You are the winner of this year´s Junior Style Stars award. What was your first thought when you learned that you had won?
Where is the check? ;) but really I don´t think that I thought anything until I saw my husband Tim then all I could think was that I had been set up. Actually, it didn´t set in for a few hours... even now it still seems surreal that I won.
What made you decide to enter the competition?
Besides the fact that it would look good on a resume, I loved the fact that it was such a level playing field since we all got the same mannequin and photographers. I have always loved doing peoples hair for weddings and parties I wanted to see where I would finish among the other competitors across the nation.
How did you develop your winning style?
I actually called my mom and went over my creative process with her trying to figure out which direction I wanted to take it the only thing I really knew was that I wanted to show detail and control of the hair. The term that I used to develop it was “organic elegance”. My mother is a silversmith so I learned how to make jewelry at a young age. I actually made the hair ornaments and brooch first and those were the inspiration for the hair. I used chunky turquoise and brown pearls framed out in rhinestone strips. I actually had a hard time focusing at school so I took it home and worked on it while listening to joss stone and having a beer (you can leave that part out if you want but it is the truth). So what came about is how the hair wanted to move.
You grew up in a small town in Kentucky (Louisville, KY). Where do you see yourself working — a small town or a large city?
I actually live in a small town now but work in the 16th largest city in America and I think that I am ok with that. I think that you can be successful anywhere if you put your mind to it. Right now I work at one of the top Aveda salons in the world. I think I have the best of both worlds; I can have peace and space but just be minutes away from culture and fashion.
How would you describe the relationship you develop with clients?
The relationship that I build with clients is what I call the daytime bartender. It really is more than just cutting hair. For an hour a day every month we give to the women who come to see us what they give to all the people around them 24/7. We may be the only person who they see in a month that focuses on what they need rather than what we need from them. So I feel like everyone in this industry who really takes care of the guest is a restorer of spirits.
You have said that you really appreciated the education you received at Toni & Guy in Arizona. What did you most appreciate?
You mean other than Free Breakfast? ;) The thing that I most appreciated about my education was that we were more than just payment received coupons and another notch on the state board belt for the school but it was actually about understanding the creativity possible within ourselves and how to express it well technically in line with the clients needs. They also encouraged competitions What advice would you give a hairstylist thinking about entering the competition next year? The advice that I would give to a hairstylist competing next year is to do research and don´t be scared, if it doesn´t work just brush it out, that is the beauty of undoes. One more thing, take pictures of your mannequin and look them over because things translate differently on film.
You grew up in a family of seven children. How did growing up in a large family contribute to your current success?
Growing up in a large family made me into a hard worker, and very creative. When you are poor you learn to make up your own toys and to think outside the box. My mom always encouraged creativity and that we could do what we wanted or what we put our mind to. Growing up in a large family also made me comfortable with a large variety of personalities. Also being number five and short I always felt like I had to prove myself, especially given that the rest of my family is gifted artistically. So I guess I was always trying to find something that someone in my family didn´t do well already.
If you were to write a book on starting out in the beauty business, what would you title it?
“Oh Crap what have I done?!”, “Shears For Hire”, “What Now?”, but seriously maybe something like, “Clearing The Hairtrap”: An Experience About Starting Out in the Beauty Industry” There are so many different avenues open to you in the industry, it can be difficult to avoid the pitfalls and figure out which way to go. I´m still figuring it out for myself, but I´d hope to be able to help other people down the road.
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