Baby Mermaids in Training: Inside the Swamp Mermaid Apprenticeship Program
At Swamp Mermaid Beauty Project, we don’t just hire stylists—we grow them. Our apprenticeship program is one of the most important parts of our salon culture, and if you’ve ever heard us talk about our baby mermaids, you already know how much we love our apprentices.
Created by our owner and founder Jody Rivera, the Swamp Mermaid apprenticeship program was born from a simple mission: to help new cosmetology grads transition from beauty school into thriving, confident stylists. Jody has always been passionate about mentorship, education, and creating space for fresh talent to shine. After over two decades behind the chair and nearly ten years building Swamp Mermaid into a staple of the Austin hair scene, she knew she wanted to create an environment where rising stylists could learn, grow, and be supported every step of the way.
And that’s exactly what we do.
What Makes Our Apprenticeship Program Different
We call our apprentices baby mermaids because, well, they’re the future of the swamp—and we take care of our own. Every apprentice at Swamp Mermaid goes through a structured, hands-on training program that includes:
Shadowing experienced stylists
Assisting on real appointments
One-on-one education with our in-house educators
Weekly workshops on technical skills, client care, product knowledge, and more
Ongoing feedback and mentorship
Our educators (aka Swamp’s resident hair nerds) love to teach. Like, really love it. They’re passionate about helping apprentices refine their skills, grow their confidence, and master every part of the client experience. Whether it’s color theory, cutting techniques, or learning how to hold space with clients in an authentic way, nothing is skipped or rushed here. We believe in giving our baby mermaids the time and training they need to become not just good stylists—but great ones.
When Baby Mermaids Start Taking Clients
Once our apprentices have completed enough training and feel confident in their foundational skills, they begin offering services on the floor—always at a reduced “model” rate, and always under the supervision of an educator. It’s a win-win for everyone: clients get beautiful hair at a cute price, and our apprentices get real, supportive experience working with the amazing humans who walk through our doors.
From blonding and blowouts to cuts, colors, and creative projects, our baby mermaids are trained to deliver high-quality work with the Swamp Mermaid touch. Every single service is backed by our core values: transparency, honesty, integrity, nurturing, and knowledge.
Why We Love Growing Our Own
We could easily just hire experienced stylists—and we do that too—but nothing lights us up like watching a brand-new stylist go from beauty school to fully booked. Swamp Mermaid is a salon built on community, creativity, and trust, and we believe that investing in our apprentices keeps our culture strong. It brings in fresh energy, new ideas, and so much passion.
We don’t just want employees. We want teammates. People who care deeply about what they do, who they work with, and the clients they serve. Our apprenticeship program is one of the ways we make that happen.
Interested in Becoming a Baby Mermaid?
Whether you’re a recent grad from cosmetology school or someone looking for a supportive, educational space to grow into your stylist era—we want to meet you. We’re always on the lookout for the next generation of Swamp Mermaid stylists.
If you’re in Austin and ready to join a salon that takes education seriously and treats you like part of the family from day one, apply for our apprenticeship program today. Your mermaid journey starts here.