Room For Improvement

I would be a terrible owner/manager if I didn't think that I could improve in my life.  Improvement, however, means you need to be open to critism.  It hurts to hear it but as long as you stay away from the initial reaction of defensiveness or excuse making then you're on the highway to improvement.  I've had moments in my career that have made me cringe.  I even locked myself in a bathroom at work about 9 years ago because a coworker said some awful truth to me.  She said it right to my face and I was young and immature and it hurt to hear that I wasn't perfect.  So I retreated to the bathroom and had a panic attack.  It was a bad one, like the ones you hear of people having on a plane because they saw someone had more than a three ounce bottle of liquid in their hand.  I didn't care how mean the girl was, I was shocked that someone called me out on my immaturity and devious behavior.  As a young cosmetologist just getting started in my career I felt like I was just getting the hang of things and suddenly my bubble was burst.  This bubble bursting made me want to jump off the plane at first but then after some deep breathing and a controlled cry, I exhaled and asked God for some help.  He first humbled me, then he gave me guidance. 

I dug myself out of that prideful hole by first asking for forgiveness from that person who intimidated the crap out of me.  My palms were sweating and I hated that I put myself in this situation.  Although, the person didn't want to have anything to do with me even after apologizing, I still learned from the situation.  That was a huge step to maturity for me. 

As a manager for many years and now an owner, self-examination is nothing new to me.  For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required." -- Luke 12:48

I use to be a really competitive person with other people but that meant I was always comparing myself to others.  There was another incident in my career that forced me to realize that I shouldn't examine others so harshly but to examine my own heart with x-ray vision.  My competitive spirit took a new course.  It didn't leave but it became a desire for Godly growth and an inner drive to see who He wants me to be in Him.  I no longer envy the fame, fortune, or abilities of other people.  Praise God.  The growth is rewarding and less torturous than coveting another person's life that I can't have.
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
Exodus 20:17


It's important to want your life more than anyone else.  I'm inspired by other people and their abilities.  Now, if I feel envious of someone, I immediately examine my heart and where that feeling is stemming from.  Do I really wish I had that person's life or do I really think they don't have any problems?  Those two questions usually remind me of all my blessings and also help me set a new goal if I believe it's attainable within God's will. 

I am not a quitter and I don't allow people around me to be quitters.  Someone once told me that even when I repremand them that they feel more loved because of it.  That makes me laugh out loud so much it sounds crazy.  It really is the desire of my heart to help others improve and live out their dreams.  I just had my entire staff watch a webinar about customer service and I had a list of questions to answer.  The feedback I got was exquisite!  They were open and honest on where we can improve as a salon and where they can personally improve.  It gave me fuel!  We aren't the best we can be yet and that's exciting to me.  I embrace the change and challenges to improve.  Who holds me accountable for the changes to come?  Conviction and the inner drive God gives me everyday to work for Him.  The people that entrust their livelihood in Studio7's hands are the other driving force.  They inspire me to do better all the time.  When I let them down, it forces me again, to examine my heart and ask God for direction and wisdom.  And on and on it goes. 

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead     
Philppeans 3:13

Awards, trophies, and why those don't make or break us

Vote for this, vote for that.  I don't believe that Best of Story County or other "best of's" make you better than others. My salon has won a few awards but then has been skipped over by other ones.  I appreciate the recognition when it happens.  It's definitely fun to have people like your work but I've realized that it's not what matters in life.  We are on this earth for an undisclosed amount of time and when Scott and I started the salon it was because we had dreams of sharing God's love.  The dream was all about people and relationships.  Whenever I get off that track, I lose the dream and everything feels off kilter. 

The weeks go by so fast in life.  I try not to act like my life isn't any busier than anyone else's but some days I want to complain and whine.  Then something always happens that brings life back into perspective.  My employees have busy lives in and out of the salon and their lives inspire me.  Their dedication to not bring their stress into the salon shows that they value our safe environment we provide for our clients.  There is so much going on when they head home.  We have kids, family commitments, tragedies, sadness, and joys that go unshared 95% of the time.  Our time at the salon is dedicated to listening and building relationships with our clients, the reason we are able to put food on our tables.   

In the big scheme of life it does not cause me stress to lose an award because I will continue to try to improve and grow in my own way.  It's all about hard work and integrity.  That's why Scott and I own a business.  We have had our ups and downs as business owners but our hearts are still in it no matter what.  We are approaching our fifth year and we have an award winning staff in my eyes.  Scott and I work at being the best examples possible.  We have faultered a time or two but it's my profession, my dream, and my faith in God that gets me through. I don't give up, I find a solution.  I don't focus on the getting the next sale, I focus on how to reach people and help others.  God has given me a grand responsibility and I'm up for the challenge.  Great customer service and making our clients feel at home is what we strive for in our salon and spa.  Never will I say that I do everything perfect and I am not a micro-manager.  I hire people that are motivated and goal oriented.  They have an intense passion for what they do and I am proud of them. As a team we will continue to educate ourselves and set the bar high in our technical skills and customer service.

 Acts 20:35

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Things I can not do: Part 2

Situation:
Opening up someone's scalp and putting color in there so it stays longer

The majority of my clientele are mostly color services.  I love doing color and I love experimenting with it.  I push the limits with it and I make discoveries that help future situations.  There are a lot of things that can affect how color turns out such as the original tone and level of hair color.  A thorough consultation is absolutely necessary to make a color turn out the desired end result.  Most clients do not like red so I fight all sorts of red hues everyday. They want their highlights not too ashy but definitely not red.  They want a beautiful chocolately brown but NO red.  I consider myself a no red zone 90% of the time.

Others want their hair back to their "natural" color but the last time they saw their natural color was when they were 12 years old and now it's three shades darker but they swear there's no way that their hair is brown.  "I'm naturally blonde!"  Yes, I too was a towhead toddler but hormones hit me and then pregnancy and whatever else makes hair color change and now, I'm a brownhead.  Did you know that medications can affect how color turns out?  Yes, a lot of thyroid medication can hinder you from getting those cool tones and instead you get warm yellows because of the iodine that is in the medication.

Now, on to the fun stuff.  Grey coverage!  It's like magic when I cover someone's grey hair.  I take them back to younger years and they have a bounce in their step again.  I have learned that there is coarse grey hair, fine grey hair, grey hair that resists color and grey hair that has a mind of it's own.  Grey hair shows itself in the late 20's, early 30's for most women.  It comes with age because the pigment cells in the hair follicle slowly die.  I notice that most of the time it's a hereditary trait.

I once had a client that was a 2-3 weeker, meaning that she does not want to see any grey hair at all so I colored her hair every 2-3 weeks.  In fact, my senior citizen client not only despised the 100% grey hair she had but she wanted trendy hair on top of that.  Trendy for her and trendy for me were two different meanings so every time I saw her we had a 20 minute consultation.  We looked through pictures and books and would finally come to an agreement on what she wanted as well as what I was actually capable of doing with her hair.  After each service she would tell me that she wanted a little more of this or that but we can wait to change it until next time.  In between appointments she would call me and ask me about her color.  One of the last phone calls I had with her involved me answering a lot of questions about why her hair grows out grey and if I can get closer to her scalp in my color application.  I explained that I can not any closer in applying the color to her scalp than I already do.  She said she understood that but then asked if I could get deeper into her scalp to apply the color.  My mouth dropped and I repeated, "You want me to apply the color deeper INTO your scalp?"  "Yes, deeper...I know it may sound crazy but yes, can you get deeper in there so I don't have to come in as often?"  There was no misunderstanding, she wanted me to get that color to penetrate her flesh to magically change her outgrowing hair color.  I can not do that and I almost felt like I was letting her down by saying no but I gave it to her straight.  "I do not have the ability to go any deeper into your scalp.  I'm sorry."  She said that she probably guessed that was the case but had to ask.   How do you end a conversation like that?  "Okay then, I'll see you next week?"  Yup, that's exactly how I ended that craziness.

If you are, let's say, in your 70's or 80's, and 100% grey then I advise you to just let it go.  Maintenance should include shine treatments and toners to insure that it stays healthy and vibrant looking .  If you are younger and concerned grey hair will age you, then be ready to commit to coloring it every 2-4 weeks for full grey coverage. Meryl Streep is in her 60's and nearly 100% white, it's gorgeous and classy.  I've also seen her as a beige blonde and it looks just as ravishing.  Take care of your color and listen to the professionals!

Krista-1, Grey client scalp-0

There are things I will not do: Part 1

Over the last 10 years of doing hair I have encountered thousands of people that have helped shape my career personality and abilities. I have had clients love me through some interesting haircuts and clients I have had to "fire".  These are my tales.

Situation: Ginger (red hair), perm, bald, mullet, 1990
Kinda like Steve from 90210 but older, balding, and red hair

This 40's something man and his wife were from a different time.  I had flashbacks of perms and blue eyeliner...wait, it wasn't a flashback, it was what they looked like. They handed me a picture of the husband.  It was showing mostly his profile but I could tell this picture was at least 15 years old. Unless it was an awesome 90's party, there's no excuse for someone to be hauling this tattered picture around in their wallet. As I was studying the picture they explained to me the "look" they desired. Of course, it wasn't a mullet, it was short on the sides but longer in the back, definitely NOT a mullet. I think you sense my sarcasm, right? The process of taking my client back 15 years meant I was going back to first grade. Back then, I wore my pants tight rolled at the bottom and had teal leotard shirts that had snaps in the crotch. After our consultation the wife left her husband on his own. I think he took it as a moment to see what my professional opinion was because he told me that he had thought about cutting his hair/mullet. I pursued our conversation and told him that it would be a more updated look if he cut his hair and then he wouldn't have to "worry" about the perm. Oh, did I forget to mention that we needed to perm this man's mullet? If my memory serves me right, I chose to use the pink perm rods. Our conversation about change went absolutely nowhere. He was respecting his wife's wishes to keep the mullet that wasn't a mullet.  I went to the back and grabbed the perm rods. This poor man had to endure a perm in a salon that was open to the mall. Picture it right now. A balding, red haired man getting a pink perm. He was doing all this for his wife, bless his heart. In the end I made sure that he knew that he was always welcome to come back and cut his hair off for a new style. I never saw him again.


Krista-0, 1990's-1