VoyageLA Magazine - Rising Stars: Meet Amanda George
Rising Stars: Meet Amanda George
Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda George.
Hi Amanda, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, great to talk to Voyager, I am Amanda George, Mother, CEO of ROIL, Colorist and expert. I came for an extended trip from London, UK, to the USA, specifically Los Angeles from London 25 years ago. I was a professionally trained London Hair Colorist.
I was fortunate enough that all the pieces fell into place, totally unplanned; within the first year, I was sponsored for a green card, and pretty fast, I was doing VIP clients and building a great business. It was hard work and, at times, touch and go, but I had so much fun and met great people, some of whom I stayed still very close friends/family.
I was bi-coastal for a year between LA and NYC.
I got where I am today by working very hard, and for the first five years, I wasn’t able to leave the USA as part of my visa, so I just worked morning, noon, and night.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was very hard during the initial part of my journey as I missed my family, but I met my now husband, and then I started a family of my own. Once I could travel, I began going back to Europe at least once a year.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a business entrepreneur, I have owned a total of four salons, one in Mexico, and three product lines. I am a hair color specialist, and currently, I am the sole owner of ROIL X Amanda George, my salon in Beverly Hills, which is the most fantastic creative hub. I own two product lines, ROIL Hotel Collection and ROIL Private Collection. I am extremely proud of being a female business owner, of my business surviving Covid-19 (and two ex-partners), and of my body of work that I have produced over my career. The world of Beauty is very special, and I want to mentor as many young and old people that I can to help them achieve their dreams. I think what sets me apart from others is my inclusivity, my respect for everyone, my professionalism, and my values.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Hmmm, well, maybe even though I am a seasoned professional, I still feel like there is always a lot more to learn. My oldest friends love to tell people that when moved here I drove an VW bug that had holes in the bottom of the car like the flinstones…I think I have conveniently blocked that memory 🙂