We were lucky to catch up with Alyssa Kitson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alyssa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

What makes me get ready for work, and show up each day, is the ability to make my clients feel seen. Aside from cultivating a style that fits them, I also want the people around me feel empowered, and proud of who they are. I want to be remembered for the way I made people feel everyday. As if I were their personal cheerleader.

Alyssa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Studying in Paris, France, is one aspect that sets me apart from most. This was the turning point in my career. It was not what I had planned, but when you listen and let yourself be guided, it can lead to some of the most profound changes in your life! Showing up for yourself, and taking the leap!

I didn’t start there of course. I started off going to school to design jewelry, my uncle was a talented goldsmith, amongst a lot of other trades. I loved to work with my hands and create. I just wasn’t sure was route I wanted to take. I decided to go to school to give it a go. Pretty quick I knew it wasn’t for me. I liked the creating, working with my hands, but there was a big piece missing. What piece was missing? I was uncertain.

I worked at a dog kennel at the time, and a friend of mine that had worked with me, said she was starting hair school. I never gave that much thought, but when I had told my parents that I didn’t love learning gold-smithing, I wanted to ease their mind about finding my passion. I figured, I’ll just do this for now, until I find a “real job” , I could always do hair on the side.

Each day at hair school, learning, talking with others, I really enjoyed it! I surprised myself! I finished, and had a knack with makeup. I worked for Estee Lauder for a couple years, while working part time at a salon. I worked my way up to higher end salon, which offered a lot of opportunities.
The great thing about this industry, is you can go down many paths. Whether it be hair, makeup, aesthetics, nails, barbering, etc.
I put my energy into makeup, and worked my way up to working for New York Fashion Week. That was a big goal for me! Even though exciting, I came back with a sour taste in my mouth. The modeling, hair, makeup, in that world, was opposite of my values. Just the way people were treated, how I was treated. But the creativity, and the way fashion was showcased, absolutely incredible!
Coming back from that, my books were getting filled more with makeup appointments, alongside makeup lessons. I was finding I was teaching a lot of women, and younger girls how to change the way they looked. It was fun to see the transformation, but deep down I wanted them to feel confident in their own skin, not a complete change. Especially in these teenage girls. They were wanting to learn how to contour, and hide the beautiful features they were born with.
It didn’t sit well, and I felt myself being nudged to take a step on another path.

I am a structured, and disciplined Capricorn. I like routine, and to perfect techniques. I thought perfecting a cutting technique would align with the type of person I am.
I worked with a man that cut different from anything I had seen before. It was a French technique called Dessange. I tried to look for videos, online instruction, and found NOTHING! What the heck I thought! I wanted to learn it from seeing the results. The way the hair flowed, laid, the grow out, it was what every haircut should be!
Since I found no literature, or instruction, I enrolled in the school itself. Dessange in Paris, France. They also taught freehand balayage. I always love the look of this, but wanted to be taught from where it was created. Straight from the source.
I was accepted, and ended up being the only student there because of the time I enrolled. Europe was about to be on holiday, so it left me the only one, with four instructors to myself!
How perfect! And also overwhelming.
Even with the language barrier, this was still the most beneficial instruction in my career, to this day. The French are very precise, meticulous, and a proud people. The school and teachers set me up for success. Their principles didn’t just line up with what I wanted to learn, but also the type of person I am…. Maybe a little kinder too ;)
The technique is all about reading a person’s morphology, or structure in relation to someone’s biology. It’s about curating a style that fits them, almost tailored to them. The cutting makes angles off the shape of the head, and fits them together to give you a coutured style. The balayaged color then follows those angles to enhance the cut.
Balayage is a form of highlighting or low lighting. It means to “sweep, or paint”
French Balayage is an open air, freehanded, way to color. This is more gentle, a graceful grow out, and compliments almost every hair type. Clients may only come 1-2x a year!
These two techniques aligned with my personality, and what I wanted to give my guests.
After completing my classes, I brought it back to the States, and started to perfect what I had learned! I had nothing but positive feedback, and so I adopted what I had been taught.
Marrying my techniques, and wanting to empower my guests, have brought me to where I am now. I work on myself in order to show up for the wonderful people in my chair. I have learned that not only curating styles, but also having my clients feel seen, is what has made me successful. It all comes from my genuine care for people’s mental wellbeing. If they mindfully feel good, it will pass to the next person they come in contact with, the ripple effect. I want to be the pebble that starts it.
I now work at Deseo Salon and Blowdry in Jefferson Park. Prior, I had rented a chair at Fabric Atelier and worked alongside talented stylists. At the same time, I managed a salon for amazing a passionate woman, Rossemary. She too shared the ideals of a good heart, and a giving hand. We had an amazing team, and I had the privilege to teach and train some wonderful people.
Doing all that gave me the confidence to pursue my career out in Colorado. I am grateful to work for one of the best Salons here in Denver, and excited to see my path continue. I really love where I am at, who I am, and looking forward to seeing more of my life and career unfold.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Consistency, and the experience the client has.
I treat my clients how I would like to be treated.
If I liked something and want the same, I expect that. Therefore, I want to be consistent for them.
Experience in the chair. It aggravates me when I feel rushed getting a service, when I’m doing my self care. Or if someone is rude. I want my clients to feel refreshed, and taken care of when they leave. Empowered, and inspired, to choose to be the best version of themselves.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

As a hairstylist, it’s definitely not just what you create, but how the client experiences it.
You need to have your technical side on, your creative side, listening ear, time management, problems aside, and focus just on them….. for hours. Your heart needs to be in the right place, energetically, for the person you are caring for.
It’s a much more mental career, as much as physical.
With that being said, self care is a MUST!
“You can’t pour from an empty glass”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Deseosalondenver.com
• Instagram: @alyssa__kitson
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits

Matthew from distinction photo.com