We recently connected with Kate Gibson and have shared our conversation below.

Kate, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

Simple, I’ve taken the ego out of hairdressing. I have been a hairdresser for over 20 years. I’ve performed basically any role you can imagine from begging strangers at grocery stores to be my bob haircut model, to overseeing rooms of 50+ students learning the skill set that has been my lifeblood for so many years. I now work alone in a small studio space, not because I don’t love people, but because in fact, I like people so very much. SO much so that I want to provide a private, inclusive “come as you are” space. It’s not about me. It’s about every person that puts forth the effort to spend a little time and money with me feels seen, heard, liked and nudged toward shining in their brightest light.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

At Shapeshifter studio I’ve created a gender-less, transparent hourly pricing studio. A private space with a one-on-one customized approach to modern hairdressing. I specialize in transformational hair cutting. I live for daring people to see themselves a different light… and then loving it.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Boundaries! I know it’s the word of the hour and we’re all sick of hearing that word, but as a chronic people pleaser it has been my hardest mountain to climb. I think it goes for all service industry people, to shelf our wants and can become second nature. Last year I hired a business coach to help me grow my tiny business and in retrospect my biggest takeaway was how uncomfortable setting boundaries can be but how necessary it can be for mental health and work/life boundaries. I had to unlearn how to be a constant source of “yes” and shift to “these are my hours, this is my price point, thank you for understanding” place. It was an incredibly tough life lesson, that your ride-or-die people can move on when there’s a boundary established. I remember one client in particular I had given several free services to when they had been laid off and were devastated. That client was one of the first people to “break up” with me when I sent out an email about charging my worth and new boundaries for my work.
It’s a bummer but a good lesson for young hairdressers, client relationships are transactional at their core. If I could go back 20 years in a time machine … I’d whisper that in baby hairdresser Kate’s ear.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Human connection. Meeting people where they are and elevating their experience and self confidence. A little selfishness in getting to use my favorite part of my brain. The part where my hands and my brain work in unison creating a little real life, wearable magic.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: Shapeshifter__studio