Conversations with the Inspiring Stefanie Richards

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stefanie Richards.

Stefanie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started out in the industry 15 years ago. I was a receptionist at a salon in my hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. I kept going to school for many other things (Psychology, Exercise Science and Nutrition), but eventually followed my intuition and went to Cosmetology School. I have now experienced many aspects of this industry from salon coordinator, to stylist, to educator, to management and now salon ownership.

I started my career as a stylist in Los Angeles. I relocated to Phoenix almost 5 years ago, and that is when I took over management of rePose Salon and Spa in Downtown Phoenix. Sadly, a few weeks ago we were informed that the building our salon was in had been sold. We were given very little notice and had to move out quickly. I was offered a corporate position making 6 figures, quarterly bonuses and great benefits. One catch… it meant I would have to shift careers. I opted to pass this up in order to open a salon for me and my staff. I employ and incredible, all-female team. There was no way I was going to break up our family, no matter what.

We are now in a temporary location while our new salon is being built. We will be opening Ash Copper Salon and Wellness Center in just a couple of months. I know a lot of people would look at this as a problem, but all I see is a blessing beyond my wildest dreams. While planning Ash Copper, I felt an undeniable calling to expand and create not just a salon, but a wellness center also. We will be providing the traditional salon and spa services that we always have, but it will be so much more than that. I am adding services such as Reiki, Spiritual Counseling, Meditation Classes, and Wellness Workshops. Ash Copper will truly stand out as an environment to not only provide beauty on the outside but also a healing place to expand Spiritually from within.

I love making people look and feel beautiful, but how important is that really if I can’t help people radiate their inner beauty as well? I have always searched for deeper meaning in my work and I was finally given the opportunity to do so. I can not wait!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a stylist in an incredibly difficult path. Most people are surprised to hear this. The salon industry is oversaturated and it’s a lot of work to build a clientele. It’s almost impossible to do so without financial support or multiple jobs for the first few years of your career and sometimes, beyond that.

Managing rePose was the best and also most difficult part of my journey. We faced many challenges. The salon went through several changes in ownership and management just within its first two years. I inherited a staff that had really been through the ringer and it was up to me to build their trust and help them to reach their financial goals. We all experienced life during our years together. We experienced serious illness, domestic abuse and freedom from that, death, new life, single-mom life, and co-parenting together. We’ve also experienced a lot of laughter, holidays together, dance parties at midnight after a 15 hour day… we’ve really become sisters.

My best advice for anyone coming into this industry is that you must be very dedicated. Unless you eat, sleep, and breathe this passion you will not make it. You have to be willing to market yourself, provide incredible guest services and become a pro at your craft. You must be prepared to spend a minimum of $500 annually in Advanced Education or you will fall behind. You have to learn the laws and make sure you are in a salon that is paying you legally. Most salons don’t, unfortunately. Know your rights and find your tribe.

what should we know about Ash Copper Salon and Wellness Center? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I personally specialize in hair painting. I hand paint my client’s hair with a paintbrush and a clay lightener. I also offer advanced hair coloring. What sets me apart is that I operate from Integrity in every aspect of my job – from keeping the integrity of my clients’ hair to integrity with pricing and the way I treat people. My staff is diamonds and my guests are gold.

I’m extremely proud that we are a green salon, meaning that we recycle everything from chemicals, to the actual hair that we sweep off the floor!

We also do all we can to give back. We have worked with many charities including The Vanderpump Dog Foundation, fighting to stop the Yulin Dog Meat Festival. We had a dog party last year, and that was everyone’s favorite charity event. We donated all of the money to VDF. We’ve also worked with the Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels who assist families of children going through Chemotherapy. It’s extremely important for me to give back and I try to instill this in my staff as well.

Part of what we are doing with Ash Copper is creating a charity for women in domestic violence shelters. We will be selling Yoga blankets in the salon. For every blanket purchased one gets donated to a woman in a shelter. We go into these shelters and teach them Guided Meditation and Healing. The idea behind this is that it is something that nobody can take from them because they will learn to carry that peace within. The blankets are a comforting reminder that they have the power to go within and receive guidance from their higher selves.

Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
The most inspiring women I have ever know are my grandmother and my mother. My grandmother is 92 years old and she still goes to aerobics class, drives, and sends me text messages, including emojis. She has an incredible faith, despite some very difficult times. My mother passed years ago and she will always be my guiding light. She taught me how to rise up from any difficulty and keep going. I’m extremely fortunate to have the ability to pick myself up by the bootstraps and keep moving forward no matter what happens. She is really my inspiration in my work with women and single mothers.

Pricing:

• Hair Painting – $150+
• Women’s Haircut – $58
• Men’s Haircut – $38
• Holy Reiki Energy Healing – $58/hour

Contact Info:

• Website: www.reposesalonandspa.net
• Phone: 323-274-5044
• Email: stefanie@reposesalonandspa.net
• Instagram: @stefanierichardsstylist

Image Credit:
Stefanie Richards

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