We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Meghan Noakes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Meghan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?

If I was starting over I would start at a flat hourly rate for my services and time and charge a seperate fee for cost of product used at each service. I’d give myself a raise on my hourly rate every year. I’d stop itemizing services all together.

Meghan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I actually got into cosmetology school after failing out of college. I remember very clearly just wanting to work in a profession where I wouldn’t need to wear a uniform and could potentially own my own business one day. I really struggled in traditional school settings but the moment I was doing hands on work in a cosmetology school setting I began to thrive. I loved the instant gratification of it all. I was raised to believe looks were very important and I remember feeling a sense of importance knowing I could help people feel good about their looks.

I did hair for 10years before I had to step away from the chair to get my life together. And by together, I mean, I suffered from the disease of addiction and the consequences of my actions while sick with addiction led me to inevitable consequences of being jobless, homeless, and in serious legal trouble.

One of the things I’m most proud of is my sobriety and my journey to getting back behind the chair 3 years ago.

My first year in sobriety I worked at a tanning salon but soon after was ready to try to revive my career behind the chair. I didn’t have a car so I rode my bike and walked to work every day. I wore a scram bracelet as a condition of the courts for 16 months as well. It was humbling to say the least. I knew when I got back behind the chair I was going to have to do something different and so I did. I gave it my all. All of the time and energy I used to spend chasing my next drunk or high in addiction, I now spent chasing my next client and achieving their hair goals. I invested in my continuing education and started posting my work online.

I’ve been back behind the chair for 3 years now and sober for nearly 4. In that time I have rebuilt my entire clientele and become a specialist of hair painting. I’ve done well in several hair competitions and most recently placed top 25 in balayage and heat styling categories for the worlds biggest hair competition, The Oneshot Awards. I just recently started getting payed to promote my work online and I’ve also purchased my first home. I’ve made the jump from commission pay to becoming my own boss as a renter in a boutique salon that I really love. I have a car again and I’m on the right side of law again too. I have 2 dogs that I love the most and I enjoy gardening and working on and around my home in my free time.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I’ve had to unlearn and continue to unlearn is to not take everything so personal. There are a multitude of reasons a potential client may not be the perfect fit for my chair. I don’t dwell on it that much the way I used to. I believe in attracting my ideal client instead of trying to make myself ideal for each client. I’ve learned this lesson the hard way a few times so I won’t give the back story but these days I don’t struggle with “bad clients” often anymore as a result.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I believe the one thing that is most effective for me is establishing consistency at work. If my schedule says 10-8 Tuesday-Friday, I show up from 10-8 Tuesday-Friday even if I’m not fully booked. I don’t move clients around if someone cancels or if there is a potential for me to go home earlier of come in later. If I have gaps in my work day, I spend that time learning something new on social media, online education, or planning my next goal for behind the chair. Consistency in work and time matters so much in building clients. I also do not make myself available to work outside of my set hours. Again, it’s about consistency. People will create expectations around your exceptions and I try to remember that any time I start to stray from a consistent path.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @meghannoakes
• Facebook: Meghan Noakes