Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Winter.
Hi Erin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Sure, I’m a salon owner, stylist, and educator. My journey into the hair industry started when I was 15 coloring my own hair in my bathroom. I lived in New Jersey at the time and attended trade school while still in high school. At 17, I became a Master Cosmetologist and found myself in Georgia 2 years later.
After arriving in Georgia, I worked in a salon for 6 years before deciding to go out on my own – I just knew I was destined for my own space. Quickly, I found my dreams coming true: shortly after booking a single salon suite, I needed a double suite. Then yet again, it was time for a storefront…fears of failure be damned!
From starting my solo journey in 210 square feet to now nestling into 1,400 square feet is such a breath of fresh air. A year into it, here we are – it truly feels like my home away from home.
In addition to salon ownership and keeping my clients beautiful behind the chair, I also educate for Pulp Riot (the color company we use in the salon). Pulp Riot is an incredible brand to work for and I’m so happy to be a part of their team and culture. A major perk is teaching my staff all the latest trends and trying out their latest products!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Anyone that says starting a business or following a dream is a smooth road is fooling you, my friend.
It takes a very specific person to be a successful hairstylist. I’ve been in the industry for 12 years and for 9 of those years I never thought I’d be a salon owner. Not having those ambitions for most of my career helped me focus on perfecting my craft, which is an important first step to being successful. When clients are giving you their trust, your employees are looking to you for leadership, and everything is hitting the fan, it helps to have a solid work product as a foundation.
None of this was easy and nothing worthwhile ever is. Our Kennesaw location was a challenge starting out. It was the definition of Murphy’s Law: our first contractor ran off with money, others left us hanging, and shoddy workmanship created problems for our inspections – all leading to lengthy delays in opening shop. There is nothing you can do other than pick up the pieces, keep your head up, and keep moving.
The best lessons are learned from hitting bumps in the road so it’s important to keep going even when something doesn’t go as planned. Everything will get done given some time: take some deep breaths, take the next smallest bite, lean on your people when you need help, be open to constructive criticism, and delegate things to the people you know will knock it out of the park. And most importantly, anything is possible when you love what you do and have passion.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a creative at heart and known mostly for my transformational services using color and extensions to change a client’s look and feel. My job is to help people feel the confidence they want and deserve. I spend my days empowering people with beauty and there is no better feeling in the world when you deliver that for someone. Through all of the challenges and stress of my job, seeing a client’s face light up after I’ve finished the perfect hair service makes it all worth it – it’s why I get up in the morning.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.erinwinterhairstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balayageandbarbells/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinwinterhairstudio/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ2G-owJ3C2sA-x31vRLDYA
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/erin-winter-hair-studio-kennesaw
Image Credits
Justin Smith
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