I grew up in the salon. My mom did hair for 36 years and loved every one of them. She taught me a lot about the industry even before I entered junior high school. From the time I was 5, I played “hair lady” and when asked what I wanted to be when I grow up, I would reply with a smile, “a beautician.” I remember sitting under the dryers with my mom’s “bread and butter” shampoo sets and calling half of them grandma.
As I grew up, my dream swayed from hair to psychology. When I was 18, just out of high school, college just did not appeal to me. I remember the exact day I decided to fulfill my childhood desire to become a hair stylist. I then looked into cosmetology school and away I went. I had a few bumps in the road getting to the finish line but I am so happy I did. By my chosen career path, I am fulfilling two dreams of making people feel great about their look and also becoming their “therapist.”
I moved to Los Angeles to broaden my horizons as a person and as a stylist. I started my California journey in Orange County learning from the best, how to apply hair extensions, as well as refined customer service etiquette. The OC experiences gave me the confidence to move to West LA. I continued to work throughout West Hollywood and Brentwood. I worked with many great stylists and learned many ways to conduct my business. I have always worked as an independent stylist because it allows me to call the shots and learn the business directly. I have always had the entrepreneurial spirit and want to be the maker of my own destiny.
I then relocated to Las Vegas to be with my (future) husband and built up a business in the land of “fried, died, and laid to the side” bleached out hair. I was able to keep my sanity during this experience by commuting to LA once a month for my dedicated clients that I had grown to love over the years. I never felt like I fit in in Vegas so it was short lived but a great experience that shaped my career to get me where I am. I moved back to my hometown of Seattle, and continued to commute to LA for another 6 months. I still keep in touch with a few of those clients years later.
I have worked in large high energy salons and small family-feel salons. I prefer the latter and this is why I have chosen to stay in the smaller salons since my return from LA and Vegas. I want you as the client to get the cozy at home feel when you walk in the door for your visit.
My clients and the relationships I create are very important to me and this is part of why I love this profession so much. I enjoy hearing about their families, their relationships, and their lives. I remember the stories from my clients I had in Los Angeles from 10 years ago. I not only enjoy the relationships of this career; the technical aspect drives my analytical side. I continue to learn and grow on the technical side of this business by learning new techniques, styles, and products to keep me current with this ever-changing industry.
I have many clients from all walks of life and hair needs. I have clients that have kept the same color and cut for years and ones that we change it every time they come in. My goal is to be consistent with my services. I want my clients to know what they are going to get whether they change every time or want “the usual.” I let every client know that if they need some tweaking to always come back. I am human and may not see the perfection every time, but I try! Don’t be surprised if on your way out the door, I stop you to check one last thing I see as you have moved about the room.
I know change is hard for many people and I focus on working slow changes with those clients. If you only want an inch off, that is what you get. I have compassion and give them the time they need to move into change. I take pleasure in the joy people feel getting their hair done. You may be feeling frumpy or just in a lull, but a new hairdo can change that in a mere couple hours. I like to see the stress melt away from people as they sit in my chair and just relax.
All hair services will begin with your hair story. By listening to your story, I can see where you have been and where you would like to go. We may talk about the products you use or may need to create the look you want. We talk about how you style your hair and if they may be another way or to keep up the good work. I will take a different approach with each head because everyone has different needs. I do many haircuts on dry hair because I am able to see how the hair lays most of the time. Curly hair has a different approach and it depends on the type of curl and texture of the hair. My daughters have a mix of Caucasian and African American hair so I deal with the best of the best with curls daily.
I feel the scalp massage is one of the most important parts of your hair service. This allows you to fully relax and enjoy the rest of the service. It will melt away the stresses of the day if only for the time you are in the shampoo bowl. I want my clients to feel at home when they are in my chair. They will sip yummy tea or get refreshed with a drink of mint-infused water. In the evening, wine is available to take the edge off the day.
When choosing a style or color for a client, I take into consideration face shape, coloring, and lifestyle. We will talk about what you do and don’t like about your current hairdo and then what you do at home. This will help to decide what will work best for your hair and your everyday life.