Graduate Showcase-Chelsie Meyers

1. Where are you from:

Hays, KS

2. What was the defining moment in you choosing to attend cosmetology school?

I always knew I had a passion for this industry.

3. What fears did you have and how did you overcome them?

I was just scared to make the jump to enroll in Hays Academy. I had already spent some time attending FHSU and it wasn’t for me. I had thoughts like “what about the money, what if I change my mind”? Pretty much second guessing if this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. That question is a big one and a really hard one to answer at a young age!

4. What were some of your favorite aspects of Hays Academy of Hair Design and your time in school?

My favorite thing about Hays Academy that I still tell people to this day is that they truly care about their student’s success. They did everything they could to prepare their students for the real world of doing hair. One big thing for me was the business training part. Not only is it important to have the technical part down in this career, but it might be even more important to know how to run your business and how to treat your clients. Also they do a very good job of bringing in some of the best in the industry to work, educate, and inspire their students. Such as we met Mr. Vidal Sassoon just to name one of the big ones! I also have to add that while in school I had a particular hard time with men’s haircuts. I remember I had finished a client who was not very easy nor maybe in a good mood that day, and I had had enough I was like “I’m quitting school I’m not any good at this. Mr. Markley in particular pulled me aside and said “alright what do you want to know about men’s haircuts, lets go over it ask questions we are going to make you learn how to be good and enjoy doing them!” To this day at almost every salon I have been at a handful of other stylists hate doing men’s haircuts. I am so thankful he took the time to show me how to be better because half my clientele base is men’s cuts.

5. Where are you working now?

I am currently working at a salon in Dallas, Texas called Hair By Charlie

6. How long have you been there?

I actually just made the move to this salon, it was a HUGE bettering opportunity for me.

7. Are you happy with your decision to enter this wonderful industry?

I have definitely had my ups and downs in this career. But like any career you will have those good and bad days. But at the end of the day I can 100% say that I LOVE what I do. Sounds cheesy but seriously I get to be looked up to by clients. They look to me for advice to make them feel better about themselves. They say you attract the clientele that mimics your own style and appearance. It couldn’t be more true! Another unique part about choosing our career is you can be as successful as you want. I never thought I would be charging or making the money that I am doing something I love to do. But I have worked super hard to get to where I am and I still have the opportunity to keep improving.

8. What career goals do you have and what are your plans to achieve them?

I feel like my career goals are always changing. Such as when I moved to Dallas and got my first job at the salon I had been at for three years I had thought for a while this was me making my goals. I then got the opportunity to move to the salon I just recently moved to and have once again took some time to re-evaluate and set new goals for myself! I’ve realized once again how important it is to push myself, educate, and not get complacent in my work. Stay passionate, and stay humble you will always have room to improve. Also for me it is very important that I keep myself working around people who also share those same goals. I inspire you to be a part of a team that you can bounce ideas, questions, and techniques off of, people you can always grow from. Also set goals (it sounds silly but statistics show people who set goals vs. people who don’t are more likely to meet those goals. Your brain has a way of subconsciously working towards them if you just set some first!) If you do those things and keep working hard, you can make anything happen! And last but not least treat your clients like friends, they pay your bills and if they are happy they will tell a million other people about you. Without them we can’t do what we love to do!

 You can follow Chelsie on Instagram by clicking here!