Success Story: Natalie’s Story

Don’t be surprised where your dreams will take you. As I approach my fifth anniversary with LookAfter Hair Company, I see how far I’ve come. 

I joined the LookAfter team with little to no experience right after school. I had only worked in a neighborhood salon that was slow and I had little mentoring, and it soon closed. I knew that at my next salon, I wanted to have more education and someone to help me grow as a stylist.  I came across LookAfter.  Honestly, I wasn’t familiar with LookAfter, and coming from a more ‘high-end’ salon / spa, I was hesitant to apply.  I decided to give them a try and in my interview, they talked about all the classes they provide and, to top it off, I got paid to go!  I was sold, so of course when they offered me a position I took it.

When I started at LookAfter, I quickly realized how little I really knew and how much I needed to work on. I was committed to get better and make more money, so I watched every person in my salon do hair with every single service and asked lots of questions.  I’m sure I was a little annoying, but I was determined to do great hair.  I went to every….I mean EVERY class I could attend, and I followed the lead of my team.

I was becoming confident in my work, and good things really started happening. Within about eight months I was asked to be an assistant manager.  I was so happy my efforts had been recognized!  I love that LookAfter celebrates you when you are doing well. As I grew into a more confident stylist my clientele grew, I was exceeding goals, and everything was great.

My story hasn’t come without challenges. We’ve had our moment when our salon was short-staffed, but with the help of fellow LookAfter locations, we became staffed again and we now have a wonderful team. Today, I come to you as manager, or as we like to say, LEADER of my salon. I couldn’t be more proud.

Even as leader, or rather, ESPECIALLY as leader, education is still a vital part of my career. I was attending a Matrix class, and I learned so much and was so motivated to go back in the salon and share new techniques.  I started to think, ‘Someday I wanted to be an educator and inspire other stylists.’  After some time passed, I had mentioned wanting to help teach classes at LookAfter with my LookAfter coach. I was asked to join the LookAfter In-House Education Team.  Things were moving in the right direction toward my new goals!

I had attended another Matrix class and decided to ask about how to become a Matrix educator.  I followed the list of application requirements, made the audition video…  As I waited to hear back, I prepared myself for rejection, and I started make plans on how I would improve over the next year and reapply.  To my surprise, I was asked to become a Matrix educator as well! I was beyond excited! After all this time my dreams had come true. Now, I can bring Matrix education back to my LookAfter team!

Here I am, manager of LookAfter Hair Company of Waterloo, LookAfter In-House Educator, and now, Matrix Educator! I’M SO THANKFUL TO BE PART OF THE LOOK AFTER FAMILY, A COMPANY WHO VALUES EDUCATION AND HELPING EACH STYLIST REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. 

Thank you for allowing me to share my journey with you. It’s only the beginning.  Where will your dreams take you?