We were lucky to catch up with STACY MITCHELL-HOGAN recently and have shared our conversation below.
STACY, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Often outsiders look at a successful business and think it became a success overnight. Even media and especially movies love to gloss over nitty, gritty details that went into that middle phase of your business – after you started but before you got to where you are today. In our experience, overnight success is usually the result of years of hard work laying the foundation for success, but unfortunately, it’s exactly this part of the story that most of the media ignores. Can you talk to us about your scaling up story – what are some of the nitty, gritty details folks should know about?
Hi. Let’s get started. As a career hairstylist in the beauty industry for 24 years I’ve seen so many Stylist burnout. It’s not a career that you can be successful in without tough skin and hard work. I remember as a high school student telling family and friends that I would love to be a hairstylist when I graduate. The feedback was always demeaning and negative. Everyone assumed I would go to college. I was told that hairstylist could not be successful. But hairstyling and beauty are my passion. Through hard work, education and loyal client’s , I have been a successful hairstylist for 24 years. I moved to Georgia with my family in 2019. I slowly rebuilt my business from scratch with zero clients. Fast-forward to 2025 and I’m a globally known Stylist with clients flying from all over the country to get their hair done in my chair. The key factor was being nationally certified with a special specialty service. I’m nationally certified with the Ginacurl TM. I am also currently working on my certification with Moroccan Oil. These certifications have and will grow my business revenue exponentially.
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?
From the age of five years old, I can remember begging my sisters to let me style their hair. I didn’t ask for baby dolls for Christmas. I wanted Barbie‘s, hair styling products, and makeup. Beauty has always been a huge part of my life. I think I get some of my creativity from my mother. She was a “kitchen beautician” and I loved to watch her work. My father was military so most military wives resort to styling/cutting each other‘s hair because they’re never in a place long enough to find a regular stylist. Watching my mom style hair in the kitchen became my happy place. I often tried to mimic her. I’ve been a licensed cosmetologist since I was 17 years old and I’ve worked in the salon consistently since then. Being a 17 year old and trying to please a client is not easy. I had to learn to be humble very quickly. My boss was the same age as my mother so when she told me to take a class, it wasn’t a question, it was a statement. I took so many courses in customer service, cutting techniques, color theory and extensions. Education isn’t just for college students. It’s for anyone in a career that they want to succeed in. That passion for classes became my persona. When I found out about the GinaCurl. I immediately went down a rabbit hole of research to see how it was done. I happily took the course and it was the best decision I’ve made in the beauty industry. Now I am nationally certified, or may I say, globally certified. Now clients fly from all over the United States for that service.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to unlearn devaluing myself. I had to see myself as a successful hairstylist that is worthy of the success I have today. I definitely have imposter syndrome. I will never get used the reality of my clients actually fly across the country to sit in my salon chair. It doesn’t feel real. Six years ago I was a local stylist in Columbia, South Carolina with amazing clientele, but the explosion from then to now in Peachtree city Georgia is phenomenal. I was raised to be humble and to never boast. Which is not a bad quality. It’s a great quality. But it’s OK to see value in yourself and appreciate it. And to say, “thank you”, to those recognize you for it.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
In 2018 I had a full 20 year clientele in my salon. With no openings for the next three months. When I closed my salon and moved to Georgia, I had zero clients and zero revenue coming in. I prepared myself financially for the move. But growing a clientele is not easy and it takes time. I will say my resilience came full throttle during this time of my career. I had to start in a world of new quotas for engaging clientele. I had to use Instagram, TikTok, Google and various technologies to recruit clients. Word-of-mouth is always a great tool. But when I became a hairstylist 24 years ago, we didn’t do so many engaging posts to gain clientele. I’m thankful that I was brave enough to keep going and kept pushing forward with my social media presence. Especially taking the Ginacurl certification. Those key factors really helped. My schedule is now booked. My client roster is full. And things are working out. It wasn’t overnight, but it is finally paying off.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://StacyMitchell.glossgenius.com
- Instagram: Stylistahairco
- Facebook: Stylista hair co
