Meet Bri Pottle

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bri Pottle. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Bri, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

I think developing my confidence and self-esteem started when I moved cross country from Portland, ME to Portland, OR. I really got to experience a whole new life and reinvent myself. Coming from central Maine I didn’t really have much exposure to anything worldy, so Portland, OR was a really great place to start. That was when I had my first experience with booth renting a chair at a salon. I started to learn more skills with having my own business, I did a lot of booking clients for myself, started doing my taxes differently, and made my own hours. Once I got a taste of making my own hours there was no going back from that. When you work for yourself you learn a lot about boundaries, holding yourself accountable, and how to speak up for yourself when needed.
When moving to Portland, OR, that was also my first experience of going to therapy. I have a lot of family trauma that was pretty bottled up, and it needed to come out. Through talk therapy, I got through a lot of what I needed to at that time and that’s when my confidence really started to peak through. I was taught that I don’t have to let life just happen to me, but I can have better experiences and outcomes. The healing process is slow and hard, but it has been very worth it.
Fast forward to moving back home to Maine. I got a new therapist and started the journey of EMDR. If you don’t know what that is, look it up! It is a type of therapy that I was very skeptical of at first, but it really does work. I would say that was one of the most helpful experiences of getting through some really tough trauma that I couldn’t let go of. It was also way harder than any talk therapy that I have done, and way more exhausting. However, after going through that, I can confidently say that a lot of my anxiety has gone away, and I am able to walk through life with way more confidence than I ever have.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a hairstylist based in Portland, ME.
I think the most exciting thing about my job is that I get to connect with so many cool people in the community. Whether they’re new here, or have lived here their whole lives, I love listening to people’s stories and getting to know them.
I have started specializing in balayage and foiling techniques over the years. I do a lot of “lived in” colors and a lot of making people blonde. I have a lot of fun with color, and it’s definitely my favorite skill to do with hair. I am also starting to learn more about haircutting and honing in on that skill. There is so much more to it than people realize!

I take a lot of education outside of the salon, and I’m always learning something new. Whether it’s taking an online class or going to a class in person, I’m always up to something.
My next in person class will be in September and right now I am in the middle of taking a color theory class online. What I love about online classes is that I can hit pause and come back to it when I want to, or I can rewind if I didn’t quite get something.

I am in the middle of building my own education for stylists online right now. It’s been a bit of a slower process, but I am enjoying it and trying not to have imposter syndrome about it. This is something I have really been wanting to get into for as long as I’ve been doing hair, and I’m so happy to be taking that step in my career. I have also been thinking of trying to get clients in the salon to have a class on styling their hair. So many people that have sat in my chair don’t really have the skills to even curl their hair, so why not hold a fun class where everyone can learn together and not feel so alone?

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Oooooh, this is a good one.

One of the most important areas of knowledge for a stylist is the ability to find a place of work that you really like. I can only speak on the hair industry, but maybe this can speak on many careers.. you’re interviewing a place of work as much as they are interviewing you, so try to look around and have options. Ask questions to yourself like how do these people interact with each other? Do they seem kind? Does it seem like they can teach you things or are they just throwing you out to the wolves and expect you to just “get in there?”

I think an important quality for a stylist to have is the desire to seek out as much education as you can. Especially when you graduate hair school. It’s very hard to switch gears into having clients and being on your own. Taking classes or even having a mentor is really important. I have also seen stylists that have been doing hair a long time get stuck in their ways and just stick inside their comfort zone. If you do that, you may end up resenting the profession, fall behind, and give up doing hair all together. A lot of the battle with this profession is staying inspired.

It’s also important to have the ability to calmly enforce boundaries with clients. Most people are great, but there will be clients who will try to take advantage of you. Learning how to stand up for yourself early will get you the clientele you want sooner.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, there are a few things that I do..

I slow down. Slowing down and getting to spend time with myself is the number one thing that always helps me. It brings me back to myself and feels calming. Most of the time, I will lay in the grass, go to the beach, or just simply stay home.

I stop posting on my work social. Sometimes the notifications can be a little much for me, even if it’s just messaging. Taking a step back from that, even if it’s just for a few days, is very helpful.

I focus on my breath. Most of the time, this works. I will think of a calm place, close my eyes, and just breathe for a moment. It brings me back to present moment.

My advice would be to try different strategies, and see what works well for you. Everyone is so different with how we react to life’s stressors, and it’s a little bit of a trial and error situation. Just remember it won’t last forever, and that you can change your life if you know how to calm your nervous system down.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bripottlehair.com
• Instagram: balayagedbybri

Image Credits

Leah Carter, Caitlin Penna