July 24, 2023 • 42 mins
Prepare to be dazzled by our guest, Atalaya Figueroa, the color correction wizard and the entrepreneurial spirit behind Hair by a Blonde in San Antonio, Texas. Atalaya takes us on an adventure filled with hair and life lessons, starting from her humble beginnings as a 19-year-old stylist in a high-end salon, to the revered color correction specialist she is today. She candidly delves into the culture shock she experienced in her early days and the transformative lessons she absorbed along her journey, especially about recognizing one's worth and working smart rather than hard.
Atalaya isn't one to keep secrets - she generously unveils the strategies that elevated her to the status of color correction expert. Ever wondered what it takes to attract the right clients or how to navigate the world of color correction? She's got you covered. She discusses the significance of ongoing learning, the power of social media, and her favorite products for achieving impeccably smooth results. Moreover, she expresses her interest in launching an online color correction class, a potential game-changer for many aspiring stylists.
Wrapping up our enlightening conversation, she emphasizes the critical role of transparency, especially when it comes to pricing. She gives us a peek into her hybrid pricing method that ingeniously melds an hourly rate with product usage charges. Looking to specialize in color corrections? Her treasure trove of tips could be your roadmap. And for those seeking to stay connected with clients, she illuminates the importance of open communication. Her parting words are a call to action: Never stop asking questions, because the answers you seek are the keys to your success. So, are you ready to unlock a wealth of knowledge? Tune in!
Have a question or a topic you want covered? Have a question? Leave your question with your review!
Follow me on social!
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smartwealthystylist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartwealthystylist/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Smart-Wealthy-Stylist/100087432667326/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@smartwealthystylistec?si=eVWc8rgtx_htotn9
Smart Wealthy Stylist Website: https://www.smartwealthystylist.com
Buy Budget Planner: https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Becoming-Smart-Wealthy-Stylist/dp/B0BW2NLPNJ/ref=sr_1_4?crid=28E0TXXH3B07U&keywords=smart+wealthy+stylist+budget+planner&qid=1677770216&sprefix=smart+wealthy+%2Caps%2C299&sr=8-4
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to the smart, wealthy stylist podcast.
I'm your host, emily Cardin.
Over here.
We're dedicated to helpinghairstylists manage their
finances, stay organized,healthy and manage their time
and mental well-being.
We focus on staying healthy inall areas of life and maximizing
productivity.
If you're a hairstylist lookingfor these things, then this is
(00:23):
the podcast for you.
Together, we'll avoid burnoutand step into being the smartest
, wealthiest stylist that we canbe.
Welcome back to the smart,wealthy stylist podcast.
I have a treat for you guys.
Today I have Autelaya from Hairby a Blonde and Sant Antonio,
(00:46):
texas.
We are so excited to have heron the show today because she is
a color correction expert.
This is her MO.
Introduce yourself, tell meabout yourself.
Feel free to share your journey.
I've been watching your page onInstagram and you just seem
(01:07):
like such an amazing person, anovercomer.
I would just love to hear alittle bit about your story
before we get into thenitty-gritty of the podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Thanks, yes, so Autelaya Figueroa.
I am in San Antonio, texas,owner of Hair by a Blonde.
I've been doing hair for about17 years now and it's been a
journey, for sure it's been ajourney.
I started when I was 19 yearsold in the salon, so I was a
baby.
(01:36):
But I'm from a small town.
I grew up in Floresville, texas,which is about 15 minutes off
out of the south side of SanAntonio, so it's like a little
further than the south.
So, coming from a small town,it was fun, you know, but it had
its things in just that smalltown mindset.
(01:59):
So I really wanted to kind ofget out and see what else was
out there.
So I started beauty schoolright after I graduated and went
straight into working at asalon as well as I graduated
beauty school.
So I was the youngest in thesalon for a very long time
Youngest I, actually.
(02:21):
So if you're from San Antonio,everyone knows the Alamo Heights
area is a very high-endprestige area and that's where I
started my career and it wasvery different for me because,
coming from a small town, I didnot know anything in that world,
so it was very different for me.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
I thought that was awesome to be like that be your
first exposure, you know, likecoming from small town, and then
that is your first exposureinto the salon world Like what
an awesome start.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yes, it was.
It was kind of like a cultureshock for me because, you know,
I came from a very humblebeginning so I did not even know
what sushi was, I didn't knowwhat you know Whole Foods, all
that kind of things where it wasvery different for me.
But I'm so glad I put myself outthere like that and went out of
(03:16):
my comfort zone becauseabsolutely everyone in there
basically took me under theirwing and really saw in me what I
don't think I saw in myself fora long time.
You know, coming from thebackground I come from, the
world I come from it was justtotally opposite.
So a lot of the women theretook me under their wing.
(03:38):
They were very hard on me butit definitely gave me the work
ethic I have, the, the mindset Ihave and the just will to want
to strive for better.
It definitely was worth itgoing through that and being
there, I had a differentexperience.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
I was also the baby.
I graduated high school at 17and then, you know, was finished
with my cosmetology degree bythe time I was 18.
But the first place I went intowas like it was a old school
barber shop.
I didn't know how to cut men'shair very well and so I was like
, well, I just want to learnfrom, like you know, barbers,
like that's what they do.
(04:16):
And it was not.
Like that was traumatic.
I feel like it could have beenworse.
It could have been worse andthen, you know, that led into
like self doubt as I went alongin my journey until I was
exposed to, you know, I starteddoing like invisible bead
extensions and being exposed tothat like luxury mindset and
like changing how you do yourpricing and all that stuff and
(04:39):
charging your worth and you knowall the things.
And it was like I wish that Iyou know, looking back, I had
actually had this conversationwith my husband just this last
weekend Like I wish I would havestarted out in a higher end
salon and had that mindset fromthe beginning, instead of like
work harder or faster.
You know, more bets in yourchair, the more money you make,
which is so far from the truth,like you know.
(05:01):
Anyway, I'm happy for you thatyou got to do that.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
I still had to learn that kind of the hard way and it
took me years to get to thatpoint of like charging your
words and like really knowing,because even in that salon it
was a high end salon but wedefinitely were worked very hard
.
It was a double booking salonbut we would have like three,
four people at one time.
(05:27):
We had a lot of apprentices, alot of stylists, so it really
was like quantity over qualityyeah, like you had to be fast.
You had to be fast.
So the more people you see, themore money you make.
So I did have that mindset fora long time.
It took me a very long time tokind of reverse what I like,
that part of it, and learn liketo charge your worth.
(05:49):
But you don't have to likedouble book or work 12 hour days
to make good money in thisindustry, right.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Yes, 100%.
If I could shout that from therooftops, I would.
So let's get into, like how yougot into color correction and
how you consider yourself, youknow, a color correction expert.
Like, how do you, how do youposition yourself as an
authority in that?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
It took.
Well, I've been doing.
I guess I've been doing thisfor 17 years.
It definitely took a very longtime to get to this point, I
think, to call myself a colorcorrection specialist,
definitely, having especiallycoming from an era where it was
like 40 volume get to blonde,you know right having to relearn
(06:37):
a lot of things that I learnedin the beginning.
First of all, just continuing myeducation.
I've always continue education.
No matter how long I've been inthis industry, I still always
go to classes.
I learned from other stylistsin my city, you know social
media has been a great way tolearn new techniques, new ways
(07:00):
of doing things easier.
I feel like this generation hasit a lot easier to continue
learning because it's at the tipof your fingers, you know,
right there in your phone, yourcomputer.
I would say I became more goinginto color correction, probably
in the last eight or nine years.
(07:22):
You know San Antonio has a.
We have a very diverse cultureand we have a lot.
We have a lot of Latin culture,a lot of just more of that dark
haired clientele.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
And it can be a challenge for a lot of people,
or a lot of people, because Ifeel like people are so focused
on having more than like a lotof people in one day when they
see someone come in with likethick, dark hair that's been
colored a million different waysand you know, at home they're
(08:02):
like, oh no, like that's gonnatake me all day, I'm not doing
that.
Or they're gonna try to likerush through it and do things to
kind of like band-aid it andthen it's, yes, more of a mess.
So for me, when I started doingthis, when I came home and
opened my own little you knowsalon, I love the challenge of
(08:25):
color corrections, I lovegetting someone's hair fixed,
like I love fixing it.
It just takes a lot more stepsand it's very tedious and I'm
willing to do that.
So I will sit there for 10hours and work on your hair.
So, that's why I started sayingyou know, like I love this, I
love doing color corrections.
(08:45):
It is tedious.
You do have to have like thatmindset, like it's gonna take a
while.
You gotta do step by step, youcan't rush this.
And then it started just kindof catching on and people
started seeing like I can getyou know these major, crazy hair
situations back on track.
(09:06):
Oh.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
I bet there's so many people who are so thankful that
you're willing to take the time.
Yes, so how do you get theright clients in your chair?
Do you feel like it was socialmedia word of mouth?
Like, I know that you, you knowyou are a color correction
specialist, so, like, how do youattract those people?
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Definitely now it's been social media.
Like I said, when I firststarted we didn't have that, so
we had to go out there, pass outcards, interact yes, face to
face, which I'm still a bigbeliever in that.
I do still go to a lot ofnetworking events trying to like
(09:49):
meet people and get myclientele like that.
But definitely social media hasbeen the number one
advertisement for myself to getclients in my chair.
Just kind of posting these hugebefore and afters was
definitely what got me noticedand people are like yes, I love
(10:12):
your work, I love that you dothat and and then explaining
like how I do it, like you're inmy chair a long time, I do work
on only you one at a time, likeyou know, just social media was
the biggest way for me.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Yeah, knowing they know what to expect.
They know what it looks likebefore, during and after, like.
So just just being verytransparent about their
experience in your chair andthen posting that on social
media.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Exactly and educating , like I'm always posting little
educational things for clientsas well as stylists, so that I
understand why we charge what wecharge, why, right, multiple
sessions, why it takes so long.
You know, because it's a lot ofmoney and I get that and I I
(11:02):
want people to kind ofunderstand when you're walking
into this.
This is why Right.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Yes, what would you say is your favorite thing about
doing color corrections?
Speaker 2 (11:13):
My favorite thing is definitely seeing people's
reaction at the end.
I just love when they just beamwith confidence or, you know,
so excited or shocked that I gotit to their goal.
You know it just like wow, likeI did that.
(11:34):
Yeah, like that's so awesome.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
You know, in one of the I'm on a hair stylist
supporting hair stylist Facebookpage and when I like to ask on
there, you know what podcasttopics people want to hear,
because this whole podcast isabout empowering hair stylists
as a community you know, andgiving them like what, what do
they need?
And if I don't know the answer,I'm going to find someone who
(12:01):
does.
You know, I'm not a colorcorrection specialist, I don't.
you know, that's not my thing,but I'm like okay, but I can
find someone who is you know soa lot of the questions that they
were asking was likeformulation so many people have
such a hard time with forformulation and you know what
(12:21):
makes a service, a colorcorrection and color theory and
all that stuff.
So what tips do you have forthese people who are maybe just
starting on this colorcorrection avenue and first off,
like what makes it a colorcorrection instead of just a
bonding session, or you knowwhat I'm saying like what makes
(12:42):
it different, and then maybe gointo a little bit of formulation
and some tips for them?
Speaker 2 (12:48):
For me, the way and I'm sure you know everybody
faces their word of colorcorrection differently.
For me, the way I base yourhair.
If it's going to be either aregular bonding session or a
color correction is first thetime, the timing it's going to
take me to do it.
I've been doing this so long Ican tell when someone's going to
(13:11):
take at least six hours.
So if it's going to take rightsix hours or more than to me,
that's a color correctionbecause you're taking up my
whole day and I can't haveanybody else in my chair like
after you.
So I just know like the stepsare going to be like tedious,
like you know color removers, alot of color, a lot of bowls,
(13:35):
treatments so that's kind of howI base my verbiage of color
correction.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Like how much work it's going to take.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Yeah, but even though I feel like nowadays with
everyone, most people, mostthings are color corrections
nowadays, I think, you know,even a bonding session can be a
color correction, because it's.
We're out of that realm ofdoing quick, fast work, Like you
(14:06):
know.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Yeah, it's not just a foil highlight Like it's a
massive transformation TZ lights, balayage you know all the
things Like everything'scustomized now.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Like you're doing different techniques on one head
to create a look, and but forme, I based off, like I can tell
, like this is going to be a lotof time, a lot of product, and
so that's when I'll consider youa color correction.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Okay, and so yeah with the formulation like what.
Do you have any tips for that?
I'm sure it's because I knowlike each client is so very
different, but do you have anytips for people wondering about
that With?
Speaker 2 (14:50):
formulation.
Yeah, like, everyone usesdifferent color lines, they have
different ways of what theyfeel they want to do and I
always preach about like no wayis the wrong way.
It's just a suggestion.
You know, like everybody'sweight, what works for you works
for you.
I would say for sure, prep workis the most important when
(15:13):
you're going to do a colorcorrection, prepping the hair,
like doing a color remover ordoing a treatment that will get,
like the hard water, theminerals, out first, like taking
that extra step to prep yourhair before you're going to
start, is definitely a gamechanger.
But as far as formula actualformulas, I would, I mean, I
(15:34):
would say I'm a big advocate forlike low and slow when you're
lightning you know, you've beenlowering the lower developers,
because it will get lighter andyou have more control.
And then, just always, you haveto know your color wheel.
Like I know it's like back tobasics with that, but definitely
(15:55):
knowing your color lines, colorwheel is definitely going to
make your color corrections waybetter.
So, and thinking kind of onestep ahead, when I'm doing a
color correction I'm always inmy mind like if this doesn't
work, I'm gonna do this.
If this doesn't work, if itdoesn't come out like this, I'm
gonna do this.
(16:15):
Like I'm kind of always mappingout my, like my, what I'm doing
on them.
Yeah, I would definitely say thecolor wheel is a big one
knowing what cancels out what,but also at the same time, not
getting stuck in those rules.
Knowing the rules and thenknowing what to do to kind of
(16:38):
break them, that can give youthe results you're looking for.
And then another big thing forme is when you're lifting, kind
of lifting lighter than yourtarget level, so that when you
tone down, when you want to toneto your target level, it is
more even and more clean and notlike spotchy, so like if you're
(17:00):
gonna do a level eight, you canlift to a level nine and then
tone it with tone down.
Yes, but also too, you gottamake sure, like you gotta think
of, is the hair poorest?
If you do that, level eight isit gonna grab?
so it's color cracking is reallyjust it's, it's.
It's so different Like it canbe so many different scenarios.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Do you offer online education or education events
that people could come to ifthey were interested in taking a
class on color correction?
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Yes, I do offer, I do classes in my suite on color
corrections, like where you'llactually like we'll do a live
model.
So you'll see it, step eachstep at a time, on a live person
.
That I've never done before, soyou're gonna.
you see me, how I, how I goabout it, like you're seeing
(17:54):
this person for the first time,just like me, so we're gonna do
this you know together, and thenI'm starting to look into doing
it online now, because I feellike that's kind of where it's
at, where people are want toreach out lighter broad of
stylist is to kind of do itonline.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
So well, even if you had, like a videographer, come
to your live classes and likevideo you while you do it and
then sell that class online,it's like two for one.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Exactly, I mean it's.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
it's amazing the the social media realm, what we can
do now as yeah behind the chair,so I know that I would
absolutely be interested in anonline class.
Just dropping that there.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Yeah, that'd be so cool.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
So you said that you use a color remover and a
mineral remover beforehand.
Can you tell me what thoseproducts are?
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Yes, so I'm a.
I love the Malibu sea products,so I either go in with a crystal
gel treatment which that'sgonna remove all the hard water,
all the minerals.
I'll do that one when it's notnecessarily like they have bands
of color or box color or athome color, and then, if it's
(19:14):
more like that where we'rehaving to remove actual color,
I'll go in with the Malibu seaCPR treatment because it is more
gentle, it's mixed with waterunder the dryer.
Those two treatments do situnder the dryer for up to 45
minutes.
I always do the full 45 minutesto get the best result.
(19:36):
And then you, you know, shampooit and then dry it and then
start your your color correction, if it is a little bit more of
a stubborn color in their hair,like if it's box color, like
black, or you know red and theCPR is not enough, then I'll go
in with the Rask, eliminate that.
(19:58):
One will also remove it.
But you just gotta be carefulbecause you've got to know like
is their hair alreadycompromised.
You don't really want to do asulfur based remover if it's
just too too compromised, youknow.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Okay.
So, do the Malibu seatreatments before and you you
only do the CPR one if it'sstubborn, like color bands and
stuff the other one is theMalibu sea crystal gel is just
to remove like bonds that haveyellowed some or like mineral
buildup right.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Yeah, I use the Malibu crystal gel honestly.
Every new client that comes inmy chair, I start them with that
, no matter if it's a colorcorrection or not, because do
you, do you continue to do thaton your regular clients or?
Not necessarily because theyalready start you.
Once they've come with me, theystart using professional
(20:50):
products and I teach them how toshampoo their hair twice.
There's also a product Irecommend to do it at home.
It's the Wow Dream Filter.
That's a spray that a clientcan take home.
You spray it on your hair like,leave it in for about a minute
or two and then shampoo it, andthat's like a mini demineralizer
(21:14):
that you can do at home and youcan do that like yeah like once
or twice a month.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
That's cool.
That would probably be greatfor some like I have a lot of
extension clients that they're.
They have what like.
Here we're in Missouri and itis like a lot of well water and
man, I'm telling you what thesegirls they end up with like
yellow hair by the time theycome back.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
You know, and I have to do all the things to like
demineralize, so that would be agreat option for some of my
girls oh, that's perfect, theywould, they would love it.
They would love that it's supereasy and they can do it
themselves at home.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Awesome.
So, moving on um, do you have aguide or a system that you
follow with every colorcorrection, or do you just kind
of flow and just have acustomized approach?
I know we touched on this alittle bit, but do you have kind
of like a game plan or do youtotally just like go with
whatever happens?
Speaker 2 (22:04):
I do have a semi game plan because, obviously, like,
I do do a consultation withthese people before they book
their color corrections, justbecause there is some people
that I won't take.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
If your hair is just too much like over compromised,
um, where it's nothing I can dobecause it's gonna fry off, I'm
not gonna do it right um, butthat's good for you to say no
also like I want to pause onthat for a second, because I
think it's such a hugemisconception in the salon
industry that you just have totake everyone.
(22:39):
But that's so far from thetruth.
I feel like if it is outsideyour comfort zone or if you feel
like it could be a liability tothe person, that is a powerful
thing to say no, and yourreputation to say no, yes,
because it's everything.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Yeah, and if someone comes in with damaged hair like,
like overly damaged hair, um,and even if I were to try to fix
it and I didn't do that initialdamage, I always tell people.
When they go, tell people whodid your hair, they're gonna say
you, because you were the lastone, even though you didn't yes
(23:16):
they're not gonna sit there andsay well, I went somewhere else,
they damaged it and she triedto fix it and I like no, they're
just gonna say that you didthat and people are gonna say
that you fried it.
So, yes, no, yes, I'm not.
All money is good money yeah,exactly I like that.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Okay, sorry, go ahead on your.
So after the consultation, likeyou kind of have a game plan.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
I do have a game plan but, like I said, I don't stick
to it.
I mean, like I don't have likeblinders on from my game plan.
I just kind of generalize likeokay, it's probably gonna do
this, it might do this.
But I always kind of think onestep ahead of if it doesn't do
this, I'm gonna do this, if itdoesn't do this, I'm gonna do
(23:57):
this, like to me.
I I don't know if it's from justyears of experience or or just
continue to be educated, but Ikind of game plan for like the
worst scenario, for like amedium scenario and then right
it comes out the way I needed to.
So I kind of just haveeverything kind of in a game
(24:22):
plan, but then still preparedfor things to go totally left
field.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
Yes, so, speaking of that, what, what's?
What do you do when things dogo wrong, like when you know
you're just thinking that thisis what's gonna happen and then
the hair doesn't do what youwere aiming for.
Like, what is the process fortroubleshooting?
Speaker 2 (24:43):
One is don't freak out.
I feel like that's what.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
I would.
I'd be like you know.
Don't let them see your face.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Yeah, I mean there definitely have been times where
I've been like I quit, I don'twant to lose them work, yeah
someone else.
Take this it's just really, when, okay, when something is not
coming like doing what I neededto do, I just have to take a
step back.
Alright, let's like refocus.
Okay, come on, you, you knowthis, you know your, your color
(25:14):
wheel, you know your color line.
What can we do?
Let's, let's, let's calm downand see what we can do.
And if it's really to the pointwhere I really don't know, like
my brain has just been on thinkmode for hours and now I'm just
like I can't even think rightnow, it's just too like my
(25:35):
mind's blank, I'll, I'll go andcall someone over like, hey,
what do you think?
Get a fresh set of eyes?
Like this is what I've done.
It's not doing this.
What?
What's your suggestion?
You know, right, it's alwaysgreat to be able to bounce off
other stylists because they'reseeing it from a different light
and they haven't been in theirroom with you for five hours
(25:56):
already, you know.
So, yes, and I'm gonna sweet,so even I will go find a stylist
in my sweet.
I know some people feel likethey're alone, but you're really
not.
I mean, when you're in a suite,there's everybody in there.
You just have to go and youknow, doesn't hurt to ask
because, yes, you, you justsometimes need that extra, like,
(26:18):
oh, okay, and sometimes thethings they say you're like oh
yeah, I knew that, but it's justwhen you're in a color, yeah,
cuz you're just so in and yourmind is just been like yes.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
So like, how do you stay confident when things
aren't going as planned?
You just like pep, talkyourself, like okay, I've got
this, or like I think whatreally?
Speaker 2 (26:38):
helped me stay confident when things are going
wrong is back to theconsultation.
When you have a consult with me, my expectations for you are
very low.
I do not give my client highexpectations, like at all.
I always under shoe and overdeliver a thing and I way under
(26:59):
shoot, like like I literallywill sit there and be like okay,
you know, if they have someblack box color and they want to
be blonde, I'll sit there andtell them.
I'm not even gonna say thatwe're blonde in this console,
because we're not gonna get youthere.
Like you know, I yeah, and Iprotect myself in that console.
I tell them everything.
(27:20):
I'm very raw and real and everyscenario.
I'm just very thorough.
So in a moment where I'm likeman, this color is not coming
out or it is not budging or notturning the way I want, or that,
I don't feel too like flusteredbecause I know I told them in
(27:46):
the console that this probablycould happen.
So, yes, it's okay because theydo that way to protect yourself
like that's.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
That's so smart to under promise and then over
deliver and then, if it doesn't,you know, turn out how you're
hoping.
Internally they're still happywith it because you told them in
the console, like you're, let'sget you to a chocolate brown,
that'll be great today you know,and then if they're blind,
they're gonna be so happy andsometimes even for people, if
(28:15):
you want to do like colorcorrection forms.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
I worked for a salon that we did that and that was
honestly great as well, becauseit was on paper and they signed
it.
They knew what they weregetting into yep, you would
write everything on there.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
So you could go back to when that protects you as a
stylist.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
To yes just because you know.
I mean, I know when you tellclients sometimes like it's not
gonna like this, they're stillthinking but it can be, you know
.
So whatever way to protectyourself is, you do what works
for you.
I'm just very blunt and I'm veryhonest and, like I said, I'm a
(28:55):
way under promissor.
Even if someone comes in mychair and I know I can get them
blonde and it's gonna be likethe best platinum blonde ever, I
still won't say it.
I won't tell them that I'lljust be like it'll be lighter,
but not that.
You know, I don't because II've.
Everything I do is because I'vehad that happen, like from
(29:17):
experience.
Yeah, I've had some one come inwhere I thought it was gonna be
super easy, super quick, and itwasn't.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
Yeah, and you're like yeah.
So I've got to ask what's theworst thing that's ever happened
while doing a color correction.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
I would say the worst one for me was that their box
color literally did not budge atall.
I did like three removers and Iwas just like okay, like this
is not working.
(29:53):
And then I still went.
I still went into lightening itbecause I figured, even though
it didn't come out, that cuticlewas open, so I'm sure the
lightener will budget a littlebit.
And it really didn't like itkind of did and I was just like
(30:18):
okay so what'd you have to do?
I just made her like a darkbrown, like a dark dark brown.
So I was like well, that's it.
Like I can't do like your hair,we just gonna let it grow, or
something like let it grow outand just gently try to see if we
can get this color out, maybelittle by little, but yeah that
(30:42):
one, how crazy.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
I wonder what kind it was that she used, because I
was like insanity yeah, it waspretty horrible and it took.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
I did finally get her lighter, but it took a very
long time like wow, almost ayear of coloring her and you're
like never touchbox die againyeah, I said, if you do, I'm
never gonna hear again.
Don't, don't even call me oh mygosh.
Speaker 1 (31:09):
So I know that, like, like you said, these people are
with you all day long.
So, like, how do you figureyour pricing?
For I know for me, like I do,package pricing.
So when people go on my websitethey can see, you know how long
it's gonna take, what itincludes, and I only have like
three packages to choose from.
But, like I said, I don't doyou know extensive color
(31:29):
services.
Typically, like the biggest oneI have is my clean, modern
Blonding, and they're with meanywhere from three to four
hours and it's like 280 bucks,you know.
But they know like, okay, thisis an extended appointment, this
is how much it's gonna cost.
But for you, I mean, I feellike that would be hard to do
package pricing.
So what do you do for yourpricing and letting them know
how much it's gonna be?
Speaker 2 (31:50):
so I, like I said, I've been in this so long and I
have definitely had differentpricing ways, like in the salon
and then even on my own I'vedone like hourly pricing.
I've done all a car, I wouldsay for me.
Now the best method that worksfor me is kind of a hybrid
(32:15):
pricing method where I do chargean out like I do have a base
hourly rate, but then I'm alsocharging for my product usage.
So it's like combined.
So when I'm foiling you I'moverall doing the hourly but
then I'm also adding in myproduct usage.
(32:36):
But for color corrections,because there's so much going on
, that's too difficult to tocharge like all a card or even
my hybrid, because it's maybe alot of stuff, I mean, that's a
lot to keep track of.
So I base my color correctionshourly.
(32:58):
So my color corrections are 125an hour and that includes
everything, anything I have todo to get you closer to your
goal, and that just makes iteasier because it's just like
and so, like at your colorconsultations and stuff, you
just tell them okay, we're doinga color consultation, you'll
probably be here at least sixhours.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
You know it's one 25 an hour and they're just okay
with that.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
Like, yeah, I give them a range.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
So I'm like I give them like a lowest and highest
like a best-case scenario andwell, not worse, but low and
high yeah yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
So I tell them like, okay, you're gonna be here like
six to nine hours.
It's 125 an hour, just sothey're prepared for that nine
hour.
I mean because sometimes itcan't be, usually it's not.
I haven't.
I've had maybe like two, thatwere the nine or ten hour ones.
It's usually at six hours.
But yes, yeah, I mean they'reokay with it because it includes
(34:01):
everything I have to do.
And when I break that down, soI know people are probably like
what?
Like that's like a thousanddollars on a nine-hour service.
But the thing is I'm doingEverything in one session.
Right you go somewhere else.
They're charging you Two tofour hundred dollars and doing
(34:24):
four sessions on you and you'restill not where you want to be
Exactly paid what you would payme.
Speaker 1 (34:30):
You just paid it in Increments over time right, and
you still weren't happy becauseyou still didn't yeah, you want
to be, I'm gonna bang it out inone day and Get and get now.
Speaker 2 (34:41):
You still may not be to your ultimate goal, but
you're gonna be a lot, a heck ofa lot further.
Yes, and then also for me.
I also I'm a non tippingestablishment, I don't accept
tips and I also Offer after payas well for my client.
So they can break it up if theyfeel like that's just like, oh,
my god, too much, you know.
(35:02):
Yeah, that's amazing.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
I love how you do that and and I think that you
know from a lot of clients thatI have had over the years I've
done here for 13 years now andyou know the big, one of the
biggest things that theystruggle with is like
transparency, like they wantTransparency from their stylist.
And I've had people come to meand they're like you know, I am
(35:26):
my last stylist.
Every time I never knew what itwas gonna be.
I was either gonna be, you know, 200 for my move up and 120 for
my color, or then it'd be like600 the next time and I got the
same thing and I never Knew whatI was gonna be paying.
And like transparencyFultations, giving them an
expectation.
I think is so important for thestylist to feel comfortable and
(35:46):
I feel like that builds trusttoo, like saying you know, this
is what I'm gonna charge you,this is what to expect.
I just want to be upfront andhonest with you.
You know like that is valuableand clients really Want that and
love that.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
Yes, because that's what I would want, like I always
do everything.
Yes is I would think I think ofmyself like what would I want?
I don't want to be sitting inmy, in someone's chair Sweating,
thinking like, oh my god, howmuch is my hair gonna melt off
or my hair?
Yeah, absolutely yes you knowlike I'm gonna have to break out
(36:21):
the credit card.
Yeah, so am I gonna have towash dishes?
Yeah right.
I just like to give.
That's why I give them the maxand the like.
I give them a range and it is apretty far range.
I mean, you know, but it's alsothat's protecting me, but
that's also telling my hand,okay, well, I know it's not
(36:42):
gonna be over this amount, butit could be less.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
So, yes, so, to wrap this up, what are five tips?
If you had anything, any fivethings to advise stylists who
are wanting to move into doingcolor corrections more, or I'm
wanting to start specializing inthis what is five tips that you
would give them?
(37:06):
That are the five mostmeaningful to you.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
First I would say just do it.
I mean mm-hmm, don't be afraid.
You know, I feel like successcomes with stepping out of your
comfort zone, and If somethingmakes you feel Nervous or scared
, then do it, because that meansa hundred percent, I kind of do
(37:32):
yes.
Maybe bringing in models foryourself first, like to practice
on people that have challenginghair and see what works for you
and what doesn't.
Definitely, education,continuing your education is big
.
Learn from different stylistson their techniques, on color
(37:54):
correcting, anything and pullfrom them what you liked and
create your own Method.
Yes, that's basically what Idid.
You know, everything you doduring a session is pulled from
multiple stylists.
I learned from what worked forme and what didn't.
(38:14):
Definitely, and I woulddefinitely say, nowadays I'm
charging your worth, yes, butalso we're in a time right now
where I Don't think that'senough to just say charging your
word and just because you'regood at what you do, I feel like
(38:36):
you need to give your clientsthe full experience you know.
Value added services, likelittle extras, you know.
Make it More for them as well,because we're in challenging
times and yeah.
You know a lot of people can dogood hair but give your
perceived value needs to be amillion percent.
Speaker 1 (38:58):
Yeah, like you need to be giving value.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
Yes, you're in, you give them and and every time,
just because you've had a clientfor ten years, you treat them
the same as when you first metthem.
Like you know, you don't justget too comfortable and like oh
hey, you know, like you, youwant to treat them the same as
you would a brand new client inyour chair.
Yes, all the time, and just likeJust knowing that it's okay to
(39:28):
mess up, like we're human, youknow we're not magicians, you're
not gonna be perfect it's okayto to not get it right sometimes
, like.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (39:42):
That's totally.
I think people of stylist getsso caught up on like, like they
beat themselves up all day whensomething doesn't come out right
and it's like it's okay, likeyou're you're not a magician and
we don't really know whatpeople do on their hair like
they can tell us, but we don'tknow.
They're leaving stuff out.
And as long as you try yourbest and you're doing the best
you can, that's okay.
Speaker 1 (40:04):
Yes, I Love it.
Well, you know, I have enjoyedour conversation so much today
and I want to let my listenersknow that you know you do have
in-person courses and when canthey find you on Instagram, on.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
Instagram it's hair by a blonde.
Facebook as well, hair by ablonde, and then I have a tiktok
hair, but it's all hair by ablonde.
And even I always tell peoplelike if you have questions, you
can always be DM me.
A lot of stylist fromeverywhere would DM me asking me
for Help on things and I'llwrite you back.
(40:42):
I'll help you through DM, youknow.
So definitely feel free toreach out.
If you have questions on aclient or a situation that
you're gonna encounter withsomeone in your chair, you know
I'm definitely Will help you andI have worked with a lot of
color lines so I'm pretty goodat kind of Like four million on
(41:05):
both on on a lot of things.
Speaker 1 (41:06):
I can color line.
Speaker 2 (41:08):
Yeah, I can, you know , do it from different ones.
I've worked with so many, soAwesome.
Speaker 1 (41:16):
Well, thank you so much.
I appreciate you and I reallyenjoyed our conversation today.
Speaker 2 (41:22):
Thank you for having me.
It was so much fun I feel like.
Speaker 1 (41:26):
I feel like you've added a lot of value to the
community today.
So Well, I'll be seeing you onInstagram and maybe one of these
days I can catch one of yourclasses in person.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
Yes, thank you.
Thank you so much, it was somuch awesome.
All right?
Speaker 1 (41:39):
Well, I'll talk to you later.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
Okay, thank you.
Speaker 1 (41:42):
All right, bye, bye.
Thank you for listening intoday.
If you have a burning questionor a topic you want me to cover,
leave a review and ask thequestion in the review.
This is the best way to getyour questions answered.
Just remember you are a smart,wealthy stylist and you are
capable of anything you set yourmind to.
(42:02):
I'll catch you later.
Don't be a stranger, you.
Welcome to the smart, wealthy stylist podcast.
I'm your host, emily Cardin.
Over here.
We're dedicated to helpinghairstylists manage their
finances, stay organized,healthy and manage their time
and mental well-being.
We focus on staying healthy inall areas of life and maximizing
productivity.
If you're a hairstylist lookingfor these things, then this is
(00:23):
the podcast for you.
Together, we'll avoid burnoutand step into being the smartest
, wealthiest stylist that we canbe.
Welcome back to the smart,wealthy stylist podcast.
I have a treat for you guys.
Today I have Autelaya from Hairby a Blonde and Sant Antonio,
(00:46):
texas.
We are so excited to have heron the show today because she is
a color correction expert.
This is her MO.
Introduce yourself, tell meabout yourself.
Feel free to share your journey.
I've been watching your page onInstagram and you just seem
(01:07):
like such an amazing person, anovercomer.
I would just love to hear alittle bit about your story
before we get into thenitty-gritty of the podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Thanks, yes, so Autelaya Figueroa.
I am in San Antonio, texas,owner of Hair by a Blonde.
I've been doing hair for about17 years now and it's been a
journey, for sure it's been ajourney.
I started when I was 19 yearsold in the salon, so I was a
baby.
(01:36):
But I'm from a small town.
I grew up in Floresville, texas,which is about 15 minutes off
out of the south side of SanAntonio, so it's like a little
further than the south.
So, coming from a small town,it was fun, you know, but it had
its things in just that smalltown mindset.
(01:59):
So I really wanted to kind ofget out and see what else was
out there.
So I started beauty schoolright after I graduated and went
straight into working at asalon as well as I graduated
beauty school.
So I was the youngest in thesalon for a very long time
Youngest I, actually.
(02:21):
So if you're from San Antonio,everyone knows the Alamo Heights
area is a very high-endprestige area and that's where I
started my career and it wasvery different for me because,
coming from a small town, I didnot know anything in that world,
so it was very different for me.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
I thought that was awesome to be like that be your
first exposure, you know, likecoming from small town, and then
that is your first exposureinto the salon world Like what
an awesome start.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yes, it was.
It was kind of like a cultureshock for me because, you know,
I came from a very humblebeginning so I did not even know
what sushi was, I didn't knowwhat you know Whole Foods, all
that kind of things where it wasvery different for me.
But I'm so glad I put myself outthere like that and went out of
(03:16):
my comfort zone becauseabsolutely everyone in there
basically took me under theirwing and really saw in me what I
don't think I saw in myself fora long time.
You know, coming from thebackground I come from, the
world I come from it was justtotally opposite.
So a lot of the women theretook me under their wing.
(03:38):
They were very hard on me butit definitely gave me the work
ethic I have, the, the mindset Ihave and the just will to want
to strive for better.
It definitely was worth itgoing through that and being
there, I had a differentexperience.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
I was also the baby.
I graduated high school at 17and then, you know, was finished
with my cosmetology degree bythe time I was 18.
But the first place I went intowas like it was a old school
barber shop.
I didn't know how to cut men'shair very well and so I was like
, well, I just want to learnfrom, like you know, barbers,
like that's what they do.
(04:16):
And it was not.
Like that was traumatic.
I feel like it could have beenworse.
It could have been worse andthen, you know, that led into
like self doubt as I went alongin my journey until I was
exposed to, you know, I starteddoing like invisible bead
extensions and being exposed tothat like luxury mindset and
like changing how you do yourpricing and all that stuff and
(04:39):
charging your worth and you knowall the things.
And it was like I wish that Iyou know, looking back, I had
actually had this conversationwith my husband just this last
weekend Like I wish I would havestarted out in a higher end
salon and had that mindset fromthe beginning, instead of like
work harder or faster.
You know, more bets in yourchair, the more money you make,
which is so far from the truth,like you know.
(05:01):
Anyway, I'm happy for you thatyou got to do that.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
I still had to learn that kind of the hard way and it
took me years to get to thatpoint of like charging your
words and like really knowing,because even in that salon it
was a high end salon but wedefinitely were worked very hard
.
It was a double booking salonbut we would have like three,
four people at one time.
(05:27):
We had a lot of apprentices, alot of stylists, so it really
was like quantity over qualityyeah, like you had to be fast.
You had to be fast.
So the more people you see, themore money you make.
So I did have that mindset fora long time.
It took me a very long time tokind of reverse what I like,
that part of it, and learn liketo charge your worth.
(05:49):
But you don't have to likedouble book or work 12 hour days
to make good money in thisindustry, right.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Yes, 100%.
If I could shout that from therooftops, I would.
So let's get into, like how yougot into color correction and
how you consider yourself, youknow, a color correction expert.
Like, how do you, how do youposition yourself as an
authority in that?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
It took.
Well, I've been doing.
I guess I've been doing thisfor 17 years.
It definitely took a very longtime to get to this point, I
think, to call myself a colorcorrection specialist,
definitely, having especiallycoming from an era where it was
like 40 volume get to blonde,you know right having to relearn
(06:37):
a lot of things that I learnedin the beginning.
First of all, just continuing myeducation.
I've always continue education.
No matter how long I've been inthis industry, I still always
go to classes.
I learned from other stylistsin my city, you know social
media has been a great way tolearn new techniques, new ways
(07:00):
of doing things easier.
I feel like this generation hasit a lot easier to continue
learning because it's at the tipof your fingers, you know,
right there in your phone, yourcomputer.
I would say I became more goinginto color correction, probably
in the last eight or nine years.
(07:22):
You know San Antonio has a.
We have a very diverse cultureand we have a lot.
We have a lot of Latin culture,a lot of just more of that dark
haired clientele.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
And it can be a challenge for a lot of people,
or a lot of people, because Ifeel like people are so focused
on having more than like a lotof people in one day when they
see someone come in with likethick, dark hair that's been
colored a million different waysand you know, at home they're
(08:02):
like, oh no, like that's gonnatake me all day, I'm not doing
that.
Or they're gonna try to likerush through it and do things to
kind of like band-aid it andthen it's, yes, more of a mess.
So for me, when I started doingthis, when I came home and
opened my own little you knowsalon, I love the challenge of
(08:25):
color corrections, I lovegetting someone's hair fixed,
like I love fixing it.
It just takes a lot more stepsand it's very tedious and I'm
willing to do that.
So I will sit there for 10hours and work on your hair.
So, that's why I started sayingyou know, like I love this, I
love doing color corrections.
(08:45):
It is tedious.
You do have to have like thatmindset, like it's gonna take a
while.
You gotta do step by step, youcan't rush this.
And then it started just kindof catching on and people
started seeing like I can getyou know these major, crazy hair
situations back on track.
(09:06):
Oh.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
I bet there's so many people who are so thankful that
you're willing to take the time.
Yes, so how do you get theright clients in your chair?
Do you feel like it was socialmedia word of mouth?
Like, I know that you, you knowyou are a color correction
specialist, so, like, how do youattract those people?
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Definitely now it's been social media.
Like I said, when I firststarted we didn't have that, so
we had to go out there, pass outcards, interact yes, face to
face, which I'm still a bigbeliever in that.
I do still go to a lot ofnetworking events trying to like
(09:49):
meet people and get myclientele like that.
But definitely social media hasbeen the number one
advertisement for myself to getclients in my chair.
Just kind of posting these hugebefore and afters was
definitely what got me noticedand people are like yes, I love
(10:12):
your work, I love that you dothat and and then explaining
like how I do it, like you're inmy chair a long time, I do work
on only you one at a time, likeyou know, just social media was
the biggest way for me.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Yeah, knowing they know what to expect.
They know what it looks likebefore, during and after, like.
So just just being verytransparent about their
experience in your chair andthen posting that on social
media.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Exactly and educating , like I'm always posting little
educational things for clientsas well as stylists, so that I
understand why we charge what wecharge, why, right, multiple
sessions, why it takes so long.
You know, because it's a lot ofmoney and I get that and I I
(11:02):
want people to kind ofunderstand when you're walking
into this.
This is why Right.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Yes, what would you say is your favorite thing about
doing color corrections?
Speaker 2 (11:13):
My favorite thing is definitely seeing people's
reaction at the end.
I just love when they just beamwith confidence or, you know,
so excited or shocked that I gotit to their goal.
You know it just like wow, likeI did that.
(11:34):
Yeah, like that's so awesome.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
You know, in one of the I'm on a hair stylist
supporting hair stylist Facebookpage and when I like to ask on
there, you know what podcasttopics people want to hear,
because this whole podcast isabout empowering hair stylists
as a community you know, andgiving them like what, what do
they need?
And if I don't know the answer,I'm going to find someone who
(12:01):
does.
You know, I'm not a colorcorrection specialist, I don't.
you know, that's not my thing,but I'm like okay, but I can
find someone who is you know soa lot of the questions that they
were asking was likeformulation so many people have
such a hard time with forformulation and you know what
(12:21):
makes a service, a colorcorrection and color theory and
all that stuff.
So what tips do you have forthese people who are maybe just
starting on this colorcorrection avenue and first off,
like what makes it a colorcorrection instead of just a
bonding session, or you knowwhat I'm saying like what makes
(12:42):
it different, and then maybe gointo a little bit of formulation
and some tips for them?
Speaker 2 (12:48):
For me, the way and I'm sure you know everybody
faces their word of colorcorrection differently.
For me, the way I base yourhair.
If it's going to be either aregular bonding session or a
color correction is first thetime, the timing it's going to
take me to do it.
I've been doing this so long Ican tell when someone's going to
(13:11):
take at least six hours.
So if it's going to take rightsix hours or more than to me,
that's a color correctionbecause you're taking up my
whole day and I can't haveanybody else in my chair like
after you.
So I just know like the stepsare going to be like tedious,
like you know color removers, alot of color, a lot of bowls,
(13:35):
treatments so that's kind of howI base my verbiage of color
correction.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Like how much work it's going to take.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Yeah, but even though I feel like nowadays with
everyone, most people, mostthings are color corrections
nowadays, I think, you know,even a bonding session can be a
color correction, because it's.
We're out of that realm ofdoing quick, fast work, Like you
(14:06):
know.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Yeah, it's not just a foil highlight Like it's a
massive transformation TZ lights, balayage you know all the
things Like everything'scustomized now.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Like you're doing different techniques on one head
to create a look, and but forme, I based off, like I can tell
, like this is going to be a lotof time, a lot of product, and
so that's when I'll consider youa color correction.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Okay, and so yeah with the formulation like what.
Do you have any tips for that?
I'm sure it's because I knowlike each client is so very
different, but do you have anytips for people wondering about
that With?
Speaker 2 (14:50):
formulation.
Yeah, like, everyone usesdifferent color lines, they have
different ways of what theyfeel they want to do and I
always preach about like no wayis the wrong way.
It's just a suggestion.
You know, like everybody'sweight, what works for you works
for you.
I would say for sure, prep workis the most important when
(15:13):
you're going to do a colorcorrection, prepping the hair,
like doing a color remover ordoing a treatment that will get,
like the hard water, theminerals, out first, like taking
that extra step to prep yourhair before you're going to
start, is definitely a gamechanger.
But as far as formula actualformulas, I would, I mean, I
(15:34):
would say I'm a big advocate forlike low and slow when you're
lightning you know, you've beenlowering the lower developers,
because it will get lighter andyou have more control.
And then, just always, you haveto know your color wheel.
Like I know it's like back tobasics with that, but definitely
(15:55):
knowing your color lines, colorwheel is definitely going to
make your color corrections waybetter.
So, and thinking kind of onestep ahead, when I'm doing a
color correction I'm always inmy mind like if this doesn't
work, I'm gonna do this.
If this doesn't work, if itdoesn't come out like this, I'm
gonna do this.
(16:15):
Like I'm kind of always mappingout my, like my, what I'm doing
on them.
Yeah, I would definitely say thecolor wheel is a big one
knowing what cancels out what,but also at the same time, not
getting stuck in those rules.
Knowing the rules and thenknowing what to do to kind of
(16:38):
break them, that can give youthe results you're looking for.
And then another big thing forme is when you're lifting, kind
of lifting lighter than yourtarget level, so that when you
tone down, when you want to toneto your target level, it is
more even and more clean and notlike spotchy, so like if you're
(17:00):
gonna do a level eight, you canlift to a level nine and then
tone it with tone down.
Yes, but also too, you gottamake sure, like you gotta think
of, is the hair poorest?
If you do that, level eight isit gonna grab?
so it's color cracking is reallyjust it's, it's.
It's so different Like it canbe so many different scenarios.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Do you offer online education or education events
that people could come to ifthey were interested in taking a
class on color correction?
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Yes, I do offer, I do classes in my suite on color
corrections, like where you'llactually like we'll do a live
model.
So you'll see it, step eachstep at a time, on a live person
.
That I've never done before, soyou're gonna.
you see me, how I, how I goabout it, like you're seeing
(17:54):
this person for the first time,just like me, so we're gonna do
this you know together, and thenI'm starting to look into doing
it online now, because I feellike that's kind of where it's
at, where people are want toreach out lighter broad of
stylist is to kind of do itonline.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
So well, even if you had, like a videographer, come
to your live classes and likevideo you while you do it and
then sell that class online,it's like two for one.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Exactly, I mean it's.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
it's amazing the the social media realm, what we can
do now as yeah behind the chair,so I know that I would
absolutely be interested in anonline class.
Just dropping that there.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Yeah, that'd be so cool.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
So you said that you use a color remover and a
mineral remover beforehand.
Can you tell me what thoseproducts are?
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Yes, so I'm a.
I love the Malibu sea products,so I either go in with a crystal
gel treatment which that'sgonna remove all the hard water,
all the minerals.
I'll do that one when it's notnecessarily like they have bands
of color or box color or athome color, and then, if it's
(19:14):
more like that where we'rehaving to remove actual color,
I'll go in with the Malibu seaCPR treatment because it is more
gentle, it's mixed with waterunder the dryer.
Those two treatments do situnder the dryer for up to 45
minutes.
I always do the full 45 minutesto get the best result.
(19:36):
And then you, you know, shampooit and then dry it and then
start your your color correction, if it is a little bit more of
a stubborn color in their hair,like if it's box color, like
black, or you know red and theCPR is not enough, then I'll go
in with the Rask, eliminate that.
(19:58):
One will also remove it.
But you just gotta be carefulbecause you've got to know like
is their hair alreadycompromised.
You don't really want to do asulfur based remover if it's
just too too compromised, youknow.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Okay.
So, do the Malibu seatreatments before and you you
only do the CPR one if it'sstubborn, like color bands and
stuff the other one is theMalibu sea crystal gel is just
to remove like bonds that haveyellowed some or like mineral
buildup right.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Yeah, I use the Malibu crystal gel honestly.
Every new client that comes inmy chair, I start them with that
, no matter if it's a colorcorrection or not, because do
you, do you continue to do thaton your regular clients or?
Not necessarily because theyalready start you.
Once they've come with me, theystart using professional
(20:50):
products and I teach them how toshampoo their hair twice.
There's also a product Irecommend to do it at home.
It's the Wow Dream Filter.
That's a spray that a clientcan take home.
You spray it on your hair like,leave it in for about a minute
or two and then shampoo it, andthat's like a mini demineralizer
(21:14):
that you can do at home and youcan do that like yeah like once
or twice a month.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
That's cool.
That would probably be greatfor some like I have a lot of
extension clients that they're.
They have what like.
Here we're in Missouri and itis like a lot of well water and
man, I'm telling you what thesegirls they end up with like
yellow hair by the time theycome back.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
You know, and I have to do all the things to like
demineralize, so that would be agreat option for some of my
girls oh, that's perfect, theywould, they would love it.
They would love that it's supereasy and they can do it
themselves at home.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Awesome.
So, moving on um, do you have aguide or a system that you
follow with every colorcorrection, or do you just kind
of flow and just have acustomized approach?
I know we touched on this alittle bit, but do you have kind
of like a game plan or do youtotally just like go with
whatever happens?
Speaker 2 (22:04):
I do have a semi game plan because, obviously, like,
I do do a consultation withthese people before they book
their color corrections, justbecause there is some people
that I won't take.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
If your hair is just too much like over compromised,
um, where it's nothing I can dobecause it's gonna fry off, I'm
not gonna do it right um, butthat's good for you to say no
also like I want to pause onthat for a second, because I
think it's such a hugemisconception in the salon
industry that you just have totake everyone.
(22:39):
But that's so far from thetruth.
I feel like if it is outsideyour comfort zone or if you feel
like it could be a liability tothe person, that is a powerful
thing to say no, and yourreputation to say no, yes,
because it's everything.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Yeah, and if someone comes in with damaged hair like,
like overly damaged hair, um,and even if I were to try to fix
it and I didn't do that initialdamage, I always tell people.
When they go, tell people whodid your hair, they're gonna say
you, because you were the lastone, even though you didn't yes
(23:16):
they're not gonna sit there andsay well, I went somewhere else,
they damaged it and she triedto fix it and I like no, they're
just gonna say that you didthat and people are gonna say
that you fried it.
So, yes, no, yes, I'm not.
All money is good money yeah,exactly I like that.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Okay, sorry, go ahead on your.
So after the consultation, likeyou kind of have a game plan.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
I do have a game plan but, like I said, I don't stick
to it.
I mean, like I don't have likeblinders on from my game plan.
I just kind of generalize likeokay, it's probably gonna do
this, it might do this.
But I always kind of think onestep ahead of if it doesn't do
this, I'm gonna do this, if itdoesn't do this, I'm gonna do
(23:57):
this, like to me.
I I don't know if it's from justyears of experience or or just
continue to be educated, but Ikind of game plan for like the
worst scenario, for like amedium scenario and then right
it comes out the way I needed to.
So I kind of just haveeverything kind of in a game
(24:22):
plan, but then still preparedfor things to go totally left
field.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
Yes, so, speaking of that, what, what's?
What do you do when things dogo wrong, like when you know
you're just thinking that thisis what's gonna happen and then
the hair doesn't do what youwere aiming for.
Like, what is the process fortroubleshooting?
Speaker 2 (24:43):
One is don't freak out.
I feel like that's what.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
I would.
I'd be like you know.
Don't let them see your face.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Yeah, I mean there definitely have been times where
I've been like I quit, I don'twant to lose them work, yeah
someone else.
Take this it's just really, when, okay, when something is not
coming like doing what I neededto do, I just have to take a
step back.
Alright, let's like refocus.
Okay, come on, you, you knowthis, you know your, your color
(25:14):
wheel, you know your color line.
What can we do?
Let's, let's, let's calm downand see what we can do.
And if it's really to the pointwhere I really don't know, like
my brain has just been on thinkmode for hours and now I'm just
like I can't even think rightnow, it's just too like my
(25:35):
mind's blank, I'll, I'll go andcall someone over like, hey,
what do you think?
Get a fresh set of eyes?
Like this is what I've done.
It's not doing this.
What?
What's your suggestion?
You know, right, it's alwaysgreat to be able to bounce off
other stylists because they'reseeing it from a different light
and they haven't been in theirroom with you for five hours
(25:56):
already, you know.
So, yes, and I'm gonna sweet,so even I will go find a stylist
in my sweet.
I know some people feel likethey're alone, but you're really
not.
I mean, when you're in a suite,there's everybody in there.
You just have to go and youknow, doesn't hurt to ask
because, yes, you, you justsometimes need that extra, like,
(26:18):
oh, okay, and sometimes thethings they say you're like oh
yeah, I knew that, but it's justwhen you're in a color, yeah,
cuz you're just so in and yourmind is just been like yes.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
So like, how do you stay confident when things
aren't going as planned?
You just like pep, talkyourself, like okay, I've got
this, or like I think whatreally?
Speaker 2 (26:38):
helped me stay confident when things are going
wrong is back to theconsultation.
When you have a consult with me, my expectations for you are
very low.
I do not give my client highexpectations, like at all.
I always under shoe and overdeliver a thing and I way under
(26:59):
shoot, like like I literallywill sit there and be like okay,
you know, if they have someblack box color and they want to
be blonde, I'll sit there andtell them.
I'm not even gonna say thatwe're blonde in this console,
because we're not gonna get youthere.
Like you know, I yeah, and Iprotect myself in that console.
I tell them everything.
(27:20):
I'm very raw and real and everyscenario.
I'm just very thorough.
So in a moment where I'm likeman, this color is not coming
out or it is not budging or notturning the way I want, or that,
I don't feel too like flusteredbecause I know I told them in
(27:46):
the console that this probablycould happen.
So, yes, it's okay because theydo that way to protect yourself
like that's.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
That's so smart to under promise and then over
deliver and then, if it doesn't,you know, turn out how you're
hoping.
Internally they're still happywith it because you told them in
the console, like you're, let'sget you to a chocolate brown,
that'll be great today you know,and then if they're blind,
they're gonna be so happy andsometimes even for people, if
(28:15):
you want to do like colorcorrection forms.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
I worked for a salon that we did that and that was
honestly great as well, becauseit was on paper and they signed
it.
They knew what they weregetting into yep, you would
write everything on there.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
So you could go back to when that protects you as a
stylist.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
To yes just because you know.
I mean, I know when you tellclients sometimes like it's not
gonna like this, they're stillthinking but it can be, you know
.
So whatever way to protectyourself is, you do what works
for you.
I'm just very blunt and I'm veryhonest and, like I said, I'm a
(28:55):
way under promissor.
Even if someone comes in mychair and I know I can get them
blonde and it's gonna be likethe best platinum blonde ever, I
still won't say it.
I won't tell them that I'lljust be like it'll be lighter,
but not that.
You know, I don't because II've.
Everything I do is because I'vehad that happen, like from
(29:17):
experience.
Yeah, I've had some one come inwhere I thought it was gonna be
super easy, super quick, and itwasn't.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
Yeah, and you're like yeah.
So I've got to ask what's theworst thing that's ever happened
while doing a color correction.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
I would say the worst one for me was that their box
color literally did not budge atall.
I did like three removers and Iwas just like okay, like this
is not working.
(29:53):
And then I still went.
I still went into lightening itbecause I figured, even though
it didn't come out, that cuticlewas open, so I'm sure the
lightener will budget a littlebit.
And it really didn't like itkind of did and I was just like
(30:18):
okay so what'd you have to do?
I just made her like a darkbrown, like a dark dark brown.
So I was like well, that's it.
Like I can't do like your hair,we just gonna let it grow, or
something like let it grow outand just gently try to see if we
can get this color out, maybelittle by little, but yeah that
(30:42):
one, how crazy.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
I wonder what kind it was that she used, because I
was like insanity yeah, it waspretty horrible and it took.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
I did finally get her lighter, but it took a very
long time like wow, almost ayear of coloring her and you're
like never touchbox die againyeah, I said, if you do, I'm
never gonna hear again.
Don't, don't even call me oh mygosh.
Speaker 1 (31:09):
So I know that, like, like you said, these people are
with you all day long.
So, like, how do you figureyour pricing?
For I know for me, like I do,package pricing.
So when people go on my websitethey can see, you know how long
it's gonna take, what itincludes, and I only have like
three packages to choose from.
But, like I said, I don't doyou know extensive color
(31:29):
services.
Typically, like the biggest oneI have is my clean, modern
Blonding, and they're with meanywhere from three to four
hours and it's like 280 bucks,you know.
But they know like, okay, thisis an extended appointment, this
is how much it's gonna cost.
But for you, I mean, I feellike that would be hard to do
package pricing.
So what do you do for yourpricing and letting them know
how much it's gonna be?
Speaker 2 (31:50):
so I, like I said, I've been in this so long and I
have definitely had differentpricing ways, like in the salon
and then even on my own I'vedone like hourly pricing.
I've done all a car, I wouldsay for me.
Now the best method that worksfor me is kind of a hybrid
(32:15):
pricing method where I do chargean out like I do have a base
hourly rate, but then I'm alsocharging for my product usage.
So it's like combined.
So when I'm foiling you I'moverall doing the hourly but
then I'm also adding in myproduct usage.
(32:36):
But for color corrections,because there's so much going on
, that's too difficult to tocharge like all a card or even
my hybrid, because it's maybe alot of stuff, I mean, that's a
lot to keep track of.
So I base my color correctionshourly.
(32:58):
So my color corrections are 125an hour and that includes
everything, anything I have todo to get you closer to your
goal, and that just makes iteasier because it's just like
and so, like at your colorconsultations and stuff, you
just tell them okay, we're doinga color consultation, you'll
probably be here at least sixhours.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
You know it's one 25 an hour and they're just okay
with that.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
Like, yeah, I give them a range.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
So I'm like I give them like a lowest and highest
like a best-case scenario andwell, not worse, but low and
high yeah yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
So I tell them like, okay, you're gonna be here like
six to nine hours.
It's 125 an hour, just sothey're prepared for that nine
hour.
I mean because sometimes itcan't be, usually it's not.
I haven't.
I've had maybe like two, thatwere the nine or ten hour ones.
It's usually at six hours.
But yes, yeah, I mean they'reokay with it because it includes
(34:01):
everything I have to do.
And when I break that down, soI know people are probably like
what?
Like that's like a thousanddollars on a nine-hour service.
But the thing is I'm doingEverything in one session.
Right you go somewhere else.
They're charging you Two tofour hundred dollars and doing
(34:24):
four sessions on you and you'restill not where you want to be
Exactly paid what you would payme.
Speaker 1 (34:30):
You just paid it in Increments over time right, and
you still weren't happy becauseyou still didn't yeah, you want
to be, I'm gonna bang it out inone day and Get and get now.
Speaker 2 (34:41):
You still may not be to your ultimate goal, but
you're gonna be a lot, a heck ofa lot further.
Yes, and then also for me.
I also I'm a non tippingestablishment, I don't accept
tips and I also Offer after payas well for my client.
So they can break it up if theyfeel like that's just like, oh,
my god, too much, you know.
(35:02):
Yeah, that's amazing.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
I love how you do that and and I think that you
know from a lot of clients thatI have had over the years I've
done here for 13 years now andyou know the big, one of the
biggest things that theystruggle with is like
transparency, like they wantTransparency from their stylist.
And I've had people come to meand they're like you know, I am
(35:26):
my last stylist.
Every time I never knew what itwas gonna be.
I was either gonna be, you know, 200 for my move up and 120 for
my color, or then it'd be like600 the next time and I got the
same thing and I never Knew whatI was gonna be paying.
And like transparencyFultations, giving them an
expectation.
I think is so important for thestylist to feel comfortable and
(35:46):
I feel like that builds trusttoo, like saying you know, this
is what I'm gonna charge you,this is what to expect.
I just want to be upfront andhonest with you.
You know like that is valuableand clients really Want that and
love that.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
Yes, because that's what I would want, like I always
do everything.
Yes is I would think I think ofmyself like what would I want?
I don't want to be sitting inmy, in someone's chair Sweating,
thinking like, oh my god, howmuch is my hair gonna melt off
or my hair?
Yeah, absolutely yes you knowlike I'm gonna have to break out
(36:21):
the credit card.
Yeah, so am I gonna have towash dishes?
Yeah right.
I just like to give.
That's why I give them the maxand the like.
I give them a range and it is apretty far range.
I mean, you know, but it's alsothat's protecting me, but
that's also telling my hand,okay, well, I know it's not
(36:42):
gonna be over this amount, butit could be less.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
So, yes, so, to wrap this up, what are five tips?
If you had anything, any fivethings to advise stylists who
are wanting to move into doingcolor corrections more, or I'm
wanting to start specializing inthis what is five tips that you
would give them?
(37:06):
That are the five mostmeaningful to you.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
First I would say just do it.
I mean mm-hmm, don't be afraid.
You know, I feel like successcomes with stepping out of your
comfort zone, and If somethingmakes you feel Nervous or scared
, then do it, because that meansa hundred percent, I kind of do
(37:32):
yes.
Maybe bringing in models foryourself first, like to practice
on people that have challenginghair and see what works for you
and what doesn't.
Definitely, education,continuing your education is big
.
Learn from different stylistson their techniques, on color
(37:54):
correcting, anything and pullfrom them what you liked and
create your own Method.
Yes, that's basically what Idid.
You know, everything you doduring a session is pulled from
multiple stylists.
I learned from what worked forme and what didn't.
(38:14):
Definitely, and I woulddefinitely say, nowadays I'm
charging your worth, yes, butalso we're in a time right now
where I Don't think that'senough to just say charging your
word and just because you'regood at what you do, I feel like
(38:36):
you need to give your clientsthe full experience you know.
Value added services, likelittle extras, you know.
Make it More for them as well,because we're in challenging
times and yeah.
You know a lot of people can dogood hair but give your
perceived value needs to be amillion percent.
Speaker 1 (38:58):
Yeah, like you need to be giving value.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
Yes, you're in, you give them and and every time,
just because you've had a clientfor ten years, you treat them
the same as when you first metthem.
Like you know, you don't justget too comfortable and like oh
hey, you know, like you, youwant to treat them the same as
you would a brand new client inyour chair.
Yes, all the time, and just likeJust knowing that it's okay to
(39:28):
mess up, like we're human, youknow we're not magicians, you're
not gonna be perfect it's okayto to not get it right sometimes
, like.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (39:42):
That's totally.
I think people of stylist getsso caught up on like, like they
beat themselves up all day whensomething doesn't come out right
and it's like it's okay, likeyou're you're not a magician and
we don't really know whatpeople do on their hair like
they can tell us, but we don'tknow.
They're leaving stuff out.
And as long as you try yourbest and you're doing the best
you can, that's okay.
Speaker 1 (40:04):
Yes, I Love it.
Well, you know, I have enjoyedour conversation so much today
and I want to let my listenersknow that you know you do have
in-person courses and when canthey find you on Instagram, on.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
Instagram it's hair by a blonde.
Facebook as well, hair by ablonde, and then I have a tiktok
hair, but it's all hair by ablonde.
And even I always tell peoplelike if you have questions, you
can always be DM me.
A lot of stylist fromeverywhere would DM me asking me
for Help on things and I'llwrite you back.
(40:42):
I'll help you through DM, youknow.
So definitely feel free toreach out.
If you have questions on aclient or a situation that
you're gonna encounter withsomeone in your chair, you know
I'm definitely Will help you andI have worked with a lot of
color lines so I'm pretty goodat kind of Like four million on
(41:05):
both on on a lot of things.
Speaker 1 (41:06):
I can color line.
Speaker 2 (41:08):
Yeah, I can, you know , do it from different ones.
I've worked with so many, soAwesome.
Speaker 1 (41:16):
Well, thank you so much.
I appreciate you and I reallyenjoyed our conversation today.
Speaker 2 (41:22):
Thank you for having me.
It was so much fun I feel like.
Speaker 1 (41:26):
I feel like you've added a lot of value to the
community today.
So Well, I'll be seeing you onInstagram and maybe one of these
days I can catch one of yourclasses in person.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
Yes, thank you.
Thank you so much, it was somuch awesome.
All right?
Speaker 1 (41:39):
Well, I'll talk to you later.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
Okay, thank you.
Speaker 1 (41:42):
All right, bye, bye.
Thank you for listening intoday.
If you have a burning questionor a topic you want me to cover,
leave a review and ask thequestion in the review.
This is the best way to getyour questions answered.
Just remember you are a smart,wealthy stylist and you are
capable of anything you set yourmind to.
(42:02):
I'll catch you later.
Don't be a stranger, you.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.