Styling Success with Logan Aikin

For Logan Aikin, stepping into the beauty industry wasn’t just a career move—it was a lifelong dream in the making.

Growing up in Garner, North Carolina, Logan was drawn to hair and makeup from a young age. From styling her friends for dance competitions to tagging along with her dad on his regular salon visits, she found joy and connection in beauty.

“That was our thing,” she remembers fondly. “It was my favorite place to go with him.”

That early passion eventually brought Logan to Atlantic Beach, where she now works full-time as a hairstylist and lead spa technician at The Salon Collective in Morehead City. Her journey began in 2021 when she enrolled in the Cosmetology program at Carteret Community College—a decision guided by her love of beauty and the desire to live and learn near the coast.

“I always knew cosmetology was my path,”  she says. “It’s the only career I could ever picture myself doing.”

Before enrolling, Logan worked as an office attendant in Johnston County, saving money for school. Once she started classes at Carteret CC, she quickly discovered that success in cosmetology required more than skill—it took commitment and confidence.

Her first day in the program was daunting. She had just moved to a new town and didn’t know anyone. But that feeling didn’t last.

“Everyone was so welcoming,” Logan recalls. “I didn’t feel like a stranger for long.”

With hands-on training and real clients in the campus salon, Logan grew into her role and built the confidence she once lacked.

“I’m proudest of how far I’ve come with my blonding services and my customer service,” she says. “Working with real clients helped me step out of my shell.”

She credits much of her success to her instructors who mentored her throughout the program.
“Even after we finished class, they were always around to help,” Logan says. “That meant a lot.”

Balancing school and life wasn’t always easy. Logan compares the program to a full-time job and says staying on top of everything took discipline and drive. With the help of grants and scholarships, she was able to focus fully on her training and graduated in December 2022 with perfect attendance and high grades.

Now in her dream role, Logan says her favorite part of the job is helping others feel beautiful.

“That’s the ultimate goal,” she says. “When someone falls in love with their look, it makes everything worth it.”