My name is Wisdom Hope;
I began my creative hair journey as a kid in elementary school, with watercolor paints and my fingers. One of my nearest and dearest clients is the proud grower of the first hair I ever cut, after my own of course, in 6th grade. 2022 I began my path into helping others grow through grief, take radical accountability for their presence, and embody their emotions though Introspective Breathwork® Therapy.
Thank you so much for joining me here & you can continue to read about my life & offerings below.
In October of 2016, shortly before graduating from Mitchell's Academy in Raleigh, NC, I was honored with the opportunity to apprentice under Katie Manselle, Founder of Culture Hair Studio in Durham, NC; my hair home of 5 years.
During my apprenticeship, I assisted with a variety of editorial projects. Some of my favorites were avant garde photoshoots (including one that was featured in Vogue Italia) and a live fashion event in which we worked with a team of over 30 people to create an immersive experience at a gallery style hotel destination in Durham, NC. I was blessed with opportunities to assist during classes Katie led at other local salons, and I competed in a couple of global hair competitions. For those who care, I've had a few looks featured on various Goldwell and PulpRiot social media accounts as well.
In October of 2018, I was chosen to assist the Babyliss Pro USA team during the CosmoProf Fashion Focus hair show in Charlotte, NC. It was exhilarating to work side by side with a few industry leaders, in a public setting, teaching things to my peers. My time at Culture also provided me with opportunities to attend classes with a plethora of Oribe, R+Co, Wella, Redken, Goldwell, and O&M educators and trainers.
Overall, I've grown my skills into quite a niche and am excited to share all of my experience with you to create your dream hair.
'20-'22 were a bit wild... but as far as work goes, in addition to doing hair at Culture - I spent time every other weekend traveling the country to work at g(_)nshows for seven months. I also had a short stent as a stagehand, helping build and break down concerts/events at the largest venues in Raleigh.
Spring of '22, I injured my back during an attempted snowboarding trip & working behind the chair lost its viability as a full-time venture. Culture decided that it was best I focus on a new opportunity I had been offered. Ironically, this led to a few months in "counterculture" working sales for a cannabinoid company. I had a ton of fun working at b2b tradeshows in major cities and even a music festival. But overall, my experience with "sales" and the psychologically manipulative tactics involved irked my convictions.
Although my income was skyrocketing, I quit the job. The strenuous labor of building show booths mixed with the stagnation of sitting behind a desk when at the office ran their course on my body. The mind games and abuse against my femineity that took place on the job ignited a sleeping rage that I hadn't felt since leaving a string of abusive relationships in the past ... I chose to prioritize my health more than I ever had before. A very good friend of mine offered to share her hair space with me part time when I was ready to return from a hiatus & I surrendered to life.
Within three days of beginning my dedicated healing time, my back seized and I spent three weeks unable to walk across my apartment. To say that I was at my lowest would be an understatement; the prolonged physical pain began taking a toll on my mental health. During that time, a friend I've known since high school hit me up with a "hey girl, have you tried breathwork?" message - I was familiar with Wim Hoff's methods, box breathing, and a few other well-known patterns but I was unsure of what she was going on about. She told me she co-founded a trauma-informed Breathwork school, One Breath Institute, an immersive online learning environment and community; then she offered me a place in a program called "The Personal Journey". I was actively seeking ways to improve my outlook, health, and additions to my routine that would make waking up feel “worth it”. My eyes were opened to Introspective Breathwork® Therapy. I recognized similarities to pranayama, somatic therapies, and various soul-work practices. As the 12-week trauma-informed journey progressed, I became more in tune with the messages that my pain held for me, explored the edges on my window of tolerance, and started to build a strong sense of safety within my nervous system. I had also begun integrating self-care into my every day routine. For full disclosure and transparency, in addition to adding breathwork to my health routine I also began working with an incredible massage therapist and an very skilled chiropractor/decompression specialist. The nerve pain I had been enduring for months began to subside and I found solace in rest.
By December of '22- I had built stronger boundaries in my personal life, motivation ignited more easily, and I became comfortable as a witness to my mind rather than feeling swallowed by it. My downtime was spent connecting with nature, walking trails with my doggo, and interacting with creative endeavors. I started to feel so much better within my body & I knew I could start doing hair in a whole new space.
I was so excited that most of my clients followed me from Culture and that they pointed out changes that they were experiencing in their perception of my presence. Many showed interest in my Introspective Breathwork® journey and a few even requested that I show them how it works... I started to realize that becoming certified was within my reach and that it already felt natural to hold space for people's stories, feelings, and somatic experiences since these are regular occurrences in the hair space anyway.
I went through the Personal Journey and Facilitator Trainings again with a new perspective. I dove deep into things that I had naturally and intuitively experienced like rebirthing practices and ego deaths, explained by Leonard Orr; while comfortably embodying my chaotic feminine energy. The triangulation of spirit/mind/body and embracing dark times as the bend before a break made so much sense to me when I reflected on my experiences in life. Waking my inner predator in the way that Kimberley Ann Johnson expressed in The Call of the Wild also felt like a coming home to myself of sorts.
During my training, I started to hold space for my peers of the school, my friends, and my family. New kinds of discussions about soul's purposes opened up and we've shared stories of our traumas with grace for our old selves. Along the way I have furthered my learning and experimenting in the areas of Human Design, Astrology, and have begun to channel through Tarot.
Introspective Breathwork® sessions have become a place where I share the tools I've learned to help others explore their breath and ignite empowerment. These spaces are safe for embodying every emotion, from rage and grief to celebration and rejuvenation.
Introspective Breathwork® with me can be used to target specific issues that individuals may be seeking help with or can be themed with with a specific intention. The time includes an array of activities that create awareness, open creativity, and allow release, like drawing or journaling, bringing voice to experience, and there is always invitation for movement. I speak to the energy that may be affecting the individual/group due to astrological transits, neutrino gates, and often invite some guidance via tarot. While I’m still learning these alternative systems and am honing my skills, many attendees have reflected resonance and shown great gratitude for these practices.
I offer sessions for individual support as well as themed groups. I often organize group events around astrological events like the Lunar New Year, Full Moons, etc. These spaces have been created for giving gratitude, setting intentions, embracing and releasing sacred rage, and embodying emotions that arise when breathing into these spaces within the body.
As this journey continues there will be more updates so keep posted and thanks for catching up on the newest news.