What’s Your Style?

How would you describe your taste in fashion?

Your hair should enhance your features and complete your style from top to bottom. Is your hair doing that for you?

Throughout this series, I will be sharing different style categories in an effort to let you discover your personal taste in fashion. There are so many different categories that it can be difficult to pinpoint just one that encapsulates your personality. Often these categories overlap or intersect so you may find yourself identifying with more than one!

Something that many stylists neglect to do is consider the personal fashion choice of their clients. Worse, it often goes further than that. Haircuts are often executed without regard to face shape or features, color is often mixed without consideration of the natural palette within a guest’s skin and eyes.

I strive to give my clients a fully customized experience by diving into fashion taste and ultimate style and hair goals! Together we evaluate your face shape and discuss what features you love about yourself. My hope is that through sharing and evaluating, together we can custom design a haircut, color and style that allows you to walk in confidence. I am ALWAYS seeking out new clients. I would love nothing more than to sit down with you in my studio and discuss your hair and style goals! Visit AngelLezark.com to complete a consultation form and schedule a complimentary consultation!

Reigniting the Fire in Your Career

Inspiration and motivation have peaks and valleys.  Have you ever experienced extreme motivation?  You’re SO inspired and just want to go and do it all, all at once?  Followed by long drags where you’d rather hit the snooze button and dread going to work or doing the task at hand? 

Admittedly right now I’m in a deep dark valley of the uninspired.  When the kids and I tested positive for Covid at the end of October, we were isolated for about two weeks.  Prior to that, I was on fire!  I was killin it behind  the chair, my retail sales were the highest they’ve EVER been and every Monday I was off, I was still pursuing my own education and working with excitement on the behind-the-scenes of my business.  

And then we got sick.  

The momentum came to a complete stop.  The routine became sleep, movie marathons on the couch, and more sleep.  

Since then, I’ve been struggling to get back to where  I was.  I’m fatigued, perhaps a long-term side effect of Covid, and the thought of doing anything productive on my off days sounds like torture.  

I know you can relate.  Twenty years in this industry, I know a lack of motivation doesn’t just follow a period of illness.  It can happen at any time to anyone.  So I decided a good  way to get myself back on track would be to brainstorm some tips to help other people who might feel stagnant, stuck, unmotivated, or uninspired.  

 Here are my top 5 tips to reignite the fire in your career behind the chair!

1. Adjust Your Attitude 

The first time I heard my favorite quote, it was from Robert Cromeans (although I’m not sure if he was quoting someone else or if it was his own brilliance that came up with it.) 

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

Think about that for just a minute.  Perception is adjustable. You have the ability to act or react to circumstances.  Perhaps your circumstance right now is a slow period in the salon, a lack of clients, or your not building your book as quickly as you’d like or need to.  You can react in one of two ways: positively or negatively. 

Negatively: you’re focusing on a lack of clients which means a lack of income which turns into panic mode; how will I pay my bills?! 

Ultimately this slow period in the salon will change, you will gain more clients as you grow so the negative reaction only does one thing - creates stress for you. 

So why not change your perception and react Positively to the circumstance.  Call this the “glass half full scenario”.  It’s slow in the salon, you  have gaps in your schedule… make good use of those gaps.  Grab a mannequin and practice your craft, get creative on social media, ask another stylist if you can shadow, assist, and learn from them in your downtime!   

You have to be patient in this industry.  You have to be focused and committed to your work.  There is a lot of downtown behind the chair when you’re new.  The time is going to pass regardless of your attitude so make the most of it.  

2. Immerse Yourself in the Culture of Beauty and Fashion

Subscribe to high fashion magazines, watch fashion shows, follow the real designers, creators and artists behind runway and high fashion looks - NOT influencers. (Afterall, the runway is where the real trends start, not tik tok)  Read about the stylists that create the looks on the runway, in the magazines and on celebrities.  

In addition, research what came before.  You need to have an awareness of fashion and hair history, iconic moments, the innovative stylists that pushed boundaries and the trend setting models that helped evolve fashion and beauty culture to what it is in YOUR time - the present.  

3. Be Curious

Find things other than hair that you are passionate about or that inspire you.  If you’re only passionate about ONE thing, you may lack depth! Think of it like this:  you’re  on a first-date and they ask you “what do you do for fun?” It’s awesome if you consider your career “fun” (I think we all do in this industry) but if “work” is your only answer, what else are you going to talk about?  

You need that time away from the chair to keep yourself  from getting burnt out.  Fill that time with things that you’re curious about.  For example, I have a deep interest in architecture and design and I love vintage furniture.  I keep that curiosity engaged by visiting historical landmarks, driving through neighborhoods I like and observing the architecture, and visiting vintage furniture stores.  The Carnegie Museum of  Art has a wonderful collection in the Hall of Decorative Arts and Design as well as the Heinz Architectural Center. 

Staying curious can take work.  It’s much easier to turn on HBOMax and watch Friends for the millionth time.  When you’re in Netflix-on-the-couch mode, consider what you need out of that time.  Looking for an easy escape with some mindless entertainment? There is absolutely nothing wrong with that and that is the moment to find your favorite sitcom or romcom or true-crime series.  But if you’re looking for something enriching, search for a documentary on a topic that strikes your curiosity.  (May I suggest “Abstract” and “Explained” both on Netlifx.)

Most importantly, READ!! It doesn’t have to be salon-related, business-related, or even a self-help book.  It can be anything that you are CURIOUS about!  There are so many benefits to reading.  Healthline names just a few including:

• improves brain connectivity.

• increases your vocabulary and comprehension.

• empowers you to empathize with other people.

• aids in sleep readiness.

• reduces stress.

• lowers blood pressure and heart rate.

• fights depression symptoms.

• prevents cognitive decline as you age
  

4. Find a Mentor

A mentor is someone who can encourage and enable your development and growth throughout your career.  This person should be someone you admire, respect and look up to.  Consider their successes, ambition, and skill.  A mentor can help train you, perfect your skills and even connect you to other opportunities within the industry.  They can provide advice and insight to building your  business and keep you accountable to your goals.  

Throughout my career I have been privileged to have mentors such as Vivienne Mackinder, Arnold Zegarelli, Nick Ortega and an entire team from the Paul Mitchell community.  I am constantly seeking out other professionals that I admire to help guide and inspire me.  If there is someone that you follow on Instagram and would love to have in your corner, slide into their DM’s!!  They are more accessible than you think! 

5. Seek Out Education 

Last but certainly not least, the most important thing you can do to stay motivated and inspired throughout your career is seeking out education on a regular basis.  

My personal goal is one major workshop or class per quarter.  I also incorporate mini classes during my downtown or off days through online learning.  Education is SO accessible now.  If you can’t afford that $1200 5-day cutting workshop in L.A., that’s okay!  You can find quality education from reliable sources online and practice from the comfort of your own home, salon, or suite.  I subscribe to Hairbrained and can access unlimited courses which I watch and practice with during downtime and off-days.  (I also LOVE the podcast!) 

(And of course, shameless plug, I offer a series  of workshops or one on one classes and I am always accepting new students to mentor! Just click the “Education” tab above!)

I hope this information helps you to stay inspired and stay motivated in your career!  My goal is to encourage fresh talent to work hard, be patient, and build a career with longevity.  

Thanks for reading!

Xoxo

-Angel