We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lindsey Holmes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Lindsey thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I first knew I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally before I got into the hair industry—as I’ve shared previously, I was a middle school language arts teacher before I became a hairdresser. While teaching is in many ways an artful craft, I was not feeling like I could fully be creative in that profession, and I was itching to feel inspired in my career. What I was most apprehensive about was leaving the safety of a regular paycheck and pursuing a path where my income was tied to how many clients I have and the services I could do. However, I was so inspired when I enrolled in beauty school and started working in salons, that I was immensely motivated to work harder than I ever had to achieve success in my new industry. I have always been someone who likes to go all-in on any endeavor, and I think the most significant time was when I realized how motivated I was, and I felt more like myself again, and was experiencing almost immediate payoff and growth from my efforts. This really cemented my confidence in my decision to embark on a creative path. The more I poured in, the more my cup was refilled, and the more I knew that in choosing to pursue an artistic career I had chosen a career that would keep me inspired and motivated to succeed in ways I hadn’t thought possible.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Besides feeling that my previous career wasn’t going to be the path I would stay on much longer, I got most inspired to enter the hair industry by being a creative haircolor client myself. I always loved playing around with funky colors, and was always fascinated by the process so I always asked lots of questions when I got my own hair done. Getting to nerd out about hair as a client and feeling more excited about learning that than I was feeling about the professional development in the education field was the moment I started to consider what it could be like to change careers altogether.

I enrolled in beauty school, did extra certifications for lash extensions and waxing while in school so I could make extra money on the side, and when I graduated, I accepted a job as an assistant to a very prominent hairstylist in my area. Working one on one with her as my mentor full-time is definitely a huge reason I learned so much so quickly. I highly encourage any new cosmetology graduates to find a reputable salon to assist before going on your own behind the chair. I learned so much technique, as well as a great deal about the business side of the industry that I would have felt so lost about had I not assisted before taking my own clients.

Now, I specialize in blonding, creative/fashion color, and extensions. From the beginning I knew I was most interested in coloring hair, particularly vivids. I learned very quickly that to become great at vivid haircolor, you need to be a blonding and color correction and color formulation expert. There is a ton of color theory and chemistry that goes into the big hair transformations you see on social media, and nothing makes me happier than tackling a big project and knowing exactly how to achieve it.

What I take a lot of pride in is not only being able to apply fashion colors correctly, but also understanding how to properly prepare someone’s hair to get to the goal they want. The fundamentals of color theory and hair chemistry come into play almost every time, so my clients know that if it can be done, I’ll make it happen, and if it can’t, I can fully explain why and what can be done instead. I pride myself on being able to help my clients understand the process and know what to expect.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is making my clients feel confident and good about themselves. Countless clients share immensely personal things with me, have had “hair trauma” in the past, or might be feeling stressed or down on themselves. I strive to give them a great experience in the salon, where they can feel pampered, heard, relaxed, and like they’re hanging out with a friend. And of course, that at the end of their visit they feel refreshed and like their inner badass beauty is shining on the outside as well. Hair (and also a lot of the beauty industry in general) can sometimes be thought of as unnecessary or frivolous, since the focus is on outer beauty; however, hair is the accessory you wear every day, and anyone who has experienced a good hair day compared to a bad one can attest that feeling good about your hair has a major impact on how you feel about yourself and your own personal confidence. In many ways “it’s just hair,” but in actuality, hair and the relationships built between stylists and clients are so much more. I absolutely adore the creative process, but the biggest reward is knowing I got to be part of making another person feel amazing about themselves.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Besides the fulfillment of having a job I enjoy every day, my major goal is absolutely financial. While my previous career offered predictable pay, retirement, healthcare benefits, etc., this career offers a lot more freedom even though benefits like what you might see in other industries aren’t the norm. I know it’s possible to not only earn a comfortable living in the hair business, but also to earn well into the six figures—something I wasn’t as likely to achieve before. I am constantly learning more about how to be a smart businesswoman, be financially literate, and invest in myself. I constantly track my growth and am driven to be a six-figure stylist, because I know it’s possible. The idea that a creative career path cannot afford you a balanced and wealthy life is simply not true; it isn’t easy, but with the right work ethic and with a dual focus on not just honing your craft but also your financial and business proficiency, I have made it a goal from day one to make my own success by always having a financial goal to achieve each year.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Land_of_Ozz

Image Credits

Photos of hair: me
Photos of me: Trisha Slate