Raising The Standard

On a summer day, my family and I were on a road trip, and this man came on the radio talking about different jobs. He was comparing different careers and how stressful each one of them were. Guess which career was deemed the “least” stressful job someone could have??? Being a hair dresser. I was instantly triggered when I heard this, while my husband thought it was funny. Actually, I was pissed. I gave him grace because he can find humor in everything. One of the reasons I love him.

Sometimes, I think everyone thinks that being a hairstylist is a hobby. I’ll be honest and tell you that in the beginning, it was just a hobby for me. I worked part time and thought if I could make a little extra to pay for date nights, shopping, or the maintenance of my own hair and nails, I would be happy.

I was super fortunate because I moved back home, and started working in the only salon in Fairview, MT. I had a full book of clients before my first year as a stylist was over. I’m still incredibly grateful so many people trusted me with their hair while I was fresh out of school.

Four years later, I hit the “burn out” stage. I quit doing hair because (I thought) I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. The truth was… I loved my job, but I could not handle the stress of conversing with 10-15 people per day anymore. I’d go home at the end of the day with zero energy to give to my family. I could not handle the stress of people canceling last minute or “no showing” altogether. I could not handle the stress of going without meals and bathroom breaks in a 12 hour time frame.

Those of you who know me, know I make decisions impulsively. On my list of character flaws, you could say it’s number one. I’m an “all or nothing” kind of gal, and it drives my family absolutely insane. Oops. I was in a hard spot because I have a huge passion for hair, but there had to be a better way. I like to think I can have my cake and eat it too.

I’m not writing this for people to have pity on me or other stylists, but I do want people to see this career from our perspective. We have the pleasure of transforming women and making them look and feel their best. Personally, that’s 90% of the reward- not the money.

I know there are other careers out there that run the same way. If you are in customer service, you know where I’m coming from. I knew I had to raise the standard for myself, or I was going to crash. Through my journey, I have found people that truly value me and what I have to offer. Which, in turn, has made me value the people sitting in my chair even more. It’s forced me to deliver my best work. Don’t get me wrong… I value EVERY SINGLE PERSON who has ever sat in my salon chair. They have literally shaped my career and transformed me into the business woman I am today.

There’s no basic standard set for hair stylists, so how are we supposed to raise that standard? There’s no other way but to do it for yourself. There will be people that straight up tell you that “you have no right”. Or that “you’re crazy”. Or that you are “JUST a hair dresser”. I’ve even had people ask me if I joined a cult. Ha! That one was my favorite.

Last year, I knew that something had to change for me. I came across NBR one night doing the usual scroll on Instagram. I don’t think this was coincidence… I really believe this was an act of God. I applied for their education program with shaking hands. I wondered, “what will people think? What will people say? Will anyone even want these extensions?” It seemed impossible, and I was really, really scared.

Almost a year later, I can say every second was worth it. I have completely transformed my business in a matter of months. I see 2-3 clients per day instead of 10-12. I go to work happy, and I come home happy. Not just happy- fulfilled. I still get stressed out, and I still have bad days. Don’t we all?! Yes. We are HUMAN.

My point is….. if you want something, go for it. If you feel stuck, find a way to get unstuck. What may seem so “impossible”, is completely POSSIBLE. There will be blood, sweat, and lots of tears, but every bit is worth it. Some days I feel like I’m dreaming, while other days I feel guilty. Is this real? Do I deserve this? I took a major leap of faith. I’ve put in countless hours of training. I’m still learning, but I think we can all agree that whatever you put into something, is what you’re going to get in return. I wasn’t happy and I wasn’t fulfilled, so I raised the standard. The standard that I set for myself. We are all allowed to have one.

Much Love,

Anna