We recently connected with Amanda Marcano and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you share a story with us from back when you were an intern or apprentice? Maybe it’s a story that illustrates an important lesson you learned or maybe it’s a just a story that makes you laugh (or cry)? Looking back at internships and apprenticeships can be interesting, because there is so much variety in people’s experiences – and often those experiences inform our own leadership style.

Ok, we’ll I went through 3 different apprenticeships in my 17 yrs! Let me tell you my first one, 2months was very straight to the point! You learned the way of the salon. No outside artistry at all was accepted. It molded me to think about only me and how great I was. When I’m all reality I had so much to learn. Second was with Devina and Kelly and Omg!! Those two women were my answers too success! It was like an on going apprenticeship until I felt I was ready! I mean my first lesson was wrapping a towel after a shampoo and I couldn’t move on until I “mastered the craft”. They tought to love my clients! Always have an open mind. Teach myself my way. Theystarted the road I created the path. And that has stuck with me for years. Unfortunately when they went there separate way I had to once again go through another apprenticeship this one was a year and absolutely horrible. I literally washed cars got coffee take out trash and blow dried hair I thought to myself I hated hair I wanted to quit. All three of these experience has taught me something different the first one in the last one taught me don’t let leader ship get the best of you everyone start somewhere everyone wants to have a path of success everyone wants to grow and become a name for themselves not for who they’re working for. The second one taught me that no matter how good you are you can always teach and you can always learn it doesn’t matter what level of stylist you are as long as you have an open mind and a big heart and love what you do you can’t go anywhere but up my salon name is eclectic mane that salon was called salon eclectic I will forever Carry a Piece of that with me forever.

Amanda , 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 Amanda Marcano I have been In the business for 17 years. I have always known I wanted to do hair, since I was probably about 12. I took cosmetology in high school and graduated with my cosmetology license in 2005. In cosmetology class we literally just learned the test when I graduate and I had no idea what I was doing. My first job was at a great clips in Lake Worth Texas and OMG my first haircut on a person was my first real haircut on a real human being. I was just so excited to be in a salon doing hair and discovering my passion in the business. I was there for about three years and then I ventured off into a spa type setting. That’s where I learned what an apprenticeship was I worked under somebody learning her ways and the ways of her salon that she owned . Sometimes I felt like it was a struggle other times I felt so successful but then I still didn’t understand what my calling was. Then I found a couple of the salons along the way Three different ones three totally different ones And finally in 2009 I stop doing hair for a couple of years. I felt overwhelmed. I didn’t like how things were working in any of the salons. So in 2012 I decided to go back to the salon. I told myself I was going to work in a franchise to build clientele to get my feet wet again learning different products trying to up my skill trying to figure out what my calling. Working in a franchise/corporation setting woke me up helping me realize what I wanted to do. It’s not about working for myself or being my own boss it’s about being able to do what I love behind the chair. so In 2015 I said that’s it I’m going on my own. Now it is 2022 and I have been on my own in a salon suite for the past seven years and I absolutely love it long story short I finally realized that I’m a colorist I’m a correctional colorist. I love helping clients that I’ve had a bad experience in a salon turn around and walk out smiling sometimes crying with joy . My goal in life is to own a salon have a small team that I can create a starting point for their own path watch them grow maybe leave maybe stay I think it’s very important for Hairstylist to learn their own way yes pick up things from one another. I think it’s so important to design your own path because that’s what sets you apart from other stylist being yourself finding your true art discovering who you are as a stylist. Education is so important honestly, Imost techniques I know I’m self taught I people watch. I look at Stylist around me and pick up little things that they do but I think I could use. The biggest stand out of my business is starting my salon suite on my own seven years ago with not one female client and now present day I only have women clients. I mainly focus on Color Correction and extensions. One of the most important things to me is accommodation the role I live by is do you want to grow your business you have to be thirsty but I don’t do it somebody else will. Make your clients happy if you’re happy and they’re happy everything will maintain happiness.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Well, people think I’m crazy! Believe it or not I don’t carry business cards. When I first started my journey I told myself I was going to be a word of mouth stylist. The most effective strategy I have is treat every single client in your chair like they were a full paying client, a celebrity , the queen of England! Lol Accommodate them be thorough with them don’t ask them to send you people make them so happy with the experience you offer they want to send people to you. Start a friendship build a relationship.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

I consider all my clients my friends new or old. When My clients leave my salon I check on them 3 to 5 days after their service. I’m a very personal stylist I don’t want my clients feeling like just a number. I remember things they tell me. And keep I. Touch between appointments.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @eclectic_mane
• Other: [email protected]