K.O. Styles | Kristine Ozola-Weatherby
Now, a little bit about my country and myself. Latvia is a very small country, 64.589 square kilometers, about the size of West Virginia. It is situated on the Baltic Sea in Europe. Its strategic location has instigated many wars between rival powers on its territory.
Founded by Bishop Albert, Riga has been writing its life story for more then 800 hundred years. It has always been a European city; every visitor can find some resemblance with his or her own city, no matter which country the person comes from. This feeling is roused not only by the narrow streets and medieval weight of buildings in Old Riga. The architecture of later centuries surrounding the center of the city contributes to that too.
I was formally trained in hair design and color in Latvia (Eastern Europe) where I received my initial professional cosmetology license in 1992. My inspiration to become a hair artist was my grandmother who had her own hair design studio before World War II. I have always had passion for hair design. When I was growing up I always paid attention to people‘s hair first. After I finished hair school, my professional career as a hair artist began in a small beauty salon in the resort town where I lived.
How does an Eastern European girl end up in Florida? After my country became free from Communist Russia rule in 1990, there was a lot of new opportunities for young adults to travel and see the countries we were forbidden to see. So I decided to explore different cultures. There was a program to become an Au Pair (nanny) in the United States. I decided to take this opportunity. To make a long story short, that is how I met the man who eventually became my husband. After I officially moved to Florida I had to apply for a license because my initial license from my country wasn’t valid in the United States or in the state of Florida. I had to transfer my Latvia license and apply to a cosmetology school here. So after I passed all the school tests and the Florida State test I was ready to work in a salon. I was lucky to land a job at Divine Designs Salon & Spa. I worked there for 4 years and my skills blossomed. It was a wonderful experience! When I opened my own K.O. Styles hair studio it felt like my dream that I had for so many years finally came true. I now have my own hair studio just like my grandmother had once. Dreams do come true!
Founded by Bishop Albert, Riga has been writing its life story for more then 800 hundred years. It has always been a European city; every visitor can find some resemblance with his or her own city, no matter which country the person comes from. This feeling is roused not only by the narrow streets and medieval weight of buildings in Old Riga. The architecture of later centuries surrounding the center of the city contributes to that too.
I was formally trained in hair design and color in Latvia (Eastern Europe) where I received my initial professional cosmetology license in 1992. My inspiration to become a hair artist was my grandmother who had her own hair design studio before World War II. I have always had passion for hair design. When I was growing up I always paid attention to people‘s hair first. After I finished hair school, my professional career as a hair artist began in a small beauty salon in the resort town where I lived.
How does an Eastern European girl end up in Florida? After my country became free from Communist Russia rule in 1990, there was a lot of new opportunities for young adults to travel and see the countries we were forbidden to see. So I decided to explore different cultures. There was a program to become an Au Pair (nanny) in the United States. I decided to take this opportunity. To make a long story short, that is how I met the man who eventually became my husband. After I officially moved to Florida I had to apply for a license because my initial license from my country wasn’t valid in the United States or in the state of Florida. I had to transfer my Latvia license and apply to a cosmetology school here. So after I passed all the school tests and the Florida State test I was ready to work in a salon. I was lucky to land a job at Divine Designs Salon & Spa. I worked there for 4 years and my skills blossomed. It was a wonderful experience! When I opened my own K.O. Styles hair studio it felt like my dream that I had for so many years finally came true. I now have my own hair studio just like my grandmother had once. Dreams do come true!
