We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Stefanie Mitchell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Stefanie, we sincerely appreciate you joining us today and agreeing to talk about some very personal topics. So, to kick things off, let’s talk about a tough one – divorce. Can you talk to us about how you overcame divorce?
My divorce blindsided me. I use to be emabarassed by the fact I was divorced. Ten years is a long time to be with someone that you thought you would spend the rest of your life with the one day out of nowhere you are serve divorce papers. At that time I was building a clientele in my profession as a hairstylist. I will always believe marriage is a beautiful union between tow people wha share the same goals about a healthy marriage. I never dreamed that I would be divorce with children. For many years I thought something wasn’t right about me, but the whole time I forgot about me. Pointing fingers will never change the past, but my divorce taught me to love myself first before making someone else happy. It always starts with you making yourself a priority. Do I still believe in marriage? YES!! My divorce didn’t define who I am or was, it is a part of my past that has helped me grow into the Stefanie that I am today. It took my children (Cordell & Dominic), my spirtual counselor, my church family, and many family members to help me get to this point in my life. I whole heartly than them for never giving up on me when I felt like giving up on myself. Now that I’m able to talk about my divorce after 8 years, I can now say I’m happy that I chose me and no longer feel sorry for myself. That old Stefanie has evolved and now at peace with the new experiences I have and will be looking forward too. I can also now help those that may be facing similar issues like mines. Being a hairstylist was the best decision I ever made. I will always encourage those to love theirselves first. Most situations are fixable including marriages but always remember that if its taking more out of you than what you are putting into it, its not worth holding on too. I wish I had learn this a long time ago… My motto is Love yourself first…
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?
My name is Stefanie Mitchell, but everyone calls me Stef. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas where I became curious about hair. My mom and I would always experiment on each other hair and I became great at it. I didn’t start right off by pursuing a career in hair, I first conquered the corporate world before deciding hair was calling my name. it came later on in 2005 where I attended a Technical College in Georgia. Even though I was the oldest in the class (age 29) I was determined to graduate in less than a year. Still new to the field, I was taken in by two wonderful stylists who later became my family. Within a short amount of time, I had built a steady clientele and soon made a move with my oldest to a new city, Memphis. I wasn’t scared to step out in the unknown, I stepped out on faith with the support of family and friends. My very first place of employment was J.c.Penny’s Hair Salon (2009).
I spent many countless hours and days building a strong clientele. Within a year of my arrival at J.C.Pennys Hair Salon, I venture off in a salon where I rented chair(booth rental) in a high traffic area. I remember what one of my cosmetology instructors said to me before graduation, she said, “Never salon hop, you will lose what you invested your time and money in. Treat your business like it’s a baby. Care for it like it’s one of your children.” With that imprinted in my mind, I soon found a salon to start building and maintaining a clientele.
Over the course of time/years, I continued to build. I also built long lasting friendships with other hairstylists in the industry who pushed me to become a better hair stylist. With the help of several stylists, I also learn a new skill/love of…..Hair Extensions. My new love/passion, I wanted to help women to enhance their beauty by adding hair extensions for length and fullness to their hair. From there, I moved to my next passion which is helping women embrace their chemical relaxed hair into transitioning to their natural coils.
After spending many hours consuldting clients, I soon learned that many stylists didn’t take the time to get to know their clients or hair. Many clients have been burnt behind stylist not taking the time or rushing to make a quick dollar. So I know before any service, a consultation is a MUST. I’m know for my quick turnaround in services but I take my profession very seriously and personally.
Now that Memphis is my home, my passion has helped others build their clientele. I believe in networking. My ultimate goal is to one day to step inside a classroom and share my knowledge of the fundamentals of the hair industry and how to promote a business. My current place of I’ve learn so much from building clientele, promoting my business, and educating myself in other areas in the industry. I have introduced new products in the salon I’m in now to my clients as well as other stylists that I work with.
My current place of occupancy, the lovely Premier Hair Studio, (located in Bartlett), where the Mrs. Shayla King, owner/Hairstylist, has welcome me to her team. She has broaden my knowledge of color as well as securing a bigger clientele. Her spirit and welcoming auror has made me feel at home. I’m surrounded by 6 other talented hairstylists as well. We have been voted Best Salon in Bartlett from 2018-2022. (Thank You Shayla!!!)
I currently offer many services which includes thermal styling on all texture hair, virgin relaxers, haircutting, bonding extensions, as well as sew in with human hair, and wing installation, permanent/demi color, highlights…I have now added crotchet braids and hair back on my appointment…
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?
In the hair industry, you have to have Faith, Patience, and be Motivated. Patience- you have to have patience when it comes to building a healthy clientele. You have to be honest and open because people trust your knowledge when it comes to their hair. Not being honest like not using the proper products or keeping a messy station, or showing up late to their appointment and not compensating them for your tardiness. You can not build with a negativ attitude or not wearing the proper atire to work. Patience is a key factor to me because I’m spirtual and trust everything in God that he will bring the right clients to my chair. My clients have been with me for over 12 years and they trust everything that I do and say to them. FAITH – You have to have faith that everything will come to you in due time. Never doubt yourself or talent. Faith that youu build and connect with the right people to help you network and have faith that you can do this…. And MOTIVATION – I motivate myself by saying a scripture to myself and over my chair everytime I step into the salon. Motivation comes from within and from without.. You have to remind yourself that your are doing your best and every client is special. I love what I do… I’m in love with the fact that I get a chance to help someone feel beautiful… and a salon home where my clients feel beautiful and comfortable at…
For those just getting started in the industry, I leaned on other stylist to guide me to where I wanted to go. I would bounce my ideas or concerns when I’m faced with a certain situation. I believe everyone at some point would have or be a mentor to any aspiring hairstylists entering this field. Newtwork is the key factor and promote, promote, promote until you see the fruit of your labor. And never stop promoting….
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
In the last twelve months, my biggest area of growth has been my clientele. My work speaks for itself. My knowledge speaks for itself. I use to not be able to explain a service to my clients and lost out on potentials that would have been with me now. I now perform consultations before any service, and I try my best to remember all clients by something special that they say or do to help me know them before they can say “do you remember me?”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.styleseat.com/stefaniemitchell
- Instagram: Styles_by_Stef
- Facebook: Stefanie N Mitchell
- Linkedin: Stefanie Nichole Mitchell
Image Credits
photographer- Soulistic Shots (Facebook & Instagram) Makeup – Flawlesslyfierce_(Instagram)
