Daily Inspiration: Meet Cassie Ziegler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassie Ziegler.

Hi Cassie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I went to hair school when I was 19- so about 20 years ago. I always loved doing hair, the idea of matching people with how they feel on the inside to what they see on the outside. I struggled finding a place to work that really fit with who I was and how I wanted to do hair. When I opened my own business about three years ago, everything changed. I’ve always wanted to create a safe space. Somewhere fun and filled with art- where everybody could be accepted, where we could collaborate together, where they could get what they wanted out of their hair, and where they could have an honest and fulfilling conversation with me. I wanted to create a place I could truly connect with people and take my time. I wouldn’t have gotten here if it hadn’t been for all of the things I had to do on the way, good and bad. Being a business owner and doing hair the way that I do has fundamentally changed me, for the better. I’ve always had cutting hair at the back of my mind, even when I pursued other endeavors. Fear of doing things the way that I wanted to, people not understanding my vision and not succeeding, all stopped me from doing things the way I do them now. To me, even doing this at all, and taking the risk, feels like a success. I believe in myself, I believe in my clients and friends, and I’m so grateful to work this job.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not always been a smooth road for me. About five years ago, I stopped drinking, not that I truly identify myself as an alcoholic, but as somebody who has always had a complicated relationship to their healing journey. I spent a lot of my life drinking in bars and running away from things that I didn’t even know I was running away from. Now I am who I was always supposed to be and I trust myself. If I had continued down the path I was on, there’s no way I would be a business owner now. I have the confidence and the tools I need now to take care of myself and others in a way that makes me, and hopefully people coming into my space, feel full.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I cut hair, but I do it differently. I only dry cut hair, sometimes I use the aid of a cutting spray or a mist of water if necessary. There’s no styling, there’s no washing, there’s no blow drying or straightening, I like to spend an hour just cutting your hair so that your haircut is very detail oriented, every little piece has its place.
I love texture, I love working with what you have and not fighting it, I love razor work, I love creating individual and unique styles. Making sure people are happy with their haircut when they leave is incredibly important to me. I want there to be an open form of communication between my client and I- so that we can work on this together and they don’t have to feel apprehensive to tell me if there’s something that needs to be altered. I’m so proud of creating a business model that feels like it aligns with who I am as a person. I care about everybody that comes into my studio and sits in my chair so very much. All I want is to make people feel heard, accepted, and good about themselves.

What matters most to you?
Staying true to myself. I spent a lot of my life trying to make everybody else happy and not making myself a priority. Deciding to take care of myself impacts my business positively. Every single haircut I do is done with care, creativity, and love and I couldn’t do it any other way if I tried.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://catherineziegler.glossgenius.com/
• Instagram: @cassie.cuts.hair