After the hustle and bustle of Small Business Saturday, I've been reflecting on what it truly means to support a Small Business, especially when it comes to choosing a Hairstylist. Deciding to invest in hair extensions or a color transformation is not a spur-of-the-moment choice. It's a decision that forms over time – scrolling through artists' on Instagram, imagining yourself in the before and after photos, heading to Pinterest for #hairspo and pondering all questions about maintenance and cost.
I know because I’ve been there. Both as a fellow woman looking for solutions to my everyday hair struggles - and, as a cosmetologist looking into extension methods and education to invest in. We get to choose. We get to decide where we spend our money. From the Hairstylist we go to, the method we want installed, the hair color that’s best for us. Everything we do when we hand in our hard earned dollars is us making a choice. Choosing to spend it with a Small Business rather than a huge corporation has a bigger impact than we probably consider.
LOCAL LOVE :
When you invest in a local store and person, you're contributing to the heartbeat of small businesses, it’s literally MAGIC and the best thing ever. I swear no one loves small business MORE than someone else in small business…add local to that and the sense of community just sky rockets. It’s the good stuff.
Local is usually within a same-zip-code to 2ish-hour radius. You can talk about favorite spots, attending local events, and it fosters a sense of connection. It’s a short car ride and takes less than a tank of gas to support.
If you have a local hairstylist that you love and cherish, you are both living your best lives and I am here for it! I hope you two treat one another to a cup of your favorite local coffee every once in a while!
DRIVE IN :
It's what I like to call "Relative Proximity." You’re in a shared radius with nearby towns, cities, mutual landmarks and summer vacation spots. It’s usually around a 4-5 hour drive that makes it the perfect sweet spot for a drive. Your appointment gives you a chance to explore the neighboring areas with a quick overnight stay.
This guest loves the added adventure that comes with driving in. Maybe she’s in a hotel or airb&b, or maybe she’s under the stars camping her in rooftop tent. One thing is for certain she values how her hair looks and how her stylist makes her feel.
There is a mutual love and appreciation for one another and you can feel it at the appointment.
FLY IN :
Listen, I know that some can’t fathom flying into a hair appointment. There was a time when I couldn’t fathom it. If that’s where you are, that’s cool and I completely get it - it can be a new concept. But inside the hair industry it’s a pretty common thing to service fly in guests for Color Transformations and Extension Installations.
When you begin researching you quickly realize the best decision is to invest in a specialist. You want someone who includes premium quality hair, educated in specific extension methods, and current in the latest coloring techniques.
Some are willing to go the extra “air” mile. Flying In is often for those seeking a specialist with a proven track record of delivering high-quality results. THAT is the thing that matters. It's about trusting an artist to understand & enhance your personal style / brand.
Traveling to a specialist turns it from just an appointment into a mini getaway. It can be a work retreat, solo time, or a family vacation. 1 plane ticket with 2 purposes —I’m no expert at ‘girl math’ but that sounds like somethin’s 50% off.
I’ve been each one of these guests before so I feel personally connected to being a local girlie, road trip warrior and a weekend jet setter. Invest in the Small Business and the Artist that offers the services, guest experiences, and results that you love!
..and NOT just the Saturday after Thanksgiving okay - but like all the time. Be OG about it.
Share this with someone you know who has been longing to get a service done with someone specific. Because supporting a Small Business goes a really long way, for both parties. If they need permission for that - let's give it to them!
xo~