We were lucky to catch up with Cassie Perez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Cassie , we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
One thing that is not often talked about among hairstylist is the struggle to gain confidence behind the chair, especially early on in this career. Being confident behind the chair wasn’t always easy for me, it took a while for me to shake the nerves. I learned that gaining confidence behind the chair was kind of like riding a bike, the more experience I had the better I got. The best skill I learned to boost my self esteem was to “get comfortable being uncomfortable”. I was scared when I would get a new client, but I pushed through the fear and I did it anyway. I started off as a brand new stylist that really didn’t know what I was doing, but I continued to push my self and perfect my craft by showing up every day to the salon. I learned that making mistakes is okay and that by making those mistakes I grew. Today I feel confident behind the chair and I do not take that confidence for granted because it is something I pushed myself to gain. I still continue to push myself in the industry so I can grow more confidence every day.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I have been in the hair industry since 2014 when I started school at Paul Mitchell. I immediately fell in love with the industry. After graduating in 2016 I kicked off my journey at a commission salon. I worked there for a few years and then I decided to venture out on my own! I was so nervous but I was also excited to start building my brand. My first space was just big enough for me and was a great step in learning how to be a business owner. I quickly outgrew my space and took on a salon build out project in late 2020. I truly got to make the space exactly how I wanted it, from floor to ceiling! I now have a 3 chair salon that I am working on filling with stylist. This part of my journey has been filled with a lot of personal and professional growth. I have loved every step of my career so far and I plan on continuing to grow in the future!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Even though I am a hairstylist, I learned that perfecting my craft and being skilled in all things hair was not the only skill set I needed. There are more impactful skills I use daily in the salon to form quality connections with my clients. One of the biggest skills I have learned is how to communicate well with others. Communication is huge in the beauty industry and is the key to making or breaking the entire client experience. Assuring myself and my client are on the same page about the services I perform on them keeps guests returning and happy. Learning good communication skills has been very impactful on my journey in the hair industry and has gained me lifetime clients who feel comfortable in my chair! Another skill that has been important in my job is connection. Through the years of working in the salon I have learned how important connection is with my guests. Early on in my career I would take detailed notes on every client I had each day explaining everything we discussed during their appointment. Everything from their jobs, children’s names, likes, dislikes, etc. This helped me develop strong connections with each client so no matter how much time passed between their appointments, we could take off right where we left off. I have been able to laugh, cry, celebrate, and mourn with my clients through the connections I have formed with each of them. Lastly a new skill I am learning is leadership. I am currently growing my salon and expanding my team. With these new changes I am pushing myself to learn how to be a good leader so I can create an environment that is productive and healthy for my team. Some of the best ways I have learned leadership skills is by surrounding myself with other small business owners who I feel are great leaders. My best advice to new stylists starting your journey is to really cherish your relationships with your clients and take your time to really communicate well with them. Remember there is more to being successful than just doing pretty hair!
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
With my business growing I am currently looking to network and collaborate with as many people as possible. As I mentioned previously I like to surround myself with other small businesses so I can become the best leader I can! I also am currently growing my team so I have been looking to expand my connections with all the local cosmetology schools. I love any opportunity I can to network with any and all people in the beauty industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://color-and-contour-studio.com/
- Instagram: @colorandcontourxo
