FROM BECKER, WITH LOVE: LESSONS I LEARNED

I am a strong believer in education. To truly succeed at anything, a constant pursuit of more knowledge makes you all the more primed to be your best. But I often think back to what I learned as a young stylist assisting one of the greats in Paris. To have a mentor pass his knowledge along to me became an invaluable part of my journey from then up to today. Here are some of the lessons I learned in those early days that I carry with me every time you visit me.

The foundation of balayage. Believe it or not, when I came to the U.S., balayage wasn’t really a service. But having learned it in its birthplace, France, I brought it to my clients back in the day. Knowing how to paint a custom color for each client that suits their face and head shape, skin tone, eye color and age gave me a real advantage then that I have perfected and used to this day.

Stay true to inspiration for consistency in your craft. I was encouraged to find out what inspired me. I always found myself coming back to nature, especially the natural movements of clouds and ocean waves. The waves look like my Twist and Texture haircut and how the layers move it. Clouds float in different positions and that inspired me to skillfully place balayage techniques when coloring. I found that, over the years, it became important to return to my main inspiration to refresh new ideas and stay creative.

Be yourself as you create vs. what you only learn in school. School can be very technical and … bland. We’re not robots! Being myself during the creation process allows me the freedom to be creative and go beyond boundaries. I always say: Be bold in your creations and polish the beauty in every single client.  

Dedication is the launchpad to happiness and success. It's important to keep going. It helped during the hardest times, even when you feel like giving up, you keep going and never stop no matter what. I learned there's always light at the end and keeping a goal ensures I’ll remain inspired.  

“The art of perfection or nothing at all." Perfection represents my artistic form, happiness, and condition of my heart. I put all three together to achieve perfection and see the Becker Babes happy when they visit my salon. I love to ask them how they feel to confirm we’re sharing the experience and feeling. It's transformative to their life and mine. Of course, perfection is challenging. I use it as motivation and must always adjust to be up to date with how the beauty world changes around me. 

Be yourself and follow your heart. This is something I’ve learned, and it’s a lesson I’d pass on to anyone, hairstylist and client. For hairstylists, have clear communication through consultation and determine the best look for clients. For clients, trust your stylist; this helps the creativity flow.  

As always, the main lesson I pass on to you is: Be you, be chic!