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.

Alright, Blair thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with a fun one – what’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?

Professionals in the beauty industry have historically been looked down on. Society views these professionals as “just a hairdresser” or “just a nail tech.” We have been fighting and scraping for decades to change society’s view of us and our trade. I believe we are finally in a place where *most* of society does view us for the professionals we are. We are able to hold our heads high and get the respect that we deserve! I’m afraid, though, that this new-found confidence has made us over correct in the way that we treat our clients and prospective clients.

So often while I’m scrolling social media, I’m seeing hairstylists, estheticians, nail techs, posting videos about why they are raising their prices so high, shaming their clients for last minute cancelling, shaming their clients for not being satisfied with their end result, etc.. Too often these professionals are making a big stink about how worth the price increase they are, they are the best of the best, and if you don’t like it you can find someone cheaper. It puts off such a gross air of arrogance.

I feel like this is such a sad way to represent our industry! No matter what we are in the *service* industry! We have a duty to our clients to make sure that we are offering them an enjoyable experience and delivering on what they are asking for. When we are viewing our clients as “demanding” or “difficult” or viewing their questions or hesitations as “red flags” we are forgetting that they are human beings with feelings and emotions. Our clients need us to be the experts, to answer their questions, ease their fears or doubts. We should be using our knowledge and training to DIG DEEPER. We have gotten so hollow in our customer experience, and I feel like this is doing all of our industry a disservice.

I believe that our soft skills are almost more important than our skills in our trade! There are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of very talented hairstylists and beauty professionals in your area. Each one of them terrifically skilled and talented. What YOU can offer your clients that is different than the hairstylist on the next street corner is a wonderful customer experience. I’m not talking about offer coffee and snacks. Those amenities are almost viewed as a given to clients now. I’m talking about how you converse with your client, how you make your clients trust you, how you make your clients feel relaxed and comfortable in your space!

I am very proud of the client experience that I give! I strive to make sure my clients feel valued! Not just as a paying customer, but as the human being they are that has feelings and emotions. My clients know that they can ask me questions without being judged or harped on. They know that when they are in my chair that they are going to feel comfortable and pampered, and they will leave with amazing hair and a renewed confidence.

I just hope that we, as an industry, get our heads out of the clouds and back down to earth. I hope that we put the arrogance and over confidence aside and humble ourselves again. I hope that we see our place as a service provider is respected without our need to harp on our clients day in and day out. Our clients deserve better. We deserve better.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

When I first got into this industry, I felt like a dinosaur! Most people get into beauty school right out of high school. By the time they are 30 they gave a good 10 years under their belt! Well, I didn’t get my cosmetology license until 2019, when I was already 28! I took the long way around to end up where I always really knew I belonged. Though, I do feel like getting to where I am now is because of the life experience I had in the years of college, beauty school, retail jobs, etc.

I took a job as an assistant to three senior stylists in 2019. It was a long and grueling year, but I came out on the other side confident and experienced! My first year on my own as a full fledged hairstylist was 2020….we all know how that year went. I was terribly shaken and felt lost. I didn’t know how I was going to be able to build a clientele in a world where people were bunkering down indoors. But, it turns out, the pandemic actually lit the fire for what was to become a wild combustion of my business.

I made the choice to go on my own, into a private suite, at the end of 2020. I only had a part time clientele and didn’t have much extra finances to catch me if I were to fall. But I KNEW I was going to make it. Failing wasn’t a choice for me. I worked by little tushy off in 2021. I was building my business in the salon as well as a bridal hair and makeup business. I also got married, got pregnant, my husband left his career and went back to school, and prepared for a maternity leave in 2021. Amidst all of that I was still able to build up my clientele, build up my skills with LOTS of education, and grow a good reputation.

Now in 2023 I have a scaling business as a blonde specialist in downtown Denver, I am growing a team in my bridal hair and makeup business, and taking on new challenges all the time! I am very proud of what I have been able to build in such a small amount of time. I believe that my people skills, determination, and persistence are to be credited to what I have been able to do in the last three years. I am incredibly thankful to the clients that have stayed loyal to me, watched me grow and have been the very best part of my business. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for me!

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I love people. I may be a little bit introverted, but I truly do love interacting with people one-on-one. (Which is why I am in a solo suite!) I am part of several networking groups, one of them being the Colorado Girl Gang on Facebook. I have taken the time to interact with people, answer questions, and offer advice before I ever tried to “sell” my services. People want to know that you are more about community than profit. They want to know that they matter! I believe my interest in people and my customer experience has truly been the biggest help in building my reputation in the community.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I will give Britt Seva of Thrivers Society a TON of credit for helping me get to where I am. Her advice and training programs have truly shaped the way I handle every aspect of my business. I also follow Hunter Donia of the Modern Hairstylist podcast and always try to keep up on various podcasts and books to continue to improve my skills in business, finance, and of course my trade as a blonde specialist.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.beautybyb.net
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/beautybyb_19
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/beautybyb_

Image Credits
@mackenziknightphotography