It all started when…

My dad told me I’d better get an education. His suggestion? Vocational school maybe become an electrician or a hairdresser.

Hairdresser won.

From there, education became a natural extension of the work.

Sophia Avera is a hairstylist, educator, founder of TGIBalayage, creator of Visor Foil®, co-owner of SASS Salon & Spa in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, and a L’Oréal Professionnel Artist.

She has spent her career behind the chair and in the classroom, with a deep belief that great education should make a stylist more confident in the real world not just inspired for the day.

Sophia understands the vulnerability that comes with learning something new. Every new technique eventually has to leave the classroom and meet a real guest, a real consultation, and a real set of expectations.

That understanding shapes the way she teaches.

Her education focuses on practical techniques, thoughtful consultation, efficiency, client retention, and building skills that translate directly back to the chair.

Whether she is working with a guest, mentoring a stylist, or teaching a room full of professionals, the goal is the same:

Help people grow with more confidence, more intention, and a stronger connection to their craft.