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Conversations with the Inspiring Pam Rackey

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Pam Rackey.

Pam, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was fascinated with hair color and crazy haircuts from a very young age. I was never the little girl who sat behind her friends and braided their hair, I was in my bathroom bleaching and coloring my hair and giving myself shaved on one side wedge haircuts. I did a couple years trying the college life but it just wasn’t for me. I moved back home and went to beauty school where I found my destiny. I have been doing hair about 24 years. I started in my hometown in Northern California and eventually worked my way up to the Wine Country where my husband and I bought a house. I worked in Healdsburg for about 18 years and built an amazing clientele. I was booked solid about 50+ hours a week. After a while, as amazing as that was, I was just getting tired and felt like I couldn’t go at that pace anymore. Living in Northern California is expensive and I had no choice but to work that hard to survive financially there. Working all the time because you have to and not because you love it anymore was bumming me out. Don’t get me wrong, I had the best job ever and the best clients but I was burnt out. Anyway, I came to Scottsdale on vacation a few years ago and fell in love. My husband and I decided to pretty much quit our crazy, busy lives and just pick up and move, like… in about four months time. We realized we could live a much less expensive and simpler life than the rat race back home, go to work because we love what we do and not just to survive. I have truly found my passion again here, I have more time to be with my clients and learn new areas of my craft. I found the greatest salon to work at here with the best girls I could ask for but after a few years, they had to close. One of the owners, Wendy and I decided to just open a cute little Suite salon where we didn’t have a lot of overhead so we could, you guessed it, go to work because we love it and not because we had to. It’s right in Old Town so we are in the best location and I absolutely love going to work every single day now… on my terms!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No way has it always been a smooth road! I made $5 an hour when I first started out, living in one of the most expensive areas in the United States! Sure, my parents helped me at first but when I met my then boyfriend, now husband, it was up to us to make that money. We worked really hard at our careers, flourished and definitely built a great life. After years of success, we decided to give it all up and move! It took me a long time to build the clientele I had and moving here, I had to start all over again so at times I have felt like I’m right back where I was at the beginning of my career. I am starting to build an amazing clientele and routine here though. Hard work, a good work ethic, and determination would be my advice for anyone starting out because I know that is what will get me back to where I was back in CA.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I do haircuts but my true specialty is color. I would say I’m known for not only the color I can create but for the product, I use to do them. I use a more natural enzyme developer called Vida Of New Orleans. It is fewer chemicals, less damage and it makes the color last longer. Most people tell me their color will not only last longer but that their hair feels so much healthier. I would say as a brand, I am most proud that when people come in, they feel welcome, comfortable and calm and when they leave, they feel beautiful. I would like to say what sets me apart is my personality. I am very professional but with just a little bit of edge. At least, that’s what my clients say! I am definitely a people person and enjoy bonding with our clients! I really love making people feel beautiful inside and out!

What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
What barriers?! Women have kicked them down! There are too many women in power and high profile positions anymore to say otherwise. We are too strong-minded for barriers.

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Image Credit:
Pam Rackey, Wendy Gunther

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