Incredible Salon Success

Chicago Midwest show winners!

Congratulations to Taylor Andrews Instructor Dallin Flint and students Evan Stower, Josiah Anaya and Steph Simmons who all were winners in the Matrix Mannequin Mania contest at the Chicago Midwest Beauty show. Contestants had 15 minutes to style a mannequin. Dallin and Evan took first place in competitions both Saturday and Sunday and Josiah and Steph took third place on Sunday. Dallin, Evan, Josiah and Steph received their award from TV's Tabatha Coffey of Tabatha's Salon Takeover fame. 
Josiah Anaya, Tabatha Coffey, Steph Simmons, Dallin Flint and Evan Stowers. 

Alternative Hair Show - London

Former students having success- Janae Mechling Johnson

Recently former student Janae Johnson was back at Taylor Andrews for an advanced class which gave me the opportunity to sit down and find out what she has been up to. During her time as a student at Taylor Andrews, Janae was nominated by NAHA for Student Hairstylist of the Year. Janae recently won an Arties award from City Weekly as the best Artistic Hair Designer in Salt Lake City and is currently the Artistic Director for the Lunatic Fringe salons.

Taylor Andrews: Janae I hear your name all the time in the industry. It seems that you've really had some great success. What have you been working on lately?

Janae: I have been so lucky, working for Lunatic Fringe has given me some great opportunities. Last year I got to be Producer and Director for our One World Hair Show which was a great success. The show was based on Earth, Wind, Water, Fire and Cultures. Each salon took a segment and organized all of the run throughs and timing.

Taylor Andrews: It seems like you stay very busy at Lunatic Fringe, what are some of your other responsibilities? 

Janae: Well, in addition to my own clientele, I am responsible for creating the original vision for all of the artwork we use in the salons marketing and for the salons decor. It gives me the opportunity to show off my creativity through photo work.

Taylor Andrews: Speaking of your photo work, I just saw one of your collections in Behind the Chair magazine. I'm sure that it's been pretty exciting to see your work published.

Janae: It really has. It's always so rewarding to see your hard work recognized. It was a good year. I had collections published in Behind The Chair, Launchpad and Cut and Dried magazines. Recently I finished new personal and team collections for the North American Hairstyling Awards.

Taylor Andrews: What advice can you offer to students?

Janae: I really loved my experience at Taylor Andrews, I got a great education. Everything was so creative and hands on. I guess I would say to take advantage of all of the different classes that are offered. Be part of the photoshoots. Go on the school trips. They're so much fun. The national guest artists are fantastic too. The motivational classes were great, I still use so much of the information in my career. I really felt that you encouraged us and helped us believe that we could accomplish anything we wanted. I would say to remember that there is always so much more to learn and that you can learn from anyone. Oh, and I wish I had taken the Makeup course! 

Taylor Andrews: Thanks Janae for sharing with us!!

Some work from former student Janae Mechling Johnson 

Quotes I Love

When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it -- but all that had gone before.

Jacob Riis

Mentors

In the last two weeks we have been fortunate to have a few of the finest artistis the industry has to offer visit Taylor Andrews. Recently we had the amazing Phillip and Mary Wilson. Phillip's free form haircut techniques were mind blowing and inspirational, and Mary taught us some wonderful ways to relax and focus our energy on what is really important. This week we were able to spend time with Master stylist Nicholas French. Nicholas inspired everyone with his incredible portfolio of Award-winning Avant Garde work from the last forty years. Mentors are so important. One of the most important facets of success is a good mentor. I recommend that you are diligent in finding someone who is successful, who shares your purpose, objectives, and agenda, and then pay great attention to what he/she does and how they do it. Now that may seem obvious to you, but then how do you explain that 99% of Stylists and Salon Owners work as if they've never heard of this logic? Success is about following proven principles and then putting your own spin on it. That doesn't mean that you can't come up with some landmark new idea, but, it does mean you'll still use proven principles to make your idea work. I didn't know a lot when I started my first salon, but I was smart enough to search out the education I needed. I had incredible mentors like Dr. Lew Losoncy, Donn Matlack, Dennis Millard, Michael Cole and Sam Brocato. 20 years later I'm now an expert on Salon Success. However, I'm still learning. There is always something new to learn and someone new to inspire you. My recent mentors have been Phillip and Mary Wilson, Ann Mincey, Eric Fisher, Nicholas French and Amanda Gore. I am excited about what we have accomplished, but I am even more thrilled about what the future holds because of the principles I have learned from these amazing people. You too can become successful by finding a mentor and following their lead. Remember you can eventually get south by going due north, but you'll find success and prosperity much quicker by following a great example that leads you in the right direction.

 

Award-winning Avant Garde stylist Nicholas French
 

Former students having success- Jessica Cook

I had a chance to sit down recently with former student Jessica Cook, who is currently working at Ulysses Salon in Salt Lake City and was busy finishing an entry for the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA). During Jessica’s time at Taylor Andrews she was a finalist for NAHA Student Stylist of the Year.

Taylor Andrews: The last time we saw you, you had just graduated after being announced as a runner up for NAHA Student Stylist of the Year. What have you been doing for the past couple of years?

Jessica: Right after school I was fortunate to work for some of the finest stylists in Salt Lake City including Fumi Eguchi and Twan Tran of  Studio H2O Salon.  I really enjoyed learning from these great artists but I wanted a little more adventure and some new experiences so I moved to New York City and applied for and was hired by the Oscar Bond Salon in SoHo.

TA: How was your experience in New York?

Jessica: I absolutely loved it. Oscar and Wendy Bond are incredible artists and great people as well.  Oscar was known for his trendy yet beautiful cuts and Wendy is a multi award-winning hair colorist. Best of all, they were just really great people,  very encouraging, and fun to work for.  The salon worked on a lot of celebrities as well, which made it interesting. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt came to the salon and Claire Danes lived in our building. I also saw Jay Z and Beyonce while I was there.

TA: Why did you decide to come back to Salt Lake City?

Jessica: Oscar and Wendy decided to sell the salon to Sam Brocato who was one of my hair hero’s. I enjoyed the opportunity to learn from Sam but the environment of the salon changed and after nearly a year in New York I felt that it was time to come back to Salt Lake.

TA: Your new collections for NAHA are amazing.  Any advice for students?

Jessica: I am thankful for the all of the events we were part of at Taylor Andrews. It really opened my eyes to what opportunities were out there. Get involved and do all you can in school. Work with a great team and just keep practicing. You learn so much by just jumping in and doing it. I love photo shoots and editorial work and I have been fortunate to work with some great photographers this year including Mitch Meyer and Justin Grant. It seems that with each session I get a little better.

TA: You’ve done a lot in your short career. What are your plans now?

Jessica: I am seriously thinking of moving to Stockholm Sweden for the adventure. I just want to get out and explore something new!

TA: Thank you, Jessica , for taking time out from your schedule to talk with us.

Jessica's Student NAHA entry from 2008. 

Mission Possible - An Incredible Career in 52 weeks (Week 52)

Mission  52 Enjoy The Journey

One of my favorite Disney movies is the Lion King. I love its messages of family, responsibility and honor. And my favorite part is when old Rafekki bonks Simba on the head. Simba says “what was that for?” Rafekki says “It doesn’t matter it’s in the past.” Yeah, -but sometimes the past hurts.” “Sometimes it does, -but you can either run from it or learn from it.” Are we learning from our past mistakes and challenges. Too often we continue to try and live in the past and re-tell our challenges over and over. To re-tell is to re-live and often that is not a good idea. Your future doesn’t have to be the same. Tomorrow can be different from today if that is what you want. Look at your future and see the endless possibilities instead of being stuck in your past.Once you stop trying to control your past and let go, -then the past will let go of you. Don’t let time become your enemy by living in the past or the future. Live now! Love the journey. Because the journey really is the destination.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.