N ot a m e m b e r ? J o i n at a s so c iate d h a i rp rofe s sio n a ls .c o m 47
the spark
have been a
hairstylist for more
than 30 years.
Long before I ventured into
opening my salons or developing
my product and hair color line,
I was a student of the art. From
the time I was a little girl, I loved
watching my parents at work in
their salon. They were skilled
and refined when they worked
on clients. I admired their work
and would soak up as much as
I could when I watched them.
Even today, I seek my father's
advice and input when it comes
to questions of the craft. He has
a vast amount of experience and
knowledge, which I draw on to
help me improve my work. He
has been a constant mentor in
this area throughout my life.
When it comes to career
growth and development, most
beauty professionals focus on
things like taking additional
courses and certifications, moving
to a more prestigious salon,
earning more money, and being
recognized as a skilled artist
among their peers. If you ask most
stylists to mention something
they are doing to help them
advance in their careers, only a
handful will mention that they
are actively and purposefully
surrounding themselves with
people who encourage, inspire,
and push them to chase after their
goals, yet this is one of the most
effective ways of ensuring success.
Follow the
Leaders
Pursuing influencer and mentor relationships
is key to building a successful career
by Gina Rivera
katy
anne/unsplash
N ot a m e m b e r ? J o i n at a s so c iate d h a i rp rofe s sio n a ls .c o m 47
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