My Hair Journey

One of the most common questions I get asked is, “how long have you been doing hair and is it something you’ve always wanted to do?”

I love this question and thought that sharing a little bit about my background and how I got to where I am today would give you a little insight into who I am, how I’ve grown, and where I am going in the future.

My hair journey began back in 2011 when I was studying at Evangel University. At the time, I was working at Schlotzky’s delin and about to get married! One of my close friends was working at ViVo Salon and told me they needed a receptionist. I interviewed, was offered the job and so began my hair journey!

While working as a part of the front desk team, I got to witness the behind the scenes of salon life and the hair industry as a whole. The longer I worked there, the more interested I became in becoming more involved in the industry. My interest continued to grow and in 2014, I asked my boss if she would be willing to take me on as her apprentice. She graciously agreed, and I began the journey towards completing 3,000 hours of education, which I was able to complete in just under 2 years. I passed the practical and written examinations, and then assisted at the same salon for a year and a half to continue growing and learning all things hair and beauty!

My GRADUATION after completing 3,000 hours!! The salon put on a huge party for me and I felt so incredibly special.

After almost 10 years working and growing at Vivo Salon, I began to feel it was time for me to spread my wings and step out of my comfort zone. I wasn’t exactly sure what that would look like, but I knew I wanted to work in a place that prioritized the environment and the overall guest experience. Being a part of a salon that was  eco-friendly was really important to me because I always felt so guilty when I did a full highlight and had to throw away tons of foils. I wanted to be able to offer my guests a place to relax where I was able to give them a beautiful and uplifting experience, without compromising my goals towards a more environmentally friendly process. 

I was still unsure of how to create this experience without compromising my commitment towards creativity and growth as a stylist, but I knew I wanted to make it happen. One evening as my hubby and I were driving to dinner, I noticed a brand new sign in a new strip mall on Republic Road. The sign was for The Beauty Factory an eco-friendly salon. I literally did a double take as I felt as if I had both manifested my vision and yet stumbled upon it at the same time. 

The crazy part of the story is that I had just been talking to my friend about my dream of working at an eco-friendly and guest focused salon. I no longer wanted to double book my clients so that I could focus my undivided attention on each person who sat in my chair. I had never heard of a salon like that in the Springfield area, and seeing that sign while driving to dinner literally felt like an actual sign from the Universe. 

Excited and almost shocked at my luck, I immediately checked out the salon online. It had not opened yet, but the owner was looking for stylists to join her team. I just knew that this would be the next step in my hair journey. It was an extremely hard decision to leave the place that I had called home for so many years, but I was confident that it was time to begin a new journey where I could continue to grow my skills, invest in education and make my dreams a reality. 

On September 24th, I had my first official day at my new salon home, The Beauty Factory. It’s been a little over 2 years, and the growth I’ve experienced has been exponential! 

The Beauty Factory has the BEST windows and natural lighting for selfies 😂. In this picture I just remember feeling so aligned and at peace with where I was at. That feeling has since grown even stronger!

The biggest lesson I learned through this process is to take risks, listen to your intuition, and work hard to make your dreams and visions a reality. My journey is far from done, and I’m excited for the dreams that are brewing for the future. If you have been a part of my story in any way, I appreciate you and am so grateful that you’ve trusted me with your hair and your time! 

If you are just joining me on this journey, Welcome! I’m so excited to meet you and would love to chat with you about making your dreams a reality! As always, you’re welcome to book a consultation through the link in my bio. Let’s make some magic together! 

xxJoy