We were lucky to catch up with Lena Reitz recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lena , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I truly learned about resillience when I dove into the deep end and opened my first Brick and mortar which was a hair salon. Transitioning from management into ownership there is no manual to prepare you for the hurdles that you will have to overcome. It sort of felt like a boxing match where the punches keep coming at you, and you have to learn to take the hits or learn a way to navigate around it. I’m just being brutally honest with how hardcore and defeating it was initially, and I didn’t know I could eventually find the strenth and the resillience to keep going and get better at taking the punches. I tell people this because I didn’t know how hard it would be and I think a lot of people go into owning a business thinking its so great and you get to be your own boss, and have full creative control, which is true but it does come with a lot of hard work, and sacrifice and periodic mental breakdowns (haha). It takes time to get it together, and you do very much figure it out as you go along. I highly recommend leaning on others who have walked the path ahead of you and seek advice. For me, I would call a good friend of mine for strength and words of wisdom, and he assured me it does get easier and resillience is something you build up over time.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a innovator in the Hair Extension industry and I have dedicated my career to filling in the gaps for what is lacking in the industry. I started my career in a time where there was not many resources for Hair Extension products or methods. I was seeking knowledge and to expand in this arena, and once I reached the ceiling of learning everything there was out there, and searching for the products and tools I needed to excel behind the chair, I ended up a creator. I developed and trademarked my own extension method “Skinny Weft” which was adopted by the largest Hair Extension brand in the world Bellami. Due to trademark restrictions they now have to refer to the method as “Volume Weft Method”. I worked as the expert behind to brand to build eduction programs, company training, and product like the “Volume Weft” itself which was a huge breakthrough for our industry. After my time working with them, I frontiered my own company called Hair Boss Salon Corp! I had an international location in Canada, and currently have a salon in Hollywood, CA. My most recent business venture, is my new store “Hairadise”. Hairadise is where I retail the professional hair and tools that I have designed for professionals and even non professionals who are looking for a reliable high end product. I have worked behind the scenes in hair and product manufacturing for over a decade, so I have established relationships with factories in three major countries where I manufacture my goods. These products are all one of a kind and unique to my brand! I am very proud of what I have created, and it was not over night. This is years of trial and error, to finally reach what I feel is the perfect products for my high standards. My work is never complete, as our industry and my companies will continue to innovate!
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?
Looking back, I think something that has been monumental to my success was starting out in a time before we had the coneniences of modern techology that we have today. This really taught me to work hard, and get into action and do what I had to do to let people know who I am. I started as a hair stylist before I even had a cell phone or social media. I used to have to develope photos of my work, print them at kinkos, cut them out to make flier designs, and pass them out by hand to people on the street or where ever I would go. Now days, using social media in the comfort of my own home allows me the advantage of reaching a lot more people in areas more vast then my own city. Learning how to utilize the internet, marketing and editing tools has been monumental in my growth and expansion. I also think utilizing my other talents such as photography and editing has come into handy, because you need to be able to take quality photos of your clients and your product. I recommend to anyone starting out in an industry relatable to mine, to really learn how to market yourself. You can have all the talent and skill, but if you can’t showcase that then you may have a hard time getting it off the ground. The other thing is so stay consistent and every day put energy towards your growth. It’s not going to happen for you. You are the fuel behind your career.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
When it comes to working collaboratively with other people I absolutly love doing so! I feel like contrabutions from others who have skillsets and areas of expertize that are beoyond what I possess can have a profound impact on expanding ideas and fast tracking the progress. I currently am working on a business model to franchise my business model to allow a blueprint for creatives who may want to run their own salons. This can be mini franchises with a minimim of 2 chairs, or it can be replicated on a larger scale as well! With the franchises comes the licensing, a business blueprint all mapped out, education, our trademarked method, our hair and product supply, and mentorship support. If anyone is interested in this you can send me an inquiry email at Lena@hairbossextensions.com. I also offer career coaching and certification programs for my Skinny Weft Method. Regarding future goals, I run this business with a small team. I would be interested in entertaining a partnership if the right person were to come my way!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.myhairadise.com
- Instagram: myhairadise
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/myhairadise
Image Credits
Image Credits Lillian Reitz (Lillian Jean Photography)
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