We were lucky to catch up with Ali Schuller recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ali , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
Growing up my parents taught me lesson after lesson. Parents do that, especially mine. When I was six years old, I was diagnosed with epilepsy. Epilepsy is a disease that affects the brain, and it causes one to have seizures. It greatly impacted my life as it required that I be held back in first grade and prevented me from being able to drive. It was a disease that not only broke down my body, but also my spirit. There were many times I struggled with not being like everyone else.
My parents took me to church, modeled Christ-like behaviors, and raised me with a church family. My daily prayer was that Jesus would heal me of my epilepsy and I truly believed it, even though I would have moments of doubt. My parents would always encourage me to keep my faith. This taught me to focus on what I could control and give the rest to God.
Even as my mom’s only child was diagnosed with a wretched disease, she remained a positive person and trusted God. She always looked on the brighter side of things and the older I get, the more I become like her. The things that I thought to be a “burden” turned out to be a blessing to me. Her words and actions taught me that life is all about perspective.
The truth is, everyone has a story. My narrative has parts that have made me cry and parts that are so good that I am left speechless. Through it all, my parents taught me, “be kind to others and love them because you don’t know what battle they might be fighting”. This is a method by which I have always lived life.
As a hairstylist I am with people all day. I love my clients, but I also know that it is not a one-size-fits-all when it comes to their needs. Whether that has to do with their hair style or a circumstance in life, I welcome the opportunity to be a difference for each of them. I’m not a therapist, but I love when they share their stories with me as it provides me an opportunity to encourage them in whatever way is necessary. I get to implement 1 Thessalonians 5:11 where I “encourage one another and build each other up”. I want everyone who sits my chair to feel loved, important, and to leave feeling renewed. My aim is to listen, give input, and value each person as an individual worthy of love and respect. I love people! I have been given a platform to bless others while they are in my chair, and in return, it blesses me. It’s a privilege.
I truly believe that while God did not give me epilepsy, He used it as way to teach me that even in the storms of life, there will always be a rainbow on the other side. It’s all about your perspective.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
For those of you who are new here let me introduce myself. Hi, I am Ali Schuller! I am proud wife to my husband, Matthew Schuller. I have two boys, Beckett and Hudson. I can’t leave out my precious miniature golden doodle, fur baby Calli Grace, who loves her mama the most.
When I am not in wife and mama mode, I am a hairstylist. My salon, The Painted Mane, is in Leawood, Kansas. I found my way into this industry over 15 years ago as a way to express my passion for art and taking care of others. I find that investing in people is something I truly love, and it comes naturally. When choosing a career, I wanted to do something that authentically reflects who I am. Authenticity is one thing I know to be true about myself.
Along the way, I have met various master stylists who have taught me multiple techniques, and with my creative flare, I have discovered my own innovative approach to creating a beautiful way to do color. I specialize in balayage, blonding, and creating a natural and seamless blend, all while preserving the integrity of the hair.
My clients are so much more than an obligation of routine maintenance, but an opportunity to immerse each of them with a loving validation that they are seen, and reminded that they beautifully matter to the world.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Some of the greatest lessons in life has been delivered through failure. Failure turns out to be a beautiful and helpful tool that repeatedly equips me with the ability to reflect, self-sooth, and an opportunity to try again. It shows up in my parenting, marriage, relationships, work, and life. With it comes growth in the ability to ask my children for forgiveness, acknowledge my stubbornness to my husband, and give grace to my friends. I am not perfect and although I strive to always do my very best in all that I do. I also realize, that failure isn’t something I fear. know there will be a lesson in it that will help me succeed.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
I have thought about this before and if I could go back I WOULD choose this profession. I truly love it. It’s not just about how much money I make. It’s about how many lives I touch. Who I am able to bless that day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://square.site/book/7AKH3TTG9HYJW/the-painted-mane-leawood-ks
- Instagram: Paintedmanekc
Image Credits
Sara Reed Studio