Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Adler.
Katie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
After graduating from high school, I started working in a busy retail store, while attending community college trying to decide what was in store for my future. I worked in multiple departments but mainly in the customer service area. After a few years of that, I started doing all the hiring and training within the store, which led me to the decision to major in HR. I had an opportunity to move to Texas to pursue that career within a family business. While still attending college classes down in Texas and working full time in the office, I soon realized sitting behind a desk was not the right career for me. I made the decision to return to Michigan and continued working in retail and in a local bar, tending bar in the evenings. I was 23 years old and had no clue what I wanted for my future; I felt stuck. One day while having a meltdown on the phone with my mom about what my future held, she introduced the idea of going to cosmetology school. I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about that idea- I mean, I loved doing hair and enjoyed the late nights of coloring my best friend’s hair in the bathroom or creating beautiful updos for homecomings and proms for friends and family, but wasn’t sure it was for me. I then signed up for a tour of the Douglas J Aveda Institute in Royal Oak and was hooked on the idea.
I knew in my life I wanted to be able to help people, but the idea of being a nurse or doctor were not for me. I quickly found my passion for life in the beauty world and realized I could help people feel their best selves every day. After graduation, I started assisting for an amazing stylist in Clarkston MI at Bellezza Salon and Spa, and am still in the same Salon to this day.
Throughout my years of building my clientele I found that I loved education and doing hair and makeup for weddings and special events. I was given the opportunity to become an educator for Morrocanoil where I was able to teach and educate fellow stylist on multiple levels from haircare to new styles and haircuts. I found a love for something else I never knew I would, and it gave me the opportunity to meet and network with so many phenomenal stylist not just locally but globally. While I am no longer educating, I am still behind the chair at Bellezza salon, doing special event hair and makeup in salon and onsite for anyone who needs it and some occasional editorial work.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Life in the beauty industry is never what I would call smooth. It’s been a journey, and I’ve learned a lot of valuable business and life lessons. In this industry, we sometimes can struggle with our craft not being taken seriously, our time is just as valuable as anyone else, and we have worked hard to gain the knowledge in our careers to get where we are, and this isn’t just a job anyone can do. It has taken time and hard work to get my name out there in the industry through word of mouth and social media. We can all agree that Covid was a struggle for all of us, learning how to navigate a new way of doing things and finding ways to utilize my time to continue my education while off and keep my craft sharp.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Hairstylist/Makeup Artist. I specialize in Color, Highlights, Haircuts (men and women) extensions, up styles, and down styles. Within my salon, I’m known for my balayage and specialized blooding services, and Special event hair and makeup. I think what I am most proud of and what sets me apart for others is one in the same. I have a broad spectrum of areas I can not only do but do well. I’m hardworking and passionate about my job.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking.
I think in everything you do there is a little risk. I believe that risk-taking sets you apart from others but also allows you as a person and a professional to grow. If you don’t take risks, how do you know? The risks I have taken in my career were to move on to booth rental as opposed to staying commissioned based. This allows to set my own schedule but also makes me solely responsible in my business. It takes patience, organization, and hustle. I also feel like I take risks when is comes to convincing someone to change their style or color because I know it will look good on them, but the possibility of them not liking it is very real-but; in turn, it also allows my clients to take a risk as well. I took a risk on becoming an educated, putting myself out there to be vulnerable in the world of hair, and forcing myself to learn to knowledge but then making sure I have the confidence to teach others. I would definitely consider myself a risk-taker.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kateadlerbeauty.wixsite.com/beauty
- Instagram: K.Tease_beauty
