I am not a brand new hairstylist, fresh out of school, with limited experiences or skills. On the other hand, I am also fully aware of the fact that, no matter how "old" you are, there is still a massive amount of information that you do not own and need to learn. I get that. Which is the main reason why I invest & sacrifice so much time, energy & money into continued education in my field and make it a priority to provide the same for my staff. I also work diligently to educate others in my field -even my competition- because I truly believe that educated stylists make for a better industry overall and I very much want, and enjoy doing my part, to make that happen! My history speaks for itself. I don't "toot my horn" or brag about my accomplishments and awards. Although, I am very proud of my achievements, I am humble and only work hard to get better, not to get applause. I give 1000% to each and every client I serve and take pride knowing that our Studio Team works with that same ethic. I can confidently say that I put the same amount of creative energy and effort into a client service that Celebrity Stylists who charge $500 or more per haircut put into their work. And I know this because I spend a lot of time & money to learn technique and form from these Iconic Stylists, over and over again until I master those techniques. I am one of thousands of stylists who are truly dedicated to their craft. Our clients reap the rewards of our efforts. THEY are the ones who truly benefit from our sacrifices and dedication. When a person can feel better about themselves on so many levels because of the work I have done, that is payment enough. The value outweighs the cost of the service. There are many that recognize that value in their stylist and some who do not. I wish I could say that I would rather not serve clients who don't see the value in my skill. But I'm a Capricorn and I love a good challenge. I am not afraid to prove myself and very much enjoy making believers out of non-believers. The thing is though, that so many times I witness a stylist who does not see the value within themselves, or even worse, they don't see the value of investing in their own continuous education. This is almost ALWAYS because of the clients who do not show them support or express the value they possess for the work that they do. This does not end well for anyone involved. To these stylists I say "Wake Up!" YOU are an artist. You have a unique craft. For every client that does not appreciate you there are 10 who DO! And those are the ones you need to do the work for! DO NOT compromise your value, style and unique-ness because of approval-addiction. Not everyone will love you. That's perfectly okay! They will survive without you & you will survive without them. There is a stylist out there for everyone & you do not need to be everyone's stylist! Sometimes this is a difficult concept to grasp since, by nature, stylists are "people-pleaser's". It's a blessing and a curse and a very important characteristic necessary for success. However there is no need to be less than what you deserve to be, simply because someone doesn't appreciate you for who you are or who you aspire to be. To the client who doesn't see the value in your stylist I say "Move On!" You deserve to truly be happy and feel your very best. There is a stylist out there that can deliver all of that at a price you feel is fair. If you think your stylist charges too much, then you are not in love with the way you feel when you visit! When you are in love with the way you feel after visiting your stylist, the cost means very, very little. You don't walk into Tiffany's expecting to spend what you would in Kmart. And you don't get the Ritz Carlton Customer Service at the Days Inn. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for. Stylists have a choice as to where they choose to work and clients have a choice as to where they choose to get work done. That's the American Way.
I know that I can't change the world, but if I could help a stylist or two realize their value & teach a handful of clients to recognize the value in our artistry, I have served my purpose. And when someone asks "Who does she think she is?" all I can hear in my head is Madonna's Who's That Girl.
This is an accurate depiction.
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