Daily Inspiration: Meet Rachel Bonn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Bonn.

Hi Rachel, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a proud Arizona native. I grew up in downtown central Phoenix in what is now considered the Arts District. I love the desert, and I am fourth generation on my Mother’s side. As I have always loved beauty and fashion, it was not surprising that I was drawn to make-up and the hair industry. At the young age of 24, I became a licensed esthetician and freelance make-up artist. Feeling like I needed to push myself further, I returned to Cosmetology school to learn about hair at 27. My first apprenticeship was with a salon that trained me under Toni and Guy’s philosophy. After 3 years with that salon, I had developed enough clientele to open my first salon suite independently. I realized early in my career that I enjoyed being my own boss. I developed strong relationships with most of my clients and rarely needed to advertise due to a steady flow of referrals. I have been in the business for over 24 years and have some wonderful star clients, such as Sam Fox, Tucker Woodberry, and Christopher Gross, who are local heavy hitters in the restaurant world. In 2019, I auditioned to be a color educator for Kevin Murphy, a brand I have been associated with for over 10 years. I now travel throughout Arizona, visiting various salons and teaching them how to use the color line. It is an enriching experience for me, and it feels perfect to give back to the community of hairdressers that I have grown to love so much. In the salon, I excel at helping people find their unique expression through hair. I have always believed that we deserve to feel good about ourselves and show our best version to the world. Even if you are a stay-at-home mom or work from home, feeling good about yourself and having the skills and confidence to recreate your style daily is essential. I enjoy supporting my clients by really taking the time to connect with them individually and listening to their needs.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Struggles are gifts in disguise. We learn so much about ourselves when we are challenged! There have been many ups and downs, but keeping a positive mindset and never giving up have kept me going. I always seek positive role models, mentors, and ongoing education to feel more confident. One of my mantras is, “the things that scare us most in life, if faced, provide the most growth.” This has always been true for me. I find a way to navigate through the fear and pain instead of running away from it. This has allowed me to grow professionally and personally. If I feel insecure about a skill or technique, then I try to learn everything I can about that particular thing and practice, practice, practice until I no longer fear it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, tell us more about your work next.
I am a creative artist through my hairstyling work. I visualize each person as a unique slate and focus on their strengths. I look at how they express themselves and try to complement that. I can do this through color and choosing color palettes that compliment their skin tone or eye color. I always consider  lifestyle and budget. I can accentuate their best features through hairstyles and haircuts designed especially for them and their needs. Hair is a big deal for most people! It is something that can make us feel good or bad about ourselves. I want to show my clients that they can love what they have with the right tools and knowledge and how critical home care is. Most people have no clue and have never been taught how to do their hair. I want them to feel empowered and that it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters to me is being the best version of myself I can be. I also want everyone else to be the best versions of themselves. I love to support others in any way I can. I will be your biggest cheerleader in life! As a woman, I greatly support other women and their accomplishments. If you are out there starting your own business and doing your own thing, and I believe in what you do, I support you above and beyond. My favorite thing is supporting other people’s work. I will send you business referrals and invest my time and money in supporting what you are doing. It’s not a competition. If we all stand together and build each other up, the world will be a better place. I believe in having integrity and honesty. I believe in having good values and morals. Success to me is not measured by material things but by how much you love what you do and what you stand for and staying true to who you are.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @rachelbonnhair