Make Space for a Mentor

Education comes in all forms, and it’s the backbone of any stylist’s success. To take your educational journey further, I would advise you to make space in your life for a mentor, a topic I explore further through my Hair Biz and Beyond mentoring service.

After more than 12 years as an independent stylist and session stylist, working 12 hours a day, six to seven days a week, I started burning out. I knew there was more in the industry for me. Clients kept telling me I needed to clone myself. Then it all came together, and just like that, I was ready for the next step.

In that moment, I knew I needed to open a salon. I could teach other hairstylists, through strategic education, exactly what skills made me unique and how I approach a service. I could lay a really strong foundation and culture for growth, success and community. I found so much joy in educating and elevating my staff so they could grow quickly and avoid the setbacks I had learned to navigate along the way.

My salon was a huge success, and after seven years of ownership I sold it for a large profit. That let me focus on uplifting independent beauty professionals and salon and spa owners by sharing my story, the good and the bad, along with brand consulting and salon business support. I want to give the industry a road map to success without the bumps and potholes, free from detours and accidents.

Born in the hardest years

The COVID years hit the industry so hard, and a lot of people took time to re-evaluate their business. I developed Hair Biz and Beyond then, because I knew how important it was to share anything and everything about the salon business, to help anyone I could keep their business through tough times. I did a lot of consulting digitally and developed future business programs.

During that time, beauty professionals started looking for inspiration and challenging themselves as entrepreneurs. Many reached out, and I realized there was a need for more mentorship programs, whatever avenue or direction they took. That’s when I really started focusing on one-on-one personalized coaching, mentorship and business support. I figured that since I’ve worn pretty much every hat in this industry, there’s not much that can stump me.

Why a mentor

For stylists who want to move up in the industry and venture further, finding a mentor is one of the best ways forward. For me, the growth and development of other beauty professionals is the highest form of leadership. If my actions inspire others to do more, learn more and dream more, then really, that’s all I want to be remembered for in this industry.

Working with a mentor can speed up your process. You have someone to guide you, bounce ideas off, and hold you accountable: someone who has been through a lot of obstacles and can advise you on getting past the challenges between you and your aspirations.

Finding one

If you want to take the first steps toward finding a mentor, social media is a perfect place to start. So many successful industry leaders offer mentorship, online programs, retreats, classes and coaching; you just have to find one that fits your niche. If you want to work for a scissor brand, find someone who specializes in cutting and offers classes or coaching, and so on. I always say: surround yourself with the people you want to be like.

On the other hand, if you have the industry knowledge and feel you have something to offer someone else, go for it. There is so much knowledge to share and pay forward, and when you keep it to yourself, no one benefits. Lay out a business plan and make it happen. The best advice I can give is to be open to what the universe puts in front of you. If it’s something you’ve truly been thinking about and an opportunity arises, don’t hold back. Take the leap!

First published in SalonEVO, June/July 2023.