My Slow-Burn Journey to Becoming an Educator

Becky Betts
6 days ago
3 min read

My Slow-Burn Journey to Becoming an Educator

If you’ve followed my journey, you already know this: I am not the overnight-success type. I’m a slow burner. It took time, consistency, humility, and a whole lot of miles to climb the educational ladder with PRAVANA. But after nearly nine years with this brand, I’m proud of the path I’ve taken—and the woman I became along the way.

🌎 How It Started

When I first joined PRAVANA, it took me two new hire training to pass. I almost quite because I just froze when I got in front of my peers. I finally passed and I was excited I didn’t quite before the miracle happened.

I started teaching small salon PK classes anywhere I was needed. I didn’t care if it was two stylists or twenty—I just wanted to teach, connect, and grow. Being the only educator in my region (Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Montana, and Wyoming) meant I had steady work, and for that I am still incredibly grateful.

I said “yes” to almost everything. (Fun fact: in nine years, I’ve only said “no” once—and we just changed the date.)

That “yes” mentality opened doors. I began entering hair competitions. I became a nominee for Show Us Your Artistry, and the very next year I actually won the blonding category. That moment changed everything.

🎨 From Competitor to Creator

Winning that competition led to one of the biggest opportunities of my career: becoming part of Formula Formulators on PRAVANA’s official page. Suddenly, my work was being seen nationwide. I started traveling to teach master classes, and my looks were landing in multiple industry publications and magazines. I’ll never forget the first time I saw my work in print—I just sat there staring at the page, shocked.

💻 When Digital Became Personal

One of the most unexpected chapters of my career happened during Covid. I am such an empath and I felt my peers worry and I was too but I tried to keep people entertained. I would create social media content from my bedroom salon on manikin heads, and eventually step into the world of digital training for PRAVANA. I fell in love with it.

Digital education didn’t just help stylists stay inspired—it helped me stay afloat mentally. It kept me creating instead of spiraling. It gave me purpose when the world felt heavy, and I will always be thankful for that season.

🏆 A 2024 Milestone

In 2024, I was nominated as a Modern Salon Top 100 Artist, and I’m not going to lie—I’m still smiling about that one. For a slow-burn girl from Utah, it meant a lot.

💬 “How Do I Become Like You?”

I get asked this constantly. I usually laugh and say, “Well, be an alcoholic and get divorced three times,” because humor makes the uncomfortable easier. But the real answer is this:

Hustle. Passion. Humility. Feedback. Failure. Growth. Consistency. And just enough stubbornness to keep going.

I don’t always feel worthy. Writing this blog actually makes me squirm a little. But I also know there is power in sharing the truth, not just the highlight reel.

✈️ Life Today

Today, I travel the country teaching:

Blonding techniques
Formulation and color theory
VIVIDS and creative placement
Business support for stylists transitioning to PRAVANA
Digital education that reaches artists everywhere

And every flight, every hotel, every Uber, every 7am lobby call—it’s worth it. Because I get a front-row seat to watch stylists fall in love with their craft again.