What I Have Learned After 20 Years Being A Hairdresser

I can't believe it has already been 20 years!

I am one of the lucky few who knew at a young age what I wanted to be when I grew up.

It didn't turn out to be what I expected.

I thought I would just be cutting and coloring hair.

That's it and nothing more.

I was wrong.

It's better.

~ Being good at cutting and coloring hair doesn't make you a good hairdresser.

It makes you good at cutting and coloring hair.

You also need good communication skills, a listening ear, a drive to exceed the standard and the ability to sometimes perform miracles.

You have to want to be and do better than the license you receive.

There are zero hours required to renew a hairdressing license. 

ZERO!

This, my friends, is not good.

Our industry is always changing and improving.

If we never attend a class how will we know what is up and coming?

Education is key and is available in so many forms from out of town classes, in salon education and webinars, some of which comes at no cost.

Just because it's online doesn't mean it cant teach us something.

Not every class is going to give you a certification either and that's ok too.

What is important is that we keep learning.

~ It's harder than it looks.

Formulating, working haircuts out in your head,

removing box black haircolor that a client tells you they've only done "once" and it "washed out",

lies.. don't lie to your hairdresser and black haircolor NEVER NOT EVER washes out

Oh, and I can really rock varicose veins at just 38 from standing all day long,

Who knew standing would be so hard?!

~It's emotional

If you're lucky enough to have clients come back to your chair year after year you become attached.

You become friends.

A bond of love is formed.

You walk through different seasons of life from graduation, marriage, life, death and everything in between.

You become part of each others dash.

Moments have taken my breath away as I've watch what once was just a little girl become a wife.

Tears have streamed down my face when learning of a dear clients death.

I've shaved women's heads bald, tears pouring out of them, as they prepare for the battle for their life.

I had no idea this would be part of it.

 ~It's rewarding

We have a gift and it can be used to help people be their best selves.

We have the ability to make cloudy days shine bright.

~It isn't flexible

I know everyone thinks it is.

It isn't

It's true I make my own schedule, but it is still a job and in order to make money I must work real hours.

I am serious about this work thing even though it is a really super fun job.

This has in turn made me a scheduling freak.

I need to have a plan because I need to know 6 weeks in advance if I need to take a day off because 90% of my clients book that far out AT LEAST.

~Working for yourself in someone elses salon isn't the same as owning your own salon.

I've always worked in lease salons which means I worked for myself.

This is a much easier way of doing things because you just worry about your own business.

Now that I am an owner of a salon I have taken on the task of worrying about my own behind the chair business as well as the business of the 7 other very talented women.

These are women whom I love and cherish.

I am never not working.

I am constantly thinking of how we can do better and be more efficient.

How I can help the other girls be successful too.

I research what is up and coming, trending, marketing, new methods, old methods.

You name it I am trying to learn about it.

By the way.. just because it is an "old" method doesn't mean it's not good!

Running business doesn't come easy to me and I don't love that part of it.

There are some things I don't love about our industry.

Like why some hairdressers feel they need to bash other salons or salon professionals.

Not only is this highly unprofessional it isn't a reflection of the person you are bashing it is a reflection of yourself.

I personally don't want to look at that reflection.

How can we claim to be building our clients up and making them feel like a million bucks when we are tearing someone else down in the process.

Not one of us is better than another.

Oh we might be better skilled at our craft, but we aren't better people.

I personally would rather get my hair done by a sub par hairdresser that has respect for others than a hairdresser who may be amazing at cutting and coloring hair, but trashes on people.

Imagine if we all worked together!

What if we shared what we knew instead of being a braggart?

What if we were brave enough to ask other hairdressers for advice and not just the ones we know that live out of town?

What if salon owners could get together and share ideas of what works and what isn't working?

What if we could do all that without fear of being looked down upon?!

The possibilities are endless

Because here is the deal we are all still different and bring different things to our clients.

Even in our small town there IS enough business for everyone.

TOGETHER 

we could rid the world of black box dye and over processed blond hair!

There isn't anything I've learned that I wouldn't be willing to share with another hairdresser because for me I just want to see everyone succeed.

Believe me I have tried things that haven't worked out well.

We all do.

I want everyone to live their dream and be successful at it!

I think we have the power to change the image of how hairdressers are thought to be 

 catty gossips'

The power lies within us.

Blessed is me....