We were lucky to catch up with Alina Abramenko recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alina, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Every day women step into nicehairchair salon and place their beauty in my hands. I offer each of them my expertise and passion, in a pursuit of perfection. By using my talent, skills, and education I assist and inspire them to realize and enhance their own beauty.
At nicehairchair I provide a unique experience driven by excellence and creativity.

Every time, you have the same impression: it is as if you were returning home. A face lights up over there as it sees you. Your hairstylist smile and walk over to you, carrying the elegance of the environment with her.
You stretch out in the chair that is offered to you. Feeling calm and confident, you put your trust in the expert who is already providing you with advice.
She is a guardian angel for your beauty.
You only remember the rest through a cloud of sparkling details, like the facets of a custom-cut diamond.
The neat, flawless robe… the shampoo ritual with precious oils whose soothing fragrance envelopes you in a cocoon of well-being… the consultation to fulfill your every desire… the excellence of the final choice suited to your current mood… the aerial precision of the scissor cut… the unparalleled perfection of the styled-unstyled look – which you had never before dared to try! … the troubling reality of the patina color… the new fresh look of your face… and the smoothness of your lipstick, the final touch added to perfect your transformation.
When it is time to stand up, you feel fulfilled and understand that no, it was not a dream.
From head to toe, you are radiating with sublime beauty. You sense this through the friendly looks of people that are walking by the salon. You linger at the door for a moment, breathing in the healthy air of the salon one last time, and then you head out in your excellence, ready to conquer the world.

Alina, 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?

My name is Alina Abramenko. I make hair contact before eye contact. But it wasn’t like that at the beginning.
In my life, not everything has gone as planned. But some things have gone so much better than planned. All I ever wanted was contentment. To figure out how to be at peace in my own skin. I just never knew how to achieve it. I always thought it was about being like everyone else. But, I have always been different. I never fit the mold. It took me most of my lifetime to realize that fitting in NEVER means standing out. For everyone out there who feels like you are different than everyone else and you beg God to just allow you to fit in, to be normal, to be the same as others…remember this: nobody who is normal or average ever did anything that changed the world.
Average may “fit in” but it doesn’t “stand out.”
Average conforms. Average is quiet. Average is safe.
Average never takes the lead. Average is happy with what everyone else gets. Average doesn’t take risks.
Average is…….well…..average. It took me a long time to realize that my differences were truly my strengths. My lack of fitting in was my unwillingness to conform to mediocrity, to conform to normalcy, to conform to average. If you are “different,” embrace what makes you different. Embrace your quirkiness, your passions, your individualism. THESE are your strengths. They may not feel like it now, but they will when you are courageous enough to take your life into your own hands and live it with your rules instead of society’s rules. Embrace who you truly are.
And don’t wait. Time is ticking. Time never stops. We don’t get do-overs so be honest with who you are and what you want in life.

I’m 32, and I started my life over. I left Ukraine in 2019, and moved to Ohio, USA. I finished university in 2013, and have a degree in environmental engineering. In 2018 I learned how to do hair in Ukraine. Once in the USA, I found out that I need a cosmetology license to start my hair journey. After one year, I finished school and got my hours to become licensed. Improved my English language skills while at school.

Everyone always asks me how did I grow and get better with the amount of time l’ve been in the hair industry.
Sometimes I don’t know how to answer this question because I only see how much further I have to go. To some people, success could mean coloring hair on stage or having a full book. No matter where you are in life, understand that maybe your success is someone else’s desired level of success. I haven’t done anything different than anyone else. I get up every day with the intent to work hard and better myself. There’s no secret formula to success. BUT if I can offer advice, it would be to LOVE WHAT YOU DO. People will always find value if you’re passionate about something.

It brings me to the most important reason why I love being a hairstylist. The people. MY people. The relationships I have with my guests fill a special place in my heart. Each one unique and beautiful. The connection l’ve been able to form with these amazing humans over time is the most important part of what do. I’ve watched relationships evolve from first dates to having their first child. I’ve seen shy, young preteens grow into stunning, confident young adults. I’ve been a safe place to cry when you’re experiencing heartache,
I’ve shared tears of laughter, l’ve even done a Facebook stalk when your boyfriend actin up. All of these moments, these are the reasons why I love what I do!

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

It costs 10x more to attract a new client than it does to keep an existing one. So WHY are we so obsessed with MORE MORE MORE??
More followers, more likes, more clients, more money.
It’s not always one in the same; more followers don’t equal more clients and you don’t need more clients to make more money.
To get a new client you have to:
– Get your name out there on all platforms:
Instagram, Facebook, Yelp
– Have an incredible selling point: Photos and testimonials.
– Use paid ads to get prioritized before your competition.
Not only does it take more of your time and money, but it also takes a bit more sanity than retaining an existing client.
We know what to expect with our returning clients.

A new client is like a blind date. Are they crazy?
Is their hair easy to work with? Has it been previously damaged? Will they bring their kids to the appointment? Will they skip on a treatment even though they NEED it? Lots of uncertainties.
So why don’t we all take the next 10 minutes and shower our existing clients with some appreciation.
Go to their pages and show some love on their pictures. Hype them up, make their day. MAKE THEM
FEEL SPECIAL BECAUSE THEY ARE!

THAT is how inexpensive and how easy it can be to retain a client.

Availability Affordability Ability
You only get two.
Availability & Affordability:
Often, this is the newer stylist. Starting prices and an open schedule. Nothing wrong with that, but if you’re asking for open availability and a lower price point, be ok with the fact that you’re not going to find a specialist.
STYLIST: If this is you, continue your education with a vengeance and PRACTICE. Eventually your clientele will grow with people finding you for your skillset. If your schedule is like this and it wasn’t before, you’re falling behind. You need to re-inspire yourself with a class, or 5.
Affordability & Ability:
This stylist is very skilled, and can likely kick a*s at what you’re wanting AND they are super affordable.
SOUNDS PERFECT RIGHT?? WRONG. This stylist hasn’t priced themselves correctly for the demand on their time. Be prepared to wait OR look for someone else with a higher price and more open availability.
STYLIST: If this is you, raise your prices. Like yesterday. It sounds scary but you need to. Even if clients will wait, why would you work twice as much for half the pay? Raise your prices so you can work less crazy days for the SAME INCOME!
Ability & Availability:
This is the cream that rises to the top, a specialist who is able and willing to tackle your craziest hair dreams and BETTER YET they have availability next week! A dream right? RIGHT! But it comes at a cost.
Literally. If your budget allows for this stylist, then go for it because it’s going to be the easiest ride of your life.
STYLIST: If this is you, make sure to continue raising your prices. If you stop but your books are still growing, you’ll hit the “Affordable and Available” traffic jam.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Did you know 1 in 10 Stylist make it more than 2 years in the industry? It takes a lot more then just being good at hair. I’m so grateful to have found my niche, my passion, and my people. I am a Christian and live my life for God and I want my life to be a legacy for his glory. I pray for all my clients even the ones I haven’t met yet. I am excited for what God is doing in my life and families life. So much to say but I’ll leave you with this.

Majority of my clients are immigrants from all over the world. I dreamed to travel the world, but instead the world came to nicehairchair.

Contact Info:

• Website: nicehairchair.com
• Instagram: nicehairchair
• Facebook: nicehairchair
• Yelp: nicehairchair