EDUCATION COMES IN ALL FORMS, AND IT’S THE BACKBONE OF ANY STYLIST’S SUCCESS. AND TO TAKE YOUR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY FURTHER, I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO MAKE SPACE IN YOUR LIFE FOR A MENTOR, A TOPIC THAT I EXPLORE FURTHER WITH MY HAIR BIZ AND BEYOND MENTORING SERVICE.
MAKE SPACE FOR A MENTOR
BY DANIELLE KEASLING
GLOBAL DIRECTOR OF L’ORÉAL BRANDS, GREAT LENGTHS, AND A MEMBER OF THE ULTA BEAUTY PRO TEAM
After working for more than 12 years as an independent stylist and session stylist for 12 hours a day, six to seven days a week, I started burning out. I knew that there was more in the industry for me.
I had clients telling me that 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 to exponentially grow quickly and avoid all the setbacks that I learned to navigate around along the way.
My salon was a huge success, and after seven years of ownership, I was able to sell it for a large profit, and really focus on uplifting the independent beauty professional and salon and spa owners through sharing my story (the good and bad) brand consulting and salon business support. I want to give the industry the road map to success without the bumps and potholes, free from detours and accidents.
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 at that time because I knew it was so important to share anything and everything about salon business in order to help anyone I could in these tough times to keep their business. I did a lot of consulting digitally as well as develop future programs for business.
During that time, beauty professionals started looking for inspiration and challenging themselves as entrepreneurs. Many reached out. I realized then there was a need for more mentorship programs no matter what avenue or direction it went. That’s when I really started focusing on one- on-one personalized coaching, mentorship, and business support. I figured since I’ve pretty much worn ever hat in this industry, there’s not much that can stump me.
For stylists who want to move themselves up in the industry and venture farther outward, finding a mentor is one of the best ways of moving 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, dream more, then, really, that’s all I want to be remembered for in this industry.
By working with a mentor, potentially you can expedite your ‘process’. You have someone to guide you, bounce ideas off, and hold you accountable. Someone that’s been through a lot of obstacles and advises with insight how to better maneuver the challenges standing in the way of you and your aspirations.
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 are offering mentorship, online programs, retreats, classes, coaching, etc; you just have to find one that fits your niche. If you want to work for a scissor brand, find someone that specializes in cutting and offers classes or coaching, so on and so forth… I always say surround yourself with people you want to be just like.
On the other hand, if you have the industry knowledge and you feel you have something to offer to someone else, go for it.
There is so much knowledge to share and pay forward. When you hold it in for 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 and if it’s truly something you’ve been thinking about and an opportunity arises, don’t hold back. Take the leap!