We were lucky to catch up with Kacy Grace recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kacy Grace thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I feel like these two questions go hand in hand. I am extremely happy doing what I do. I love it for so many reasons. It’s being the mad scientist in the back room mixing formulas. Its painting with colors on hair like Bob Ross with a canvas . Its sculpting a haircut instead of clay. Being an independent stylist. Getting to set my own schedule. Taking the clients I want to take. Helping people feel beautiful or the best versions of themselves. To see the smile or amazement at the end result. It’s very rewarding.

However, there are definitely hard days that come with it and seem impossible to get through. As a creative/artist mind, we have a tendency to over analyze and criticize everything we do. Thinking we aren’t good enough. Being hard on ourselves about a project we did if it didn’t come out how we wanted it to. Sometimes having a bad week will have me feeling some kind of way about if I’m doing the right thing. If I’m in the right field. I was in a car accident a month ago and it got me asking myself questions I often contemplate: What would happen if I couldn’t do hair anymore? If I couldn’t even teach how to do hair? What would I do? What if years ago I chose a different career? What if I went to college? What would I even major in? What if I wanted to give up hair? Like just change to a new career? It’s been 14 years into this career, pouring over these questions again and again. So far, I haven’t found an answer. I don’t think I could sit behind a desk all day.. It seems mundane in comparison.

Something always brings me back to why or how I started. I’ve always been into hair, nails and makeup. And I mean ALWAYS. A moment I think about often is the time I set up a manicure table which included a TV tray, a random old towel, nail polish and nail decals I stole from my mom. I was getting set up to paint my sister’s nails for an event. It was like she was my first real client. That feeling was everything to me. This and a few other memories spark the fun, exciting and crazy memories I have from throughout my career as a hairstylist. All the ups and downs. All the amazing hair I’ve done. The incredible people I’ve met and lives I’ve been a part of.

So every time I ask myself if I would rather have a regular job, I always say my favorite phrase “Absolutely not”

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

For those of you who haven’t heard of me before, hi. I’m Kacy Grace. I am an independent stylist of 14 years located at Blondies Beauty Salon in Oakland park.

Let’s start at the beginning. I was a very creative kid. Not so great with sports or books, but I loved everything art related. Coloring books, painting, crocheting, cross stitching, anything you can make with your hands. I was also really girly. I was forever searching the bathroom cabinets for makeup to play with and stealing my mom’s nail polishes to paint my nails. When she found out I was taking her polishes, she bought me sets of my own, including cool little pens that were polish on one side and art polish pens on the other.

When I was 16, she handed me a pamphlet of options for a trade school. When I came across cosmetology, I asked about it, and she said hair, skin and nails. I was like “wait what? I can really get paid to do this? Sign me up!” After the first day of class I came home and told her “This is it. I’m going to do this for the rest of my life”. Fast forward to now and here we are.

I offer a variety of services including: haircuts, balayage, blondes, vivids, and corrections. I specialize in corrections and vivids. I also offer treatments such as k18, olaplex, porosity treatments and deep conditioning. When it comes to hair, I would say I have a different approach. My goal is not only for you to love your hair, but as my motto goes “for it to still look good on it’s worst day”.

One of the best things about sitting in my chair is that I do not double book. This way each guest has my full attention and care. I tailor each new color and cut to the client’s skin, hair type/texture and lifestyle. Taking lifestyle into consideration is just as important as the other 2. How they wear their hair, what they do for work, activities they do.. this can help us decide what styles or colors fit you best.

I would say I’m proud of a few things. I call them my “hair babies” First being my color corrections. Transforming hair from one thing into something new, cut or color, and maintaining integrity of the hair. Next, The clients who I have helped grow out their hair. From previous breakage or a bad haircut, seeing the growth and progress each time brings me joy. Finally, Getting a client on a new routine that also fits in to how they live. If you give them a 20 step hair routine, clients are likely to fall off. Narrowing it down to what they need specifically for them is key.

This industry is a huge part of my life. As a hairstylist, my favorite part isn’t just the end result but also the experience that lead to it. I pour my heart and soul into each appointment. I wouldn’t trade this career for the world.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I first started, I was AWFUL! My coworker described it as “couldn’t cut my way out of a paper bag” while harsh, she wasn’t wrong. At my first salon, I had clients coming back almost daily. They would scream in my face, tell me how awful I was, that I should quit and go home, that I’ll never be good, why bother.? I still showed up every day, determined to learn. It took 8 months before mens clipper cuts finally made sense. There are a lot of things they don’t teach you in school, so be patient with a new stylist. They have to learn somehow.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The answer to this one is pretty simple and also impossible: for there to be no bad haircuts. For a realistic goal, to help my clients love their hair

Contact Info:

• Website: Blondiesbeautysalon.com
• Instagram: @kacy__grace
• Facebook: Blondies Beauty Salon