We recently connected with Winter Abbatiello and have shared our conversation below.

Winter, 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.

The first thing that comes to mind when I see this question is, social media! Over the past decade social media has blown up! Back when I started my career up in Utah, definitely starting over in a new state there was a very small amount of us who put their (in my case) clients on their social media. Back then, it was 99% call in, and Google reviews for the salon you worked in. A much simpler time, I’m my opinion. I built really really quick just from my bubbly personality and of course skills. I definitely didn’t feel competition with my other stylists because we all were in different stages in our career.
Now, looking ahead into 2025 I know this is a controversial term but there’s a ton of competition because of competition media. I am the first to root on a fellow stylist and love to be a mentor to the up and coming. My position on social media is now it’s not even based on skill because we can post anything we want on our instragrams, am I right? Filters, AI, and someone else’s work, it happens! So, if someone posts a lot, and has a ton of followers that’s like the new Google, except social media can be very fake at the same time. I had a stylist friend who followed another stylist online and thought she was just incredible from her Instagram. So, she paid $100 for a haircut, thinking she’d obviously get the most incredible haircut there is! Unfortunately, the haircut was less than mediocre and it was a hard lesson learned.
My point, I don’t love social media for my career! I do love showing my work and letting others see what kind of stylist I am but really unless you come meet me, have a consult with me or know my work on my page is all legit, you don’t know what kind of stylist I am. I feel like it’s the feeling of if you don’t have enough followers, then you must not be the good, and that’s the last thing I want up and coming stylists to feel!!! Boosting their confidence outside of the likes and followers. This is where I differ from the industry standards and why I’ll continue to grow on my own terms!

Winter, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I know that at 13 I walked into my first hair salon to get my haircut and it became apparent to me I loved the vibe of it all. I remember looking at all the woman, each so individual and classy. So different and they got to express themselves with what they wore and I loved it. When I was really little, I would draw dresses and shoes. I would design my own look and I was pretty creative at a young age. Both my brothers and dad were amazing artists, but I realized I didn’t get their creative hand in drawing. While in my teens, getting closer to graduating, I didn’t think I could pay for hair school so I went to a junior college doing general studies. I knew college wasn’t my thing, (at least not back then). I yearned to do hair, and so when the opportunity struck, I was all hands on deck. I went to school every day for as many hours as they’d let me including Saturdays. When I wasn’t at school I was working at a local restaurant to pay my bills. I gave my really nice car over to my mom who made the payments and I drove what you may say was a “beater” until I graduated and could get something else. I sacrificed everything i knew for almost a year so I could graduate as fast as I could and get out there doing what I loved. Many have done far more years but for hair school 10 months is really fast!
Over the years, with continued education I’ve grown my skills from hair coloring and cutting services, to brazilian blowouts, various extension methods, and full body waxing.
I feel like I set myself apart because i listen! I do a very thorough consult with you. I’ll tell you things you may not want to hear but it’s honesty. I’ll never compromise your hair, nor or relationship as a client to stylist. You walking out feeling like a better you is all I care about! It’s what makes me a better me!

Have you ever had to pivot?

When I finally graduated from hair school, in California it was 2006! I was 22 and had moved into a house with a couple roommates. I was young but determined. I remember (not my greatest moment) thinking I knew what I was doing right out of school and I deserved to go straight into a nice salon, working full time and killing it! I was way wrong, and maybe a bit prideful. I had always refused to accept working in a mall setting or “chop shop.” I had to do just that! I started at a Regis, in my local mall! Talk about a big reality check, I wasn’t better than anyone else! It brought me down a level, helped me see things more clearly and helped build my skills, I didn’t think i needed built! I stayed there for my first couple years and then life threw me a curve ball and I was off to Utah! Last place on earth i ever imagined myself. Long story short, at that time you couldn’t transfer your California license over to Utah because Utah required more hours for licensing! I was devastated! Heart crushed and let down. I knew I couldn’t go back to school for the additional hours. So for years, (getting married, having a child and working completely different jobs) I only did hair on friends, by friend referral or on family. Not in a salon setting, mind you. 7 years passed and I finally was able to move my license from California, to Utah! I would definitely say that was a huge pivot from what I had originally saw my life going!

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

As far as growing my clientele, over the years (before social media) I would have to attribute my skills, but mostly my clients tell me it’s because of who I am that they come back. You have to have the skills, of course but lots of stylists are extremely skilled. I build relationships, some that have been 10+ years now. They become friends/family and you no longer just see them as client. You learn about their family and their life. They tell you things and vent! You’re a confidante, because you’ll listen and they know their secrets are safe with you. Just like in many industries, customer service comes first and foremost! And honestly not everyone has people skills!!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://winters-custom-hair-design.square.site
• Instagram: @hairbywinter_slc
• Yelp: Check out Winter’s Custom Hair Design! https://yelp.to/d1uUtWH0x-
• Other: Google – Winters custom hair design

Image Credits

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