We recently connected with Alyse March and have shared our conversation below.
Alyse, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
I graduated from Casal Aveda Institute in 2013, I had many ambitions as all new stylist’s do as they leave the training era of the industry! During this time between graduating and before I left to take my state board exam I thought about opening a children’s salon. I’ve not seen one ever in the area. While researching and confiding in others, it just didn’t seem like the right time, and I felt I wasn’t ready for that.
Fast forward 11 years later, & I’m opening up the areas first and only Sensory Friendly Salon Suite for children. Specifically children with sensory needs & developmental delays. Over the years I’ve always had a large children return clientele. Many of them had Autism, or suffered from some level of development delay! This started working my brain. It was becoming hard for me to service them in the environment I was employed in. I made it work for a long time, even having other stylist adopt my methods to help them! But it was not enough for me.
It was not until April of 2021 when I finally decided to start researching how I can give these local kiddos a space to feel safe, and comfortable while they receive a basic human need. A need we take for granted— being able to sit and receive a haircut without becoming anxious or scared. I researched for what the community uses in therapies for the children. I researched the materials so I could better know if I could have them in the suite (our state board is very strict). I researched methods, worked at centers for Autism with ABA’s BCBA’s & therapist’s and their children to adapt to the techniques they use to help the children desensitize to daily activities! My goal was to create an environment for not only them to feel safe, and receive the service, but provide a process that effectively desensitizes them to the whole haircut process, I did this, so if, I may not available they are prepared and feel confident going somewhere else! I wanted dads to be able to take their sons to the barbershop on a Saturday outing! Things that neurotypical parents take for granted. Something that I feel all Dad’s should have the opportunity to experience with their sons, as well as Moms and their daughters!
We have no children salon in our area, the closest one is over an hour away. Even then, they do not provide the accommodations I do, and the process I continue to adapt for the kiddos. This is a whole new branch of the industry I am forging. What I provide, & from what I’ve researched is the only one in existence, and I hope to multiple to better service as many kiddos as I can!
This is my purpose on this earth, and I am grateful to be able to provide this for my community and the surrounding communities!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I was a lost teenager, tried college, technical school, & usually because my friends were doing it! I dropped out of both before the second semester. My good friend Allie was going to beauty school in our area. It was something I actually thought about it in high school, but it didn’t work out. So, like all my other ventures to find who I wanted to be I started beauty school. It was rough, & rewarding! But, if you know any hairstylist you know we hated beauty school, but at the same time tell you “it the best times” of some of our lives! Anywho, even after a termination, & being held back, I graduated! The road to where I am today had begun, and I had no idea where it was taking me, but, that is something I am grateful for today!
Fast-forward to now, 11 years later! From almost giving up hair completely, because I just felt purposeless in the industry— to now forging a new branch of ir. Specializing in working with children and all of their hair care needs! But, I don’t stop there. Most of my kiddos have developmental delays or ASD. I saw a void in my community with the kiddos struggling with sensory needs! Having inadequate accommodations to an environment, or the professional to provide them an anxiety-free haircut. They also do not have a process personalized or effective to help them become confident when the time comes for a haircut, either. That is where I came in. I make the process fun, relaxing & productive, as we desensitize the children to each and every one of the tools! I’m currently working on a process, with Occupational Therapist, BCBA’s, ABA’s, Social Workers, & more to effectively create a virtual program to help not only myself, but other salons service children with Sensory needs confidently & with great compassion! My purpose is to provide this accommodation for all the children in my community, while also educating stylist, & establish certifications to maintain quality in the process!
There are so many struggles that go unnoticed when we speak about families with children that have disabilities, and haircuts are one of them! It was something I knew I could work really hard to solve. I’m getting closer and closer to it each day! I hope to provide as many children this resource free one day, and educate the whole industry so that a whole community does not need to suffer in silence, just to be able to receive a haircut.
Have you ever had to pivot?
Feb 2023, on top of being newly pregnant, beginning to start FriendlyFacez I got a text from my boss. Backstory, I was working for a chain hair salon, while building the business. I made sure to be completely transparent with my intentions. I was not there for long-term employment, I’m in the startup phase of my business that I specifically will only work with kids with disabilities— so it does not become conflict of interest! Fair enough, right? Negative. Inevitably, it became an issue and I was fired. In a text, nonetheless!
It pushed us to being a one income household, newly pregnant, 4 year old & inflation. It was a huge stressor not only for myself, but primarily for my significant other. If I didn’t have my boyfriend (Shane) I wouldn’t be where I am today. He has made sure I had what I wanted in the salon suite, networked for me, & built the suite into what it is today! I’m forever grateful! He took on a huge burden, and still made sure I was on the path towards my dream.
Along with some great community resources, & family I’m able to provide a resource for children in my area who at times never received a professional haircut in their lives until myself.
Even with the huge set back, and all the unknown that came with the journey, I’m grateful for losing my job. It catapulted me right into building my business full-time. Just a lot sooner than I projected! It’s crazy how life works.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
The big advantage I’ve had is being the only one in my area doing what I do. I was fortunate enough to have found my purpose while mastering my skill. I saw a need in my community, and was hellbent on finding a solution.
What I do is very specialized, while other stylist’s also work to provide children with sensory needs, and developmental delays the opportunity to receive a haircut— it’s not to the service level I provide. I still saw a problem with their solution. So, I got to work. I created an environment with endless accommodations, I continue to work to develop an effective desensitization process to build confidence, not only for the child but for stylist’s!
I worked to bridge a gap in the community! I believe your reputation will blossom tremendously and quickly— if your intentions are to always work to make the community around you brighter!
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Image Credits
Chyanne Mease CM Photography