We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Caroline Kiefer Bell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Caroline below.

Caroline, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

Both of my parents had many interests and skills and neither of them were ever afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty doing things themselves.

My father was a veteran, carpenter, musician, and wine and food expert, he passed away at age 62. He impacted my life so immensely in the 24& 1/2 years I had the gift of his physical presence in my life. My father was funny, charming and had a commanding presence. He spoke selectively and 85% of the time he was being silly. I have distinct recollection of my dad slicing through the noise in my childhood, echoing this: “you can do ANYTHING you want to do with you life, no, I mean anything, like think outside the box and don’t take anything for anyone, you are the boss of your life”.

He inspired me to work in the service industry, telling me that waiting tables was like getting a free sociology degree. He encouraged my interest in sports, beauty and being independent. We were the first ones in line at the DMV at 6am on the day I turned 16. He was beyond his time, wise kind and very patient and pensive. He taught me how to rock and roll, he taught me what a flow state was, through me watching him play music and enjoy everything he did. He worked hard, was proud of his accomplishments and did what he loved. He taught me to have fun, follow my passions and enjoy the moment.

My mother is alive and very well. She owned a restaurant at age 22, sold stocks, was a licensed respiratory therapist, licensed nail technician and worked as a librarian with a masters in library media science for 20 years in the public schools in my home town. Also my moms passion is landscape architecture and she has always cultivated beauty in our yard for as long as I could remember. My mother wasn’t afraid to put me in my place, and I can honestly say this was necessary. She was dead set on raising classy, well mannered, well spoken girls that were thoughtful of others and aware of themselves. I knew my moms heart because she was never afraid to tell me the truth. It seemed tumultuous as a teen, but when I look back, I know she cared so much her emotion and passion was the better alternative to keep herself composed at times in my opinion.

My mom is one of the most creative and talented people I know. Our heritage is linked back to Palermo Italy on my mothers father’s side and this high touch culture has stayed with my mom and was passed to me in the best way. As a stylist, touch is a huge part of my life. My mom’s side of the family are very affectionate and loving in a very safe way. If you have never experienced that kind of Italian heritage in the form of long hugs, many goodbyes, face touching, its the kind of thing that is mostly off-putting at first but then just fills your heart right up. It’s comical to me every time I think of when I would bring a friend home to meet my family and they were just arms stiff and down being embraced by 5-10 people in my family they had never met before. But never once did any of my friends come away from the experience with a negative complaint, or anything but a big smile.

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.

I am an AVEDA trained Master Stylist. I use JOICO color and staying products. I work in a private studio called GREYSCALE SALON and have owned this concept since 2013. My specialty is hair health, wash and go cuts and low to no maintenance color. I aim to unhand cuff my clients from a stylist, arming them with the truth and knowledge they need to grasp a deeper understanding of how their scalp and hair functions. I am a hair coach at my core, who is also a skilled artist.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

On March 15th 2020 I had to close my salon doors with only a days notice. A global pandemic made it impossible for me to continue to operate and I had to completely shift into my back burner career; real estate sales. Luckily rates were low and people were buying. I grabbed the wheel and took off.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I have always believed that as an entrepreneur you must have a job for your job. Waitressing and bartending were the way I built my social network and the capital I needed to make moves when opportunities aligned. Working doubles and downright hustling was how I got it done. Working two jobs on the same day became the norm and I just forced myself to get good at it. Honestly this mode has always been exhilarating for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://greyscalesalon.schedulista.com/
• Instagram: @caroline_in_the_county

Image Credits

Caroline Kiefer Bell
Brynn Scott