Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Blair Mielke . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Blair , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

I have learned that the number one most important thing in this industry is communication. This applies to your leaders, your work mates, your clients, and yourself! Communication and kindness ALL DAY LONG. Let me tell you why.

Reflecting back on my time as a fresh, baby stylist I am reminded again and again at just how important it is for people to be heard. I think this is why managers of an older generation talk at you so much. They know that they know what is best and they know that you need to know it too. I believe that I am truly the stylist, business owner, and person I am because of my experiences with this style of management. There is a lot of pride in being an “old school hairdresser” to those who have been in the industry for a while. And let me tell you, I understand why completely. However, coming up in the salon world with not one, not two, but three senior stylists that I was assisting for, I had to learn things the hard way. I got to experience three very distinct leadership and communication styles, and as a result I think we need to make a shift on not only how we bring up the next generation of stylists, but how we communicate in the beauty industry as a whole.

As a fresh assistant I was expected to just know things: know where to be, know what to do, know how to do it, and also not make mistakes. I was worked really hard for very little base compensation; about 12 hours a day five to six days a week. I was not expected to complain. I was to be ever so grateful for the experience that I was getting. This was just all just a given that I was supposed to understand going in.

Needless to say there were some growing pains in the beginning. A lot of tears were shed. I doubted myself all the time. I got to a point where I didn’t even believe that I was going to be successful in this industry. I had to shoulder a lot of blame for things I don’t think I should have, and I had to hold my tongue on a lot of things I shouldn’t have. I do believe these things made me a little tougher, but to what end? Why do we have to be so hard on people? My big takeaways from that experience were: we need to meet people where they are, not where we want them to be, a little bit of compassion and listening go a long way, and let our first reflex be kindness instead of blame or judgement. These are all the foundations of my business and how I interact with clients and co-stylists alike.

We don’t gain anything from being harsh to people, or by feeling the need to get the last word or be right. If a client doesn’t feel like I met their expectations and they aren’t happy with a service it’s most likely because I did not communicate well in our consultation. If I am feeling frustrated by a decision made by an assistant it is most likely because I did not give clear communication on how something should be done. When we give each other room to be heard and feel like human beings with a full range of emotions, we are more likely to get a long and be happy! And that’s the world I want to live in; no cancel culture, no finger pointing and blame, just some good one-on-one conversation about how we are feeling, what we need, and how we can get there!

Blair , 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?

I am an engineering student turned cosmetologist from the central valley of California. I moved to Denver in 2016 to give myself the opportunity to have better success in my industry. I grew up in the sticks and knew that L.A., San Francisco, etc. were all a hard-pass for me! Denver was bigger than Fresno while still being small enough that I didn’t feel too overwhelmed.

I started out in the beauty school world before actually obtaining my license and working behind the chair. I love the world of education, and would honestly love to get back into that realm again someday, but I was itching to use my craft again as well. I have never worked in a bustling, large salon. In a smaller facility I can have more of a one-on-one experience with my clients. I have always operated best in this way rather than in large scale settings. So it’s no surprise to me that I eventually chose to go into a suite!

I have been operating as my own business in Urban Luxury Salons since late 2020, and I honestly believe it was the best decision I have professionally made for myself. I started out with a part time clientele and now have a full time clientele behind the chair, do about 40-50 weddings a year, and have hired an assistant! My technical specialty is customized blondes and vivids. Not everyone wants a color that they have to keep up with every 8 weeks, but some do! So whether you’re a twice-a-year color person, or a once a month blondie, I can create a color and cut that works for you! I also really love creating a space where you can feel at home, relaxed, and totally comfortable while you’re in my space. You can cozy up in the processing lounge with a latte, relax with a hand massage and weighted eye mask, and leave looking like a babe with your new ‘do!

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

I used to be a little self conscious about being older coming into the industry. Most people leave high school and get straight into cosmo school. That means you’re like 19 when you start your career. My path obviously had a few more twists and turns in it. By the time I go to working behind the chair I was already 26. I felt ancient! I was constantly comparing myself to these younger stylists that seemed to have so much more skill, just killing it, and so much further ahead of me in the industry.

Looking at it now, though, I think that having so much more real-world, life experience under my belt before getting into the industry was a total game changer. I think a big reason I am able to connect and communicate with people as well as I do is because I learned those skills in the many retail jobs I have held over the years. I also got some great leadership training and skills working in the beauty education environment. All of that experience, along with my natural ability and continued training in my craft, has really come together in an amazing way to get my business started and be successful in such a short amount of time!

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Being involved in my community has been huge! The beauty industry is all about word of mouth and human connection. You totally have to put yourself out there, even if it is a little bit uncomfortable at first. Something that makes it easier in this era of technology is social media. I have joined a few groups on Facebook, been active on Instagram, and have been taking the Thrivers Society business and marketing trainings. One group in particular that has been just awesome for me is CGG on Facebook. I have been a member of the Colorado Girl Gang for a few years now. This is just a big group of women who live in Colorado who want to network, connect, and build friendship, etc. (The group was founded by Chelsea Harold, a well known realtor here.) Connecting with Chelsea and her group has been such a game changer for me in more ways than one. I have met so many people who have turned into life-long friends and clients. I feel like the more genuine interaction you have with people, the more you want to help people, the greater your circle of influence becomes.

Contact Info:

• Website: beautybyb.net and bridalbybcolorado.com
• Instagram: @beautybyb_19 and @bridalbybcolorado

Image Credits
Blue Flame Studio Co Mackenzi Knight Photography