upset. They cut them and said I wouldn’t like them. They were right. I went home and cut them myself using their cut as my guide. Then i corrected my sisters as well cause she liked mine better then what she got. It was in that moment I knew I wanted to learn to do hair and learn to work with curls! So that those with curly textured hair don’t feel as though they can’t have what they want.
During NYFW we are given mood boards models have three options to choose from. This year was the year we had the most textured hair. We had so many curls that a lot did not want their hair straightened. I was listening to the stylist offer pony tails to the models after they said they did not want heat to their hair. I suggested the models get buns cause they will have to straighten the pony tail. All the models chose the bun option when it was correctly explained. Watching the girls hear their hair had to be straightened and then hearing a work around, their entire face changed and that was a great feeling because there’s not always a person advocating for your curls.
But in choosing to go to cosmetology school I had multiple people call me on the phone and ask what I was thinking. There’s no money in the career and it’s hard on your body. And I took everything into consideration. I still did it and I’m glad I did. There is absolutely money in the career you just have to be worth the money. And I wear my back brace and comfortable shoes and have mats i stand on so it isn’t too hard on my body. I do exercises with my hands and wrist to prevent carpal tunnel.
Now those same people are very proud of me and have said they were sorry they thought in the moment they were helping.
A little off topic. But yes I had to go through a lot of bumps to get to where I am in both my real estate career and my cosmetology career. Both in finding my way to them and in learning to do my job.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Curls Gone Wild ?
I run my business from my phone, I don’t have a set studio. I mostly make house calls.
I’ve come in do my clients hair where they prefer and then i sweep or vacuum.
I’ve done hair for prom, NYFW, private photo shoots and hair cuts. I’ve done hair for wedding guests. I would say what sets me apart is most of the time I am available for my clients and most of my clients I know personally or are a Referal from my clients so there is connection that you wouldn’t have if you walked into a regular franchised salon. I also work hours salons are closed. A lot of the men’s cuts I do are at their homes when they get done work so usually later in the evening or on weekends for my women clients with kids and jobs. I’ve done highlights for 6 hours on a Wednesday. I work with schedules, both mine and theirs.
I’ve had friends go to stylist with 11 years experience and call me to ask me to fix it. Most of the time she said she didn’t know why she didn’t call me in the first place but we got her hair corrected without having to take too much of the length off.
I’ve had a client who dyed her hair so much her hair would break off. Once she started coming to me she’s stayed with me. Her hair is growing back strong and healthy. We still maintain her blonde but on a healthier scale.
I would say I listen to what my clients want and try and find away to make it happen. I also give them the realities of the styles they ask for. What to expect how much time they will have to dedicate to styling and maintaining that look.
My real estate business is very much the same. I have a lot of people who want to do showings after 5 because that’s when they’re available and i accomodate. Not all agents are able to accommodate that. I also am willing to work holiday and weekends. I work with scheduled to do showing and make time for clients. I make myself available through call, text and emails. I also send my clients information and refer them to those who can answer their questions. Such as mortgage lenders and send them documents on programs they can be eligible for.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My family has been supportive. My twin sister helps me with all my stuff. She goes to the stores with me, sends texts if I’m driving, picks up the calls and puts it on speaker and adds to my calendar so it doesn’t get forgotten. She also was the one that would always say who cares what they said. Do you wanna do that? If it’ll make you happy or feel better do it. She has to deal with me when I’m overwhelmed and anxious about deals or clients. She lets me rant and vent. We are each other’s cheerleaders and supporters.
Once I posted more to my socials family members have reached out and asked me to do their hair.
I sold my best friend her first home, closed a rental for my cousin and my other best friend.
If we’re out and someone mentions real estate or hair my parents and siblings are the first to say Carmela does that. So that’s helped bring in business and spread awareness that I am in that industry.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curls_gone_wild215?stkn=MXQ0dHZlcTRlcGRmNg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19NM6wfW8w/?mibextid=wwXIfr
