Episode 245
Checking-In! ~4 Years Licensed, Now Full-Time in a Suite with Tiffany Anyanwu | Stylist + Owner, Studio NinetySix | Co-Founder, Coda Hair
What does it take to go full-time in a suite?
Tiffany Anyanwu breaks it down—from balancing side gigs and budgeting wisely to setting boundaries and nurturing client relationships that go deeper than hair. Her journey is a real look at the hard work behind building something of your own in today’s beauty industry.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
🔅Tiffany’s Transition to Independence: After four years of building her experience in both commission and hourly-based salons, Tiffany took the leap into full-time suite ownership—marking a personal and professional milestone.
🔅Gradual Growth Strategy: She maintained financial stability by continuing to work at a dry bar while gradually building her own clientele, illustrating a smart and sustainable approach to going independent.
🔅Client Relationships Matter: Tiffany built deep, loyal connections with her clients, often seeing them grow with her over time—from proms and weddings to baby showers—highlighting the personal nature of her business.
🔅Boundaries & Systems: She stresses the importance of creating clear cancellation policies and establishing boundaries around time management and self-care as a solo stylist.
🔅Advice for Aspiring Stylists: Tiffany encourages new stylists to learn from different salon environments before going independent, emphasizing the importance of humility, budgeting, and learning from mistakes.
🔅Vision & Expansion: As she nears her one-year anniversary in her suite, Tiffany is already thinking about future growth—possibly expanding her brand to New Jersey while staying rooted in her values.
👉Follow Tiffany on IG here.
The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.
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The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.
Transcript
Tiffany Ayanwu is a four year industry veteran, independent stylist and entrepreneur and is now fully independent in her own suite.
Speaker A:This is not the first time that we've had a chance to talk with Tiffany.
Speaker A:As a matter of fact, this is the third episode that we've done and so we've been paying attention and tracking her journey through her career.
Speaker A:And with this update, I'm super excited to bring her on the show.
Speaker A:Welcome back to the Hairdresser Strong show.
Speaker A:My name is Robert Hughes and I am your host and today I'm with Tiffany and Ionwu.
Speaker A:How you doing today, Tiffany?
Speaker A:Stephanie.
Speaker B:I'm well, how are you?
Speaker A:I'm very good.
Speaker A:So thank you so much for asking.
Speaker A:So thanks for coming back and checking in with us.
Speaker A:I'm excited to follow your journey.
Speaker A:And so last time we talked you were, you were doing, you were doing like a transitional period.
Speaker A:You were working at a dry bar while you were building up your suite clientele.
Speaker A:Uh, you're the first person I've heard doing that since I've heard you doing it.
Speaker A:I have heard a couple of other people doing it and I think that's a really interesting process in journey and now you're fully independent.
Speaker A:So why don't we go with tell us a little bit about like the transition process or give us a little bit like add any context to anything I just said and give us kind of like your update on what you've done so far and where you're at.
Speaker B:So yes, I, I guess backtrack, I guess like the main reason why I didn't leave the dry bar being commissioned right away, I said in the last interview pretty much just, you know, financial based reasons.
Speaker B:I just didn't want to go fully independent without knowing exactly what that was going to look like.
Speaker B:So yeah, I pretty much was just gauging it.
Speaker B:And I will say even looking back at it, I know that that doesn't work everywhere because even just the idea of essentially you are stealing clients in some way shape or form, even now with the whole non compete being dissolved, still you can't really control who follows you or who doesn't.
Speaker B:So I, I do, I can recognize that that isn't the most common thing and that is something that probably a lot of salon owners would kind of be wary of.
Speaker B:So I will say I just got to the point where honestly I was making less money commission based than I was on my own and I decided I might as well just take the risk and just go fully independent and see how it goes.
Speaker A:Nice, nice.
Speaker A:So I thought that the dry bar made sense more so than like a full service salon for you to be running.
Speaker A:You're going to be an independent.
Speaker A:I think the full service salon concept, I totally, I totally agree with what you're saying.
Speaker A:Like it'd be, it'd be hard not to imagine a salon owner being cautious with bringing on people that have their own suite because it could be a feeder from the salon into the suite.
Speaker A:However, if you worked in a salon in Arlington or Tyson's Corner, but then your suite was in buoy.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Maybe then that wouldn't be that big of a deal.
Speaker A:So that's a thought, you know.
Speaker A:However, the dry bar can be potentially be a feeder for other services, so there might not be quite as much of a conflict.
Speaker A:That said, Asia Minnis Cruz Lanham, who is the owner of Thrive Hair Bar, interviewed her and shout out what's up Asia?
Speaker A:And so we.
Speaker A:She in her interview, she's got.
Speaker A:So she doesn't do chemical services or extensions.
Speaker A:It's all natural cutting and styling.
Speaker A:So the.
Speaker A:She has some people that have their own suite to do extensions and chemical work like color and perms, relaxers, etc.
Speaker A:So there are.
Speaker A:I just wanted to add that context because I totally agree with you, except for I do know one salon owner who is happy to have that conversation.
Speaker A:And, and I also know another salon owner who told one of his apprentices to go get a suite and while they're apprenticing to get their speed up and, and then once they get their speed up, then they can start full time behind the chair.
Speaker A:That was like the one thing holding them back.
Speaker A:And once that person goes full time as a employee, they have this huge book waiting for them.
Speaker A:And so there are opportunities that present themselves.
Speaker A:But I agree with your kind of base premises.
Speaker A:Yes, I think that's challenging, challenging negotiation to have.
Speaker A:But you did it through dry bar, which I thought was so smart because you're able to kind of have both things.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:So being fully independent, how long ago did you go fully independent?
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:It's been about maybe five months.
Speaker B:I went fully independent in September, very beginning of September.
Speaker B:So yeah, about five months.
Speaker A:So how was the holiday season?
Speaker A:Was it.
Speaker A:Was it as was it was.
Speaker B:It was very busy.
Speaker A:That's amazing.
Speaker B:Yeah, it is amazing.
Speaker B:And I will say, like I, I say it all the time, even to my clients.
Speaker B:I'm extremely grateful, but it can be a little bit overwhelming sometimes because even a problem that I'm having and it's a good problem to have, let me Just put that out there.
Speaker B:But a problem that I am having is now I'm about one to two months fully booked out in advance, but then that causes like my regulars having to reschedule their appointments.
Speaker B:It's just like, no, it's best that you schedule at least the next three, four months in advance before you can't get anything.
Speaker B:Or if I do have appointments booked out that far in advance, and then now there's cancellations coming in.
Speaker B:And yes, some people add themselves to the wait list, but if they had already made other plans prior to get their hair done or now they're not available and something does come up, it's just like, okay, empty space.
Speaker A:So totally.
Speaker A:So this is like one of the big things that this independent stylists talk about the most specifically that people that are in suites because even at a booth rental people might be able to like talk to each other in a moment and be like, hey, can you pick this person up?
Speaker A:And I know some suite sweet folks, they, they have a relationship with like that, with other people in the building.
Speaker A:But I, I, I do think that the conversation around pre booking and you know, canceling clients and having policies, I think that's where all those conversations stem from what you're talking about.
Speaker A:Because I really don't think they stem from salon owners.
Speaker A:Because the like, the intensity in which people talk about cancellation policies, I can only make sense that it's coming from somebody who is like, oh great, that's like my day.
Speaker A:Like where to go?
Speaker A:We need to do something about this.
Speaker A:So what, what are you thoughts about the argument that you shouldn't allow customers to book too far out?
Speaker A:Because when you want to book on a vacation or if you get sick and you need to reschedule people, it turns into like a nightmare one.
Speaker A:Have you had that happen yet where you had to like take off because you were sick a couple days and like how did you handle that?
Speaker A:And if you haven't had that happen, what do you think thoughts about that?
Speaker B:Luckily, luckily I haven't had it where I'm sick and have to cancel and call.
Speaker B:Yeah, Literally.
Speaker B:Literally.
Speaker B:Knock on wood.
Speaker B:Especially with all these viruses going on.
Speaker A:For real?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:But I will say also another thing that I think I've as far as like vacations and everything, I don't know if it's coming from prior working in retail and then also working commission based.
Speaker B:Like I'm pretty good with like scheduling my vacations at least three months in advance.
Speaker B:So that is already blocked off.
Speaker B:Nobody could book even if Like, I kind of forget.
Speaker B:Like, oh, yeah, I'll just see it on my books.
Speaker B:Like, nope, I'm not.
Speaker B:I'm not going to be around.
Speaker B:You have to schedule around it.
Speaker B:But I will say oo.
Speaker B:Because I will say, even there, I.
Speaker B:I do have a friend that works right next to me.
Speaker B:Unfortunately, she got sick recently.
Speaker B:She thought that she was just going to be out for, like, maybe a day, two days.
Speaker B:And it's been almost a week.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:And I'm not gonna lie, stuff like that does make me nervous.
Speaker B:But also, of course, just trying to be hopeful, trying your best to have, like, precautions, you know, taking care of yourself.
Speaker B:But I will say one thing that I did have to even scale back on myself is really committing to my days off.
Speaker B:Because I'm the type of person, like, if I have to work seven days a week, I'll.
Speaker B:It.
Speaker B:It's not.
Speaker B:I don't love doing it.
Speaker B:Sometimes I even do, like, 14 days a week, 14 days straight without even realizing that that's what I'm doing.
Speaker B:So I think, obviously, just having.
Speaker B:For me, it would be like, okay, maybe I have to take a few days out, but then I may have to sacrifice some of my days off or even just.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:But I think even before that, it's just one thing I have realized is being completely transparent with your clients.
Speaker B:That's probably the best thing, letting them know.
Speaker B:And also the same thing, too, as, like, what you said earlier, like, even having maybe one or two other hairstylists that you can refer them to and maybe even kind of coming up with some type of agreement, like, look, I'm out because of X, Y and Z.
Speaker B:I'm gonna.
Speaker B:If you have the availability, I could say, slide these clients to you.
Speaker B:But is it possible that I could still get, like, maybe like, 10% off of whatever you're charging them?
Speaker B:Whatever the case may be is.
Speaker B:So it's.
Speaker B:It's something that I haven't had to experience firsthand.
Speaker B:And I really do pray to God that I don't have to, but that's just kind of how I think of it.
Speaker A:So I think that.
Speaker A:I think that that's really smart because, like, you're saying basically what I hear you saying.
Speaker A:And I mean, I'm pretty sure this is almost exact what you said, but I'm hearing, well, I have days off, so if I need to make up time, I can use my days off.
Speaker A:Like, if I get sick, which, I mean, that's how I feel.
Speaker A:Like I have a separate challenge.
Speaker A:And.
Speaker A:And I feel like other People might have this challenge as well.
Speaker A:I book my free time up and I book the time before work and the time after work.
Speaker A:I'm way too booked up.
Speaker A:I have learned to book my.
Speaker A:I have learned to book time to do nothing.
Speaker A:I have learned to do that.
Speaker A:And that's the other thing that you're saying is like, you know, making sure you have the book the time booked so it's there.
Speaker A:But like I'm kind of like in a similar situation because I, if I have, have a week off, I'm like, I'm.
Speaker A:Stuff's just not gonna get done.
Speaker A:Like, no, like that's just.
Speaker A:It's not good.
Speaker A:Like booking yourself up too much is all is.
Speaker A:Is.
Speaker A:Is not good.
Speaker A:And under booking your.
Speaker A:You know what else I do is.
Speaker A:And this is like something that I haven't had as much lately.
Speaker A:But that's because I have like a project I'm working on.
Speaker A:So, you know, God willing, please, please, like this won't be forever, maybe for another year or two.
Speaker A:But like, ideally we'll get to a point where I want to do this.
Speaker A:But my point is for behind the chair if you have, If I book myself from like 10 to 6 or say like 10 to 5, 15 is my last appointment that I'll take.
Speaker A:Well, I'll come in at 9, 8:30, I'll come in at.
Speaker A:I'll stay past.
Speaker A:And that is how I handled that for a long time is like I created like handlebars on my day that were gray areas.
Speaker A:Like in my head I knew that I could be working.
Speaker A:So if I made plans, it wouldn't start until 8 o'clock at night or something like that.
Speaker A:Like, I wouldn't let myself book.
Speaker A:I wouldn't book myself something to do within my gray area handlebar.
Speaker A:And that's also probably why I went to happy hour a lot because like, you know, you got a lot of afternoons where it's still.
Speaker A:You're getting off.
Speaker A:So anyway, I thought that.
Speaker A:I think I, I'm.
Speaker A:I like, I like what you're saying.
Speaker A:Okay, so days off and then what was the other thing you, you said the other way you handle it also.
Speaker B:Pretty much as far as vacations.
Speaker B:Definitely scheduling.
Speaker B:Trying that way in advance.
Speaker A:Totally.
Speaker A:I love that too.
Speaker A:Like, I believe in the philosophy of never cancel any appointments and so I'd like to book my stuff three this six months out.
Speaker A:So that said, some people are not going to be happy with this right now.
Speaker A:I already know like people are going to like be kind of annoyed.
Speaker A:But I've Never been booked.
Speaker A:Six months out solid.
Speaker A:So it's easy for me to say this because I can't imagine you imagine being six months booked out and you getting sick for a week.
Speaker B:That.
Speaker B:Exactly.
Speaker A:What are you gonna do?
Speaker B:Exactly?
Speaker B:Because even.
Speaker B:Even.
Speaker B:I'll be honest.
Speaker B:Like, I probably only have two slots available in February.
Speaker B:March is also starting to close up, too.
Speaker B:And I'm just here just like, yeah, Tiff, please don't get sick.
Speaker B:Please don't get sick.
Speaker B:So it.
Speaker B:I don't know.
Speaker B:And I really.
Speaker A:Well, I.
Speaker A:Okay, so this might already exist.
Speaker A:So if anybody.
Speaker A:If you know about this or anybody listening or watching knows about this, please tell us.
Speaker A:But there's a project management software, and I forget what it's called, but it's really cool.
Speaker A:It's like, if it's not, I.
Speaker A:I'm sure.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:I guess where I'm going with this, I would like a mobile app or an app for our schedule that does this.
Speaker A:It's got AI, and if you tell it to move things, it's like, hey, I'm out sick for a week.
Speaker A:Now, I don't know if the project manager software does this, but anybody listening, that's out there.
Speaker A:That's.
Speaker A:That's in that.
Speaker A:In tech.
Speaker A:And you want to create a.
Speaker A:You want to upgrade your software, create a new one.
Speaker A:Unless there's one that already exists.
Speaker A:But imagine if you could.
Speaker A:You had like a AI agent inside of your.
Speaker A:Your software, and you can be like, hey, I'm out for.
Speaker A:I'm out a week.
Speaker A:I need you to move some appointments around.
Speaker A:And it helped you, like, call those people, move their appointments around.
Speaker A:But that's a lot.
Speaker A:Still a lot of appointments to move around.
Speaker A:I don't.
Speaker A:I don't know that that's realistic because, like, then you're moving people's appointments that booked it.
Speaker A:You know, that's not cool either.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:And because.
Speaker B:And it's hard, too, because I'll be honest.
Speaker B:One.
Speaker B:That.
Speaker B:That.
Speaker B:That sounds like a very genius idea and definitely needed.
Speaker B:But at the same time, like, I'm very much the same way.
Speaker B:Like, I don't believe in canceling clients.
Speaker B:If.
Speaker B:If I can do it, if I gotta put on a mask, if I.
Speaker B:Whatever.
Speaker B:I just would rather not cancel than having to cancel.
Speaker B:But yeah, because even.
Speaker B:Because even I've run into it where.
Speaker B:Even, like, just trying to move things around.
Speaker B:Like, let's say someone else cancels, and now I have this huge gap in my books.
Speaker B:And of course, you know, it's in.
Speaker B:Hopefully it's always in advance at least 48 hours.
Speaker B:So now I'm trying to see if maybe the other people could move up and all this other stuff.
Speaker B:And a lot of the times like people book the times that they booked for a reason.
Speaker B:So that could either lead to like, yeah, no, that doesn't work for me or I'm just gonna have to cancel my appointment altogether and I'll find someone else to go to.
Speaker B:And that's what makes me nervous sometimes with having to cancel clients.
Speaker A:Hold up.
Speaker A:Are you saying that if you call someone to see if they can move, they'll be like, you know what, I'm just going to cancel it?
Speaker B:Sometimes.
Speaker B:Sometimes that does happen.
Speaker A:They're just annoyed that you're calling them, trying to move the appointment?
Speaker B:Sometimes, like probably, yeah.
Speaker B:Like I've probably like since I've been independent, I probably had that happen to me twice where I think I just had to move things around.
Speaker B:And one person like, yeah, one or two people were just like, yeah, honestly, I think I'm just gonna cancel the appointment for that day and I'll reschedule for when it works for me.
Speaker B:Something along the lines.
Speaker B:Or it's just a flat out like, yeah, no, I can't make it in earlier or I can't make it in later.
Speaker B:And I'm just like, ok, have to work around it.
Speaker A:So yeah, totally, totally.
Speaker A:How many days are you in your suite?
Speaker B:So I actually just reduced it down to four days a week.
Speaker A:Okay, nice.
Speaker A:So what do you do in your time off?
Speaker B:Kind of like you said, other stuff.
Speaker B:I feel like a day off is never a day off.
Speaker A:Totally.
Speaker B:Where you're trying to catch up on things for your actual life or trying to do admin stuff.
Speaker B:So like even for example, now I've gotten it to Sunday through Tuesday, I'm off.
Speaker B:Literally yesterday it was like Pilates, getting my nails done.
Speaker B:Today it was like meetings on top of meetings and then tomorrow it's.
Speaker B:It's also like Pilates and another self care service and then squeezing in two clients.
Speaker B:So a day off is never actually a day off.
Speaker B:Some.
Speaker B:I, I have also tried my best to, to have some days where like I really am not doing anything or I just have one errand to do and the rest of my day is free.
Speaker B:But I'll be honest, those days are rare.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Do you, do you plan for one of your days to be an admin day or do you just kind of like do the admin when you can?
Speaker B:A little bit of both.
Speaker B:Like if I know for sure I have things to do Then I will plan ahead.
Speaker B:But if it's like, if I just, you know, if I have a kind of like a free week or free time off period, then I'll just kind of fit in admin stuff where I can.
Speaker A:Cool.
Speaker A:Nice.
Speaker A:Okay, so what, what type of exciting things do you, are you looking forward to over the next, say six months or so?
Speaker B:So in the next six months.
Speaker B:Six months, I will say one of the biggest things is I'm actually, so I'm actually trying to split my time between the DMV and back home in Jersey.
Speaker B:So to me that looks like possibly renting out my space again on my days off.
Speaker B:And I'm thinking of either two different models either having it where they come in, pay a certain price per day, they bring in their own tools, their own products, but then also another model model where, okay, you're free to use anything in the salon.
Speaker B:I'm basically hiring you and I'm taking a commission.
Speaker B:And then hopefully between splitting my time between here and Jersey, I'm hoping that that will look like taking clients in both areas.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:Yeah, just trying to figure that part out.
Speaker B:Another thing, I'm coming on my one year anniversary in the suite in April.
Speaker B:So I'm just trying to figure out what I want that to look like.
Speaker A:Congratulations.
Speaker B:Thank you.
Speaker B:Thank you.
Speaker B:So I don't know if that looks like just something for my clients for the month of April.
Speaker B:Throwing an event.
Speaker B:I'm not too sure.
Speaker B:I feel like I probably have next month to figure that out before I decide on what I'm gonna do.
Speaker B:And then also just honestly doing more weddings this year.
Speaker B:I have, I have one wedding scheduled for May that I'm doing.
Speaker B:And then funny enough, my God sister actually just called me yesterday to do her wedding in October, but it's going to be in Greece, so I'm very excited about that.
Speaker A:Nice.
Speaker A:We're going to be in Greece in October.
Speaker A:It's Sammy and I's 10 year anniversary.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:Congratulations.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:Well, we haven't made it yet, but I'm pretty confident we will, you know.
Speaker B:You will.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:This is exciting.
Speaker A:So the you this like, do you still have a lot of family in Jersey?
Speaker B:Yes and no.
Speaker B:As far as my immediate family, it's just my parents that are still there, but I definitely have like more aunts, uncles, cousins.
Speaker B:Most of my friends are still in Jersey as well.
Speaker A:Most of your friends.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:So why are you going to keep your suite here?
Speaker A:Is there any.
Speaker A:What's keeping you in dc?
Speaker B:If I'm being completely honest, my Clients.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker A:That's a good reason.
Speaker B:Yeah, I feel like.
Speaker B:Especially at the fact that I started my career here not just, like, working as a hairstylist, but even just getting my license, going to cosmetology school, the idea of starting completely over somewhere else kind of makes me nervous.
Speaker B:So just the fact that I do have a pretty consistent clientele here that I know, like, even if I'm not around, that when I am around, there definitely will be booking with me.
Speaker B:That is the security of it all.
Speaker B:So, yeah, that's.
Speaker B:Honestly, it's really just my clients that are really keeping me here.
Speaker A:So your clients, are they.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:Are they super supportive of you?
Speaker A:I mean, I'm assuming that.
Speaker A:Do you have any clients that have been with you for a while through, like, multiple places and changes and stuff?
Speaker A:Can you.
Speaker A:Can you speak to that?
Speaker A:And I want you to, like, let's say it's your.
Speaker A:I want you to talk to the student who's in cosmetology school who's thinking about their career, about the.
Speaker A:How you feel about your customers, your regulars, the people come and see you and support you.
Speaker B:So I'll be honest.
Speaker B:At this point in my career, even though literally four years is pretty short, and I mean, like, four years from getting my license working at different salons to being here now, I would say I have at least one client who has followed me through different locations all the way from up when I was an assistant.
Speaker B: that have been with me since: Speaker B:And then now that I'm here in my salon suite, honestly, at this point, I really do look at them like family.
Speaker B:It's kind of sort of at the point where they've even told.
Speaker B:Like, I've kind of also been transparent with them.
Speaker B:Like, you know, I.
Speaker B:I am considering splitting my time between here in Jersey, and they're just like, yeah, you know, I will go out to Jersey to come visit you and get my hair done, or just like, you know, I'll.
Speaker B:Anytime that you're here, just make sure you let me know.
Speaker B:I'll be scheduling my appointments.
Speaker B:But overall, even, like, how I said before that transparency between me and my clients, like, obviously I'm not always just.
Speaker B:Just regurgitating my life to them or like, getting them too involved with my business.
Speaker B:Like, in my personal business, I'm kind of.
Speaker B:I've kind of always been a little bit, like, private in a sense, and I Didn't notice that, but it's just building those relationships with them, making them feel seen, feel heard, listening to them.
Speaker B:And I think that's a conversation that has been going around in the industry for the last couple months now, is also people realizing why they lose clients.
Speaker B:And a lot of times it has to do with stuff like that.
Speaker B:But, yeah, I've.
Speaker B:I've just kind of understood, and maybe it's a me thing, maybe it's in general thing, but I've kind of come to the point where I realized, like, a lot of the times my clients aren't necessarily coming to me to get their hair done, but more so just how I make them feel.
Speaker B:So just kind of like figuring out what works for you and being authentic in that way.
Speaker B:That's pretty much how I realized, like, that's how I've built those really, really consistent clients that have stuck with me for the last four years.
Speaker A:Nice.
Speaker A:I love that.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:I'm like, my clients are.
Speaker A:I don't know.
Speaker A:I just love my clients.
Speaker A:They're amazing.
Speaker A:I mean, they support me.
Speaker A:They.
Speaker A:They, you know, they.
Speaker A:They share with me what's going on in their life.
Speaker A:They're curious about what's going on in my life.
Speaker A:They give me advice without me even asking for it.
Speaker A:They take my advice and treat me like I'm an expert, which makes me feel, you know, even more like, stronger and convicted in my abilities.
Speaker A:You know, it's like, that's a huge piece, and that's awesome.
Speaker A:I'm glad to hear that you're having a similar experience.
Speaker A:Experience.
Speaker A:And I feel like that's probably most people.
Speaker A:I mean, I don't want to speak for most people, but I.
Speaker A:I'm just going to go out on a limb here and say most people in this industry are probably.
Speaker A:If you stay around long enough, you probably have that same feeling.
Speaker A:Unless maybe you work on, like, a resort where you don't have regulars, you know?
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:And I.
Speaker B:I feel like also, like, if I'm being completely honest, I think some people that are having the opposite effect is kind of just like.
Speaker B:I hate to say it, but it's also just kind of like, are you focusing more so on yourself and not the clients, or are you honestly getting probably a little bit tired of your job where you don't really care anymore?
Speaker B:You know?
Speaker B:So, of course we all have our days where I really don't want to be here.
Speaker B:I don't want to talk.
Speaker B:I don't want to hear what you have going on.
Speaker B:But at the Same time.
Speaker B:One of the biggest things that was taught in cosmetology school, and that will always follow you, is literally learning how to leave your own personal things at the door before you step in.
Speaker B:And I would say that has helped.
Speaker B:Like, even, I'll be honest, there was a day a couple months ago where I wasn't able to fully leave my personal things at the door.
Speaker B:And luckily, I was with one of my regular clients that comes every two weeks, and she was just, you know, talking, asking me how my day was going, how my week was going, and next thing you know, I'm boohoo, crying.
Speaker B:And literally, she's just like, oh, my God, like, do you need a hug?
Speaker B:And like, literally, I was shampooing her hair.
Speaker B:She steps up, hair dripping on my shoulder, and now we're laughing because her hair is dripping on my shoulder.
Speaker B:So it's like, stuff like that where I guess learning how to be vulnerable with your clients in a.
Speaker B:In a professional way, where they realize that you are human, but also being able to.
Speaker B:To acknowledge them, too, and what they need and not just doing their hair, because, let's be real, being a hairstylist, it's more than just doing hair.
Speaker A:Totally.
Speaker A:I just got, like.
Speaker A:I just got a tear in my eye.
Speaker A:I can definitely relate to that.
Speaker A:That's amazing.
Speaker A:I'm so happy that this is all so positive.
Speaker A:I think I.
Speaker A:I would love to check in and, you know, maybe like.
Speaker A:Like, maybe mid to late summer or something, maybe six to nine months from now and see, like, when.
Speaker A:What's your timeline on figuring out the split in your time?
Speaker B:I am hoping that by April May, I should be able to have somebody else in here on my day.
Speaker A:Oh, so this.
Speaker A:This you're planning on this year, you'll be.
Speaker A:At some point this year, you'll be working in Jersey?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Are you thinking of going do a suite or are you going to a salon first or what are you thinking?
Speaker B:Honestly?
Speaker B:So basically just putting it all out there.
Speaker B:This has been my thought process, honestly, for the last year.
Speaker B:So basically, before I got my salon suite, I actually had a interview with the salon in Jersey that.
Speaker B:That one the owner went to graduated high school at one of my sisters.
Speaker B:So not only have I been, like, you know, keeping an eye on them, but, like, literally a salon that I admired and interview went absolutely well.
Speaker B:When I was leaving, they were just like, yeah, you know, we would love to have you on the team, just figure out what days you would be able to be in Jersey, what that looks like.
Speaker B:But then as soon As I got back here, you know, trying to follow up on, like, the paperwork I needed to sign, pretty much that salon owner back backtracked and said that she would prefer that I apply to work there when I am full time in Jersey.
Speaker B:Because I was just telling her, like, you know, I'm trying to teeter around the fact of, like, moving back full time or if I want to be, you know, doing both.
Speaker B:And that's what I mean by like, I could definitely understand why some salon owners would be a little bit weary on, like, someone in a sense.
Speaker B:I was pretty much telling her, like, yeah, I'm trying to build my.
Speaker B:My clientele through you, and however that goes is how it goes.
Speaker B:So then I did get my salon suite.
Speaker B:I'm not sure if I told you in the last interview, but I was actually.
Speaker B:I went into this as a partnership with a co worker at the time from the dry bar.
Speaker B:That did not work out.
Speaker B:Literally probably a month in, I was just like, yep, this isn't going to work for me.
Speaker B:So we have to figure out how we're going to separate.
Speaker B:So from there.
Speaker B:Just been trying to figure things out earlier, like towards the end of last year.
Speaker B:So, like, earlier December, there was actually a bigger salon space available in this building where I was just like, okay, this would be a perfect opportunity to kind of expand, probably bring in an assistant as well as still.
Speaker B:Still, you know, have someone else rent from me or work with me.
Speaker B:But then honestly, just kind of sitting down, doing the math, I was just like, even though that that's a great idea, that's actually me increasing my expenses rather than increasing my revenue, and it could be both.
Speaker B:But initially I would be increasing my expenses.
Speaker B:So I just kind of had to take a step back and realize, like, okay, if I really want to hopefully expand in Jersey, whether that's full time, part time, what makes the best sense?
Speaker B:So that's kind of how I came back to, like, you know, just going about having a partner or an employee or whatever, someone renting from me, but going about it in a better way, where I'm actually thinking about it, figuring out what I want that to look like.
Speaker B:Possibly not working with.
Speaker B:With a friend or someone who, you know, who may be a friend, but we've had issues in the past, so that's kind of where I'm at right now.
Speaker B:Even when I do get someone else in here, I'm not too sure if it would be me working in Jersey right away, but I.
Speaker B:And it.
Speaker B:It just gives me a little bit more time to Figure out what I want that to look like in Jersey, whether I'm doing a booth, rent somewhere or getting a salon suite somewhere, or who knows, maybe opening an actual salon in Jersey.
Speaker B:Because, yeah, I'm also realizing that especially North Jersey, where I am from, we're not too far from the city, but finding hairstylists in that area is a little bit harder compared to just crossing the bridge or going through the tunnel to New York.
Speaker B:Everything is right there.
Speaker B:So it kind of just makes the wheels turn.
Speaker B:Like, okay, am I going to do this on my own in Jersey, where it's just me again, or should I try and actually expand, get a salon, bring in other people, hire them, so that there are more options for people in North Jersey.
Speaker B:So, yeah, that part I'm still trying to figure out.
Speaker B:But as far as here, I think right now it's just trying to, you know, like, kind of utilize this space a little bit better.
Speaker A:Gotcha.
Speaker A:Gotcha.
Speaker A:Well, I know we're coming up on our time, and I appreciate you updating us.
Speaker A:And this is also exciting.
Speaker A:Like, I definitely want to check back in with you maybe.
Speaker A:Maybe.
Speaker A:Maybe even, like.
Speaker A:Maybe even like early fall to give you kind of, like, more time to get.
Speaker A:Figure out what you're doing, get settled.
Speaker A:So, real quick, I don't know where you're at, but there's a salon called the Warehouse Salon, and that might not.
Speaker A:I know New Jersey is a big state, so I.
Speaker A:I'm not.
Speaker A:I don't know if that's like, anywhere near where you'd be, but they.
Speaker A:He has like a collective type where you.
Speaker A:You have like, like some level of independence and.
Speaker A:But you also have, like, a team.
Speaker A:And so I'm not really sure what he's looking for, but I know that was the first thing that I thought of when you said Jersey.
Speaker A:So if that's not far from you, definitely check it out, let me know.
Speaker A:I will gladly.
Speaker A:Hit up Nick.
Speaker A:What's up, Nick?
Speaker A:How you doing?
Speaker A:We need.
Speaker A:I need to get him on the back on the show too.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Because actually, funny enough, I am from Esses County.
Speaker B:I'm from Maplewood, New Jersey.
Speaker B:And it says that it's in Esses county, too.
Speaker B:It's in fair Fairfield.
Speaker B:Is it?
Speaker A:Yeah, it looks like Bloomfield.
Speaker A:Oh, that's the street.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Fairfield.
Speaker B:Let me actually see.
Speaker A:Yeah, Fairfield, New Jersey.
Speaker A:Nice.
Speaker A:239 reviews, almost all five stars.
Speaker A:That's pretty awesome.
Speaker B:I will say that, actually.
Speaker B:I actually would definitely love to talk to the owner in some way, because that's actually only 30 minutes from my parents house.
Speaker A:All right, cool.
Speaker A:Well let's wrap this up and when I get off the call, I will make the introduction.
Speaker A:We'll get that happening right away.
Speaker B:Thank you very, very much.
Speaker A:Absolutely.
Speaker A:No, thank you.
Speaker A:My pleasure.
Speaker A:Thank you so much for taking us on your journey and checking in along the way.
Speaker A:We'll get you back on in, you know, sometime later this year.
Speaker A:What, what does, what, what is like.
Speaker A:I would like you, if you have anything to say to the student in school who is thinking about being independent, thinking about maybe anything you want to say to the student, whether, whatever they're thinking, it doesn't matter what they're thinking because they're, you know, they're thinking what they're thinking.
Speaker A:Thinking.
Speaker B:Especially to a student still in school, right?
Speaker A:Yes, to a student in school.
Speaker B:So thinking about being independent.
Speaker B:I'll be completely honest.
Speaker B:If they don't already have some type of clientele or some type of resources that can sustain them for a year, no matter what their clientele or what their business books look like, I would not recommend it if they don't have that.
Speaker B:But overall, just literally just I said it last time too.
Speaker B:There is absolutely nothing wrong with trying out a few different places.
Speaker B:Whether you have to stay there like a month to six months to a year, two years, just, you know, testing out different places, seeing what that feels like because you are going to be meeting people along the way.
Speaker B:And like I said, you can't really control who follows you and who doesn't.
Speaker B:So I would honestly, honestly, honestly recommend just finding whether it is the salon home or a few salon homes to work from, getting experience, honestly seeing how other people do business, how other people run their businesses.
Speaker B:Take what you need, leave the rest and then think of, and also definitely plan on going on your own.
Speaker B:But coming right out of cosmetology school, I just would not recommend it.
Speaker B:And it's funny too because even after the, after, before I left the dry bar the first time, my dad actually was kind of pushing me towards going to the salon suite and, or even just like owning something.
Speaker B:And I was just like, honestly, I don't know if I'm ready because yeah, I have clientele right now, but I don't know how many of them are loyal to the salon that I'm at or if they're loyal to me.
Speaker B:So I think definitely even just leaving, going to a brand new salon that just opened, that salon didn't necessarily have clientele.
Speaker B:That's how I was really able to see, okay, these are my clients.
Speaker B:Like I could take them with me, bring them back and take them with me again.
Speaker B:So I feel like definitely until you, until you have that for sure, I wouldn't recommend going on your own.
Speaker A:So that, what everything you just said.
Speaker A:I feel like I want to have a whole separate conversation about that specific.
Speaker A:Because I feel like there's so much in there.
Speaker A:And of course we're not, because we're at our time, but I will, I will kind of, of.
Speaker A:I, I want to thank you for that.
Speaker A:That was so good.
Speaker A:It's so.
Speaker A:It's like, it's like if you're gonna go independent, have a plan.
Speaker A:Like, don't just like jump in without running your numbers and, you know, and figuring out.
Speaker A:And you said make sure you have a clientele or enough resources for, to like, make sure you're got your operating expenses taken care of and maybe your personal expenses like rent for, for, for a year.
Speaker A:I like that.
Speaker A:I would, I, I would have said like three to six months, but I, I think a year will take away the anxiety that we have from making bad decision and it call leads to bad decision making.
Speaker A:I think that's really smart because you said resources.
Speaker A:You didn't necessarily like.
Speaker A:So maybe you have like, you know, maybe you don't have a year's worth of expenses, but you have six months, but you have half the clientele you need.
Speaker A:So, you know, you know, so it could be something like that.
Speaker A:So I think the question is how much money do we need to make in order to be confident about going independent?
Speaker A:And I think that is a, that's a whole separate conversation because it's nuanced because, you know, what if you're a barber?
Speaker A:What if you only do extensions?
Speaker A:What if.
Speaker A:You know what I mean.
Speaker A:So like, there's a lot of nuances that conversation, but I think there's like a general, you know, a general conversation we can have and then give people enough information to go off and like, do their own research that as it pertains to their.
Speaker A:Your specialty.
Speaker B:So even as.
Speaker B:Sorry as, even as far as like how much money that you need to make, I also feel like sometimes that has a lot to do with your personal expenses as well as your expenses to operate.
Speaker B:So it kind of even goes down to like, even when you're renting an apartment, they, they, they want you to make at least two to four times the rent per month for a reason.
Speaker B:It kind of even reflects in on like how much you need to make for your business.
Speaker B:Like for me, I definitely budget not only my Operating expenses in the salon suite, but also my expenses, like my personal expenses, I combine that together and I try my best to make at least two times the amount of that per month.
Speaker B:Just so that it gives me room for anything extra, but also gives me room to save.
Speaker B:And then also.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah, and breathe and, and live life.
Speaker B:But then also remember being independent, you do have taxes to pay at the end of the year.
Speaker B:So also realizing like, yeah, you have to put away like 15 to 20% of that all the time.
Speaker B:That's also another thing.
Speaker B:So independent, not independent, you're never seeing 100% of your money.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And imagine if you're, if you are one of those hundred thousand dollar hairdressers and you're, you got to write a fifteen to twenty thousand dollar check at the end of the year.
Speaker A:Where's that money?
Speaker A:I hope you got that stashed away somewhere.
Speaker A:That's a lot of money.
Speaker B:Because I'll, I'll be completely honest.
Speaker B:I did tell myself like, you know, the first year operating, you have enough time to make as many mistakes as you can so that you know what to do moving forward.
Speaker B:But I'll be honest, like, yeah, I'm, I'm kind of just hoping that I have enough expenses plus, you know, working commission to just kind of balance everything out where I don't owe that much.
Speaker B:But literally, like, let's be real, if you are making over a hundred thousand dollars per year, I would pray to God that you have at least like 15 to 20 thousand dollars put to the side.
Speaker A:Totally.
Speaker A:Well, thank you so much.
Speaker A:Thank you for your time.
Speaker A:Thank you for sharing and I look forward to the next update.
Speaker B:Thank you.
Speaker B:You as well.
