Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rebekah Irvine. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rebekah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

My story began with a choice: Should I pursue a college education or choose trade school, cosmetology school to be exact. At the time, I was a great student with grades and test scores that would allow me to attend most colleges. In the end, I chose both. I worked my way through college as a hairstylist but even after college continued to do hair. I wish, at the time, I would have known that cosmetology school was as good of a choice as college or that it would lead me on the path to where I am now but I pressured myself into college because it felt like what I “should” do.

After cosmetology school and some college, I decided to make a huge leap and move from small-town West Texas to New York City to apprentice under top stylists not just in the country but in the world. I worked at Frederic Fekkai Fifth Avenue where I was able to learn and grow under the guidance of amazing talent. I saw stylists make 500K a year and thought: this is it! This is what I want! I want to be an incredibly successful stylist that teaches and guides others stylists and that is respected as talented professional in my community.

With a mix of other salons and learning experiences along the way, I wound up in Austin in 2010where I grew my talent. I worked hard long hours in a commission salon. I crashed through what would regularly be considered earning ceilings for stylists and eventually decided I as much as I loved doing hair, I was overworked, underpaid, under-appreciated and had little control and freedom of time. I had to ask permission to have time off or if I needed a sick day. Honestly, I had to ask permission to even leave to grab lunch. I tried to find a salon in town that could offer independence, higher pay, flexibility but I just couldn’t find a fit that also offered a luxurious customer experience. That’s when I realized it was my job to create this opportunity for stylists like me. Through a lot of mistakes, opportunities for growth and perseverance, I was able to open bex+Co where we now have four locations and over forty successful independent stylists who run their own small business inside the walls of our space. I personally transition stylists from employees to business owners and it’s what makes me the proudest.

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 back background and context?

I’m a long time hair stylist turned Industry DISRUPTER and I say this with pride. A lot salons—and I know because I’ve worked I’ve worker in many—require stylists to work long hours with few breaks, under appreciate and under pay them. In commission salons stylist generally earn less than 50% of what they bring in the door. For some stylists this absolutely makes sense for them and that’s great! BUT we exists for stylists who have hit a ceiling. Who want to earn more, Who want freedom of Time, Money and Purpose.

We are a shared workspace salon—a term created by me to reflect our model. Think we work, or collaborative workspace but for self-employed hair stylists and spa providers.

We envision bex+CO as a place where every stylist can create their own destiny. Where a client can connect with the artist who makes them feel beautiful. A beautiful space to be your best self.

While part of a team, every stylist is an independent business owner with unlimited potential for growth and self-development.

It is the opportunity I dreamed of for my own self-expression as a stylist.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I was a great hairstylist but unproven business owner. I had no real savings, no experience and poor credit. I had to fight for my first lease, my first loan and for my first employees. I had to convince people to trust my vision–to believe that I could follow through on my promises. And I did! After a ton of convincing and amateur business plans, I raised the money, got the lease and secured a team.

Most of my time is currently spent opening new locations and transitioning stylists from commission salons to business owners. I coach stylists on how to grow and market their businesses, on creating business entities and branding themselves, accounting and transitioning clients from one salon to another.

I’m so proud to say I have over 100 successful business owners working in our six locations, and I take pride in knowing I have helped them live the life they’ve dreamed for themselves with freedom and flexibility.

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

I spent a lot of years with the mindset that I needed to be an employee of my business. For the first 4 years, we had very little growth because I spent most of my time working as a hair-stylist instead of as an owner.

As I’ve transitioned out of doing hair I’ve had the time and bandwidth to open 6 additional salons. I work less than I ever have for more money doing the things in my business that I am uniquely good at.

You do not have to trade your time for money.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bexandcosalon.com
• Instagram: @alsoknownasbex

Image Credits
Katia Forero Photography