Today we’d like to introduce you to Lani Dickinson.
Lani, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
When I was younger, I loved doing my friends hair. In high school, I had a bad hair cut experience so I started cutting my own hair along with friends and family. It was not skilled work by any means, but I made it look decent enough! I had thought for a while about attending hair school, but also had a huge passion for photography. I decided after high school to go to college for photography and in 2014, I graduated with a Fine Arts degree in photography! I pursued film and photography during school and a few years after as well! I worked with small films and music videos and loved every second of it, up until the 12th hour of work or so then, I’d shut down, lol. After realizing my body wasn’t cut out for those long days and finding that it was even more work trying to find a job,s I decided to change paths! I started cosmetology school in 2016 and have been doing hair since! I love that I’m still able to use my photography knowledge, as social media has become my portfolio for work!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh man, I wish it was a smooth ride, but it certainly has not been. My 4th year of college, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anxiety. So, I took a year off of school to deal with my mental illness, I guess I had been dealing with it my whole life but never knew exactly what was going on with me, so in a way, it was a relief to finally have answers. After school, I was working in film and photography and I was serving in restaurants to make a living as my photo gigs didn’t line the pocket as nicely as I had hoped. When I discovered I wasn’t cut out for the long days of film (12+ hours of work per day was kicking my butt), photography gigs were few and far between, and I was sick and tired of serving, I decided it was a perfect time to go to school for hair!!!
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a hair stylist at Eleven Hair Salon in Midtown. I specialize in color and custom cuts! I’m not sure I’ve been in the business long enough to be “known” for anything, but I think my eye for detail and wholehearted work ethic sets me apart. I am a perfectionist, to say the least, and I know my clients appreciate that I take my time with their hair. I have had many clients tell me it’s the best haircut they have ever had, and that makes me feel so good! I work wholeheartedly and do everything to the best of my ability, I don’t see any point in rushing through anything. I’m all about quality over quantity!!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I think that my proudest moment was when a client told me it was the best cut he has ever had (he was even from NYC, so that’s saying a lot!). It makes me feel so good, that my hard work is paying off when clients tell me how much they love their hair and they leave with smiles on their face. It is fulfilling work!
Pricing:
- Women’s haircuts start at $47
- Men’s haircut starting at $30
- Color starts at $70 depending on service
Contact Info:
- Address: Midtown Atlanta, GA
- Website: Www.elevenhairsalon.com
- Phone: 678-234-4711
- Email: lanicare.hair@icloud.comn
- Instagram: Lanicare.hair
Image Credit:
Lani Dickinson
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