In today’s beauty industry, success is measured not only by professional skill, but by the ability to create your own name that people trust. Ukrainian hair stylist Alena Ramazanova is a clear example of this path. After moving to the USA, she built a personal brand, found her clients in a competitive American market, and turned her love for the profession into a business that continues to grow steadily. Today Alena specializes in modern hair restoration techniques, keratin treatments, hair Botox, and extensions, combining a European approach to quality with individualized work with every client.
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Alena, for many people moving to the USA feels like the fulfillment of a big dream. But behind the beautiful picture there is often fear, uncertainty, and starting from scratch. Please share what your first months after the move were like.
Moving to the USA became not only the realization of a dream for our family, but also a real challenge. We moved right after the full-scale war began, and I am still very grateful that our path led exactly to America. The first months were not easy. When you start life in a new country, it seems like you have to build everything from zero — you don’t know where to begin, what to do first, how to adapt and find your place. The biggest challenge was the job search. Even with a good level of English it turned out to be difficult because competition was very high. At first America surprised me with how open people are here. I quickly realized that people here value those who work hard, study, and aren’t afraid to start from scratch. That’s when I understood that my future depends first of all on me and my own confidence that we are moving in the right direction.
The beauty industry in America is very competitive. When you first started working, was there a feeling that you literally had to fight for your place?
Absolutely, the beauty industry in America is highly competitive. But honestly, I never took it as a fight. I’ve always understood that my main competitor isn’t other stylists - it’s myself. And my real competition is with yesterday’s me. My previous experience working in American companies helped me a lot. There I significantly improved my English, learned how to understand the American mentality better, and most importantly - how to build communication with clients. Today the majority of my clients are English-speaking Americans, which allowed me to form my own audience. Another important principle is continuous learning. You can’t think that one course or one certificate is enough. You need to study marketing, develop your personal brand, improve your English, and master new techniques - that is what allows you to stay competitive. And of course the most important thing is the attitude toward people. I want every client to feel comfortable, fully trust me with their hair, and be confident that I work first of all in their best interest.
You don’t only work with keratin and hair restoration - for many years you also wore hair extensions yourself. How much has your personal experience helped you better understand clients?
I always say that my personal experience is one of the biggest advantages in my work. For many years I wore hair extensions myself and, honestly, I tried almost every method possible. Nature did not give me thick hair, so I understand women who want to look different and feel more confident very well. Today I don’t look at my work only as a stylist - I also look at it through the eyes of a client. Now I use modern technology to create keratin extensions. It allows me not only to get the desired length, but also to comfortably wear my own hair without unnecessary weight. And here it’s very important to understand that a beautiful result depends not only on the extension itself, but also on the correct care and timely correction. I always carefully explain to my clients how often they can wear extensions without correction, which products to use at home. For me it’s important not just to do a beautiful job, but to help preserve the health of their own hair.
What trends do you see in America and how, in your opinion, are the requests of modern women changing?
It seems to me that today’s beauty industry is confidently moving toward naturalness. If earlier the main goal was a “cardinal” change of appearance, now women more and more often want to look maximally natural. I’ve noticed that in America over the last years clients’ requests have changed a lot. They are much more careful about their health, lifestyle, and want not just a beautiful result, but healthy hair. Today the quality of the product, the safety of procedures, and professional home care matter much more. The popularity of keratin, hair Botox, and extensions is not decreasing. On the contrary, modern women are becoming more conscious — they choose masters who use safe procedures that not only give a good visual result, but also protect the health of the hair. A conscious approach, in my opinion, is the main trend today.
Did moving to the USA change you as a person? How would you compare the Alena who only dreamed of America with the Alena of today?
Of course, America changed me. Alena who only dreamed of America was a bit lost. After the beginning of the full-scale war everything that I had built for myself in Ukraine partially collapsed. In Ukraine I already had my own client base, I knew and loved my work very much, and after the move I practically had to start from zero and for a certain time work as an employee. Only then did I finally understand how strongly I want to create something of my own. When I returned to the beauty sphere, I felt that I had returned to myself — to the work that has always been my strength and in which I see my future. I found inspiration again, the desire to develop, to build my own brand, and to stand in front of my own mirror. Today I have much more faith in my own strength and understand that even after a big pause or change of place you can rebuild your business if you truly want it.
Ukraine will always remain part of your story, even while living in another country. What from Ukrainian culture, mentality, or professional approach do you consciously preserve in yourself?
I was born and grew up in Ukraine, so I will never forget it and will always remain Ukrainian. The most valuable thing I kept is responsibility toward people, dedication, and love for my work. I value my parents very much for how they raised me, for their support, and for the values they instilled in me since childhood. My parents taught me to constantly develop, not to be afraid to work on myself, and to believe that with my own strength I can build my life. Also, I am very proud of Ukrainian inner strength - the ability to constantly develop when circumstances force you to start from scratch. I don’t tolerate injustice, I always defend my principles, and I believe that this is exactly the quality that helps people treat themselves differently from how it is in a country that is far from that, in a country that lives differently.
If a girl who is also afraid to start a new profession, who is afraid to take the first step, but wants to say the same thing as you, reads this interview today - what would you tell her?
I would like to tell her: don’t be afraid to start. I know how scary it is to take the first step when it seems that there is already experience, success, and recognition behind you. But believe me - the path only becomes more interesting. There are many girls around me who just a year ago only started their path in the USA, and today they have already opened their own studios, cabinets, or found themselves in a completely new profession. I want every woman to find the work that will bring her not only income, but also satisfaction. Because when you already have no meaning, strength only lasts for the working day. When you love your profession, it becomes part of you.
