We recently connected with Leah Cummings and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Leah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Along with taking care of clients, taking care of our team is one of the most important things we can do as leaders. Looking back on your journey, did you have a boss that was really great? Maybe you can tell us about that boss and what made them a wonderful person to work for?

The best boss I have ever had is the owner of the first salon I worked at as a licensed professional. She was and still is an incredibly hard worker. She puts her all into everything she does. Her clients are more than clients, they became family and friends. She is the definition of community and loving thy neighbor. She is a significant part of what helped shape the business owner I am today.
Lead with your heart and genuine love and care for others.

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 can picture myself as a four year old little girl, turned around in the waiting room chair of the salon watching the stylists cut hair. That is when I learned to braid hair. And I never stopped. From barbies to family, I was always cutting, styling, coloring and perming hair. I did my first perm on a family member when I was 10/11 years old. The passion and love that I have for hair is soul deep. I didn’t know as a child that being a hairstylist was way more than “just doing hair”. Sometimes a hairstylist is the only person to touch someone for days to months, the only one that they can vent to with no judgement, someone they can cry with, laugh with and just be present with. My love for hair gave me some of my greatest gifts and lessons in life. I strive to always provide a comfortable environment where my clients can come however they want, to just be who they are with no masks, no pretending. I strive to be their safe place to land and to have them walk out happier and lighter than when they walk in. Leaving with great hair is just a bonus.

For me, when I walk in my salon door, it is my escape from reality. Although my clients do get to see my raw side once in a while and get to learn about my life. My main focus is on them the whole time they are in my salon and as I walk them out the door!

The services I offer range from haircuts, color, facial waxing, formal updos and extensions.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source of new clients for me is to, show up and do great hair for the clients that I already have. In return they have always referred their friends and family to me.

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

“Fake it til you make it” was a huge phrase you would hear in beauty school. I can’t stand that phrase. You should work hard, educate, practice, learn, everything you possibly can rather than faking it. People are spending their time with you and money on you so none of that should be wasted by faking it.

Image Credits

Finch & Mae