We recently connected with Serena Sara Hesse and have shared our conversation below.
Serena Sara, appreciate you joining us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?
Working as an independent stylist has been the best decision for me. In the 8 yrs that I’ve opened Serena’s Hair Now, I have yet to entertain the idea to go back to a salon.
Salons are very much based on a hustle culture, that might be changing a little bit, but not much. When working for other people it was required that I work on their timelines. Now , I get it, we need to get the job done and there needs to be structure in that. For me it’s based on the individuals hair and ensuring they get the best service I can provide for them. That’s important to me. Having the time to listen to what someone is looking for , having time to finish with the confidence that I didn’t rush any steps. People appreciate the time and thoroughness . People will budget for this, for a space where they feel comfortable. A space where there isn’t a rushed atmosphere.
The hustle culture is not sustainable for the mind and body in the hair industry. People feel comfortable with their stylist. It’s an intimate service. We are in your personal space , you’re in our personal space, and a certain level of trust is established. With that we often become a place for people to let go with their stress and share personal information. I love that part of my business. People even comment on how much they look forward to “Serena Time” . When I was pushed around from one client to a the next and so on that was very stressful on my mind. Then there is the repetitive movements that strain the physical body, that is not sustainable in the hustle culture of a salon.
I love that my studio is a place where people come and they know they won’t feel rushed. They know they will be listened to and they know that they will leaving feeling lighter and more confident.
Serena Sara, 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?
Since I can remember, people have commented on how “artistic “ I was . That be said , I’ve always thought outside the box, didn’t really listen to adults much and in general did not follow rules. All of that to say, I just didn’t fit the mold of being a good student, going to college and starting a career. So finding my own way of adulting was where I was destined.
Becoming a hair stylist kind of hit me in the face one day. As I was walking past a salon I was over come with thoughts about how I wanted to be in there . Get my hair done, talk to the stylist. Have fun. But I soon realized it was more than that. My decision to commit to hair styling happened when I was having a hard day with anxiety and depression .. And so I did my hair. Yes , colored and cut it myself,( definitely not recommended ), But THIS small yet impactful act gave me the confidence I needed and I was able to leave my apartment and get groceries and face regular day things. THIS is why I am a hair stylist. THIS is why I am happy to have a small studio for people to come in and feel comfortable.
What I’ve ended up creating is a place where people are super excited to come in and be playful and free. To have fun and relax, to get a new perspective on their day. People come in knowing I will do their hair in a way that suits them, they don’t have the pressure of trying to figure things out ( with their hair) cuz they trust in my skills. And they know there will be laughter, singing 🎵 and sometimes tears.
Speaking of mad skills, I specialize in dimensional hair color. Color is to be noticed, it’s not to hide the greys it is to enhance your inner sparkle. We want people to look at you and say, your hair looks amazing. Whether it’s purple , rainbow or dimensional balayage, people are going to know you have amazing color. And what’s funny is I blend the fun colors into the natural in a way that allows you to wear your hair and enjoy the new look as well as the grow out process. This allows you to color your hair without the maintenance of every 4-6 weeks. But you will want to come in for some Serena time. Which is always lovely for me . As a stylist working on a look every 6 weeks helps to keep your hair consistently awesome. However changing up the look is also something my clients and I love to do. The world be is always changing and if we can control one thing, it’s how the world sees us.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Honesty, trust and staying relevant has really helped in building and maintaining my reputation.
Requiring new color clients to come in for a consultation is key in establishing the trust and respect.
The consult gives me a feel for the person and what they’re looking for. I’m able to walk them thru a new color process and am able to make something work for their lifestyle and budget. People leave the consult reassured with my skills and ready to have a relaxing appointment.
Consults actually happen at the beginning of every appointment, people appreciate that I will listen to them about possible changes and new directions they may want to go in.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
When I was at the salon and pretty new in the hair industry, I would bend over backwards to help people to get exactly what they wanted so they could feel their best selves …. Or so I thought.
But some people are just never gonna feel good. They want to demand and control everything. I used to let them, thinking “ oh , they’re sad and I’m here to give them at least a smile … maybe” but what this did was break me. Letting people control every little thing is exhausting. And in the long run, this type of customs is not good for business. They will always be unhappy, and they will most likely complain about the stylist, which doesn’t look good for my business.
Boundries are important. When someone starts telling me how to do their hair, to the point that I feel inadequate, it’s time for them to find a new salon.
That was a hard lesson to learn. Being blunt and honest. I’m good at that now and know right away when it’s not going to work for me. And I explain in a way that “we’re just not a good fit”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vagaro.com/us04/serenashairnow1
- Instagram: @serenasara79
Image Credits
Serena Sara