The Suite Life
Author: Alyssa Hrisko
Braving the world as a Studio Stylist and why every inch counts. A (hopefully) amusing account of what that looks like and a few things I have learned (or wish I had known) along the way.
First and foremost thank you to the HairNerds for asking me to share what being a Studio Owner has been like for me. As you will read later, finding the right community is 150% part of being a Studio Stylist because some days (most days) it’s just you and your hustle and it’s so stinking important to have a group of equally awesome humans around you when you need a boost. Secondly shout out to my better half @katt.likemeow for being the best ride or die as long as there are snacks, I couldn’t do this without you!
Still with me? YAY! My name is Alyssa Hrisko and I have been doing hair in the PNW for 14 years. My career is a mixture of small salons, one large corporate salon and now TWO Studio Salons that I share with my best friend – Seneca and Boone. You hear time and time again that it doesn’t matter where you start, it only matters where you end up. With 100% respect to whoever coined that phrase I thinks that’s a lie. If you don’t respect and learn from where you came from (good, bad, or otherwise) how in the world will you know what your future dream looks like? A tough apprenticeship might teach you compassion and grace later on in life. A no rules do what you want chaos fest salon will probably teach you that structure leads to success. An amazing mentor might spark the joy (Marie Kondo I still don’t understand how you do it) for mentoring or teaching in your own career one day. Studio Styling is a whole other playing field and while there definitely will be rookie of the year standouts it’s more common to see veteran Stylists as owners for a reason. To those fresh out of cosmetology school please don’t take this as a “no don’t do it” instead maybe see this as a older sister stylist saying “give yourself time to breathe and settle into your craft”. You just ran the sprint (and crushed it I’m sure!) so take a moment to relish in that victory and trust that we are all so excited for you and what you will become as your grow.
So you’ve decided that it’s time for you to spread your wings and hang your shingle at your very OWN Studio. CONGRATS! You’re probably filled with excitement, nervous tummy (stock up on peppermint tea, seriously folks it works) Pinterest boards to the max, and possibly a wee little oh crap this is scary what have I done on the inside. Sounds like you are right on track. Things I have learned, am learning or why didn’t anyone tell me are as follows
Location, location, location (and parking)
Choose your place of business where there is room grow business. Read that twice. This is like choosing your home but to the millionth degree. Walk the neighborhood, do you like what you see? Do you want to spend time in your new hood? Are there coffee shops you can see yourself in when you need a mental break? Cute restaurants you can recommend to your clients after a Friday night appointment? A gym, yoga studio, somewhere that YOU can go to find your balance (because taking care of you is going to be part of this new journey)? This location should be full of possibilities to network and hopefully new clients! Also for the love of all that’s holy make sure there is parking. Whether that be street, lot, or garage try doing a few parking dry runs at different times of the day to make sure you are accessible. Your clients are going to be excited to come see you so make sure they can!
Build your community and act like a Boss
Think of yourself as a new parent (I’m a cat parent myself but you get the idea) you grew this beautiful idea and kept it safe but now you have to put it out into the world. Scary right? It’s time to build that new parent tribe (posse, girl/boy gang, cool cats etc) of people who will support you, inspire you, possibly smack you on the bum if needed, and help you grow.
This list includes: whoever your person is, whether that be a spouse, a best friend, a work spouse etc. this is the person who will see the highs and the lows behind closed doors so start learning to communicate early and often no matter how uncomfortable it might be.
Your BOSS Support Team: Studios require a lot of paperwork, and if you are the type that can do it all congrats! If not then find the best you can afford; a solid CPA at least for the first year or so (also keep EVERY RECEIPT). Your local Insurance Person, they provide your studio and clients reassurance that if anything ever happens that you are covered. Your Pro House of Choice Rep, they will keep you stocked and up to date on all the new hotness going on in our field. If you don’t know ASK! Our clients come to us with all their hair related questions as we are their experts so use these experts when you have questions.
Lastly your equally talented and amazing stylist/guru/parental hub. This could be a kick ass group of stylists, a rockstar mentor (don’t limit who that may be in your life, it doesn’t have to be a stylist), someone or group of someone’s who know you and that you can be honest with. Bounce those ideas and dreams back and forth. Surround yourself with people who make you want to do better, be better, grow better (a lot better butter right?!).
Keep it simple (sassy)
Omg the design, you love the idea of succulents, and a bold Instagram wall, and oooo what’s that it’s shiny, and maybe coffee, no maybe water, ooo champagne everybody loves champagne and now SQUIRREL!! I’m laughing as I type this because this was totally us a few years ago. I blame Pinterest telling us we all have brilliant DIY Shabby Chic with a mix of Bouji Design Babe inside of us. For some of you that may be true, for the rest of us I am talking to you. Remember earlier when I mentioned that structure leads to success? This is what I am talking about.
If you are lucky you will have about 90-125 square feet to work with in a standard studio suite. In that space you need to store all your necessary tools of your trade: shears, combs, foils, brushes, blow dryer, irons, etc. Also an entire color wall that includes: developers, lighteners, toners, brushes, bowls, plus back stock of your most used items. For safety and sanitation you need cleaning supplies, a first aid kit (colorists PLEASE DO NOT FORGET EMERGENCY EYE WASH!!) paper towels, garbage bags all the really cool fun stuff right? If you choose to offer beverages (which I highly recommend) you need mugs, glasses, coffee accompaniments, coasters and sweet treats. Notice how we haven’t even touched on decor? Start with the basics you need to successfully service a full day of clients then once you have all the necessary items organized and put away see where you can add your own unique touches. Personally I LOVE succulents and if you visit our Ballard Studio you will see I have them everywhere. Those little pops of green bring me so much joy and I take great pleasure watching them grow. Do we have big plans for future designs at our studios, you bet your balayage we do! For now though I know that whatever client comes my way that I am prepared and stocked with the essentials to be successful.
Its ok to slow down
I am a list writer. The days of me remembering a million things is now more like crap what was I just doing because I’m trying to remember a million things, hence the lists. I write everything down; clients I need to respond to, supplies needed for the salon, a cool restaurant that would be perfect for a date night recommendation, return my library books (before they take my card away…… again, true story), classes that would be so cool to attend and everything in between. There are so many things that go into having your own space and while it’s a truly awesome experience it can take over if you don’t learn to pump the breaks. We have the best intentions, “I will only work a set amount of days” or “From the hours of blank to blank I am unplugging” and my personal favorite is “Just give me 5 minutes to take this…….” righhhhht. Below is some of the best advice I was given, or hope I can pass along to you.
You will in the first year (or two) work when you need to, whatever that day is because you’re awesome and you want to accommodate those clients. Eventually you will find a balance between personal and professional time. And you will not allow yourself to panic or feel guilt for not working 24/7.
You will do your best to unplug but will also find yourself down a rabbit hole more than once watching some type of hair related videos at 2am. Personally I can watch foil pulling for hours but I’m also a toddler if I get less than 8 hours of sleep and it’s important that I know that.
You will learn that it’s easier to communicate to whom ever you’re with that sometimes you might need to handle a last minute issue, it might take a bit (it seriously happens even with the best of clients) but that you’re doing the best you can to wrap it up so you can be present.
Don’t get swept up in the noise. Do what is right for you and you alone.
I have a love/hate relationship with social media. I LOVE seeing all the talent and creativity that our field puts out and I am never not inspired on the daily. However there are also days when I just feel crushed and scared that I’m not doing enough and I let my little voice of doubt take over. Those feelings are completely normal and 100% real. In this fake it till you make it world sometimes the making it part seems like a faraway dream and you are left just feeling fake.
Raise your hand if that sounds familiar. Cool now raise your other hand and give yourself a high five because you just emoted and that’s a huge accomplishment. You spoke your fear, acknowledged it and that’s is worth applauding. We are so quick to judge ourselves that we forget how far we have had to come to even be at a place that we can judge ourselves. Give yourself some grace, you’ve earned it.
On days where I need more “muchness” these are a few of my favorite accounts:
Welp everyone that’s all she wrote (for now!) I again can’t say thank you enough to the HairNerds for their support and creating a platform where one can be truly authentic and share. What else would you want to let a future Studio Stylist know? What are you biggest triumphs or best accomplishments so we can high five you?!
Xoxo
Alyssa