Life and Work with Lisa Loring

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Loring.

Lisa, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Hello, I’m a stylist and the owner of Truly Blessed Hair Design. My testimony. Growing up, I was a bang girl you may ask what does she mean by that. When I became old enough to do my own hair I really put a lot of effort in my bangs. Well as time went on there’s this one particular cousin of mine who lived in Tucson where I spent most of my summer breaks, that is I would spend most of my time. Whenever it would be time for us to go somewhere, she would insist that I would do her bangs before we went anywhere. I must admit becoming a hairstylist wasn’t a twinkle in my eye, but always enjoyed playing around with my hair and other’s if asked. Fast forwarding in 2002, I just had my third child and finances were extremely low and I remember praying that if I had a gift that would bring extra money in the house on the side, how I could be a blessing to our home. I didn’t think no more into it sometime later, I received this phone call that if I could do one of the evangelist from the church hair that would be leaving for out of town and had everything in order but her hair which was brought to her attention by an aunt of mine. My aunt called me up and I was able to provide the service as requested not as a licensed professional but just of being a help. She did pay me for my service and others saw and liked what they saw. That evangelist always would tell me I should go to school to make a career out of doing hair. I remember every time she would mention that I would reply, No Thank you! As time went on, I continued to do hair as one would say as an armature with no desire to go to school to become licensed, (why someone would ask) one of my reasons at that time, I was in a marriage and the contact with others in a salon environment world just wouldn’t mix and well as my insecurities within myself.

As time went on, the aunt that I spoke on earlier who by marriage was the aunt of my husband at a time, I would always do her and daughter hair. Their hair was and is naturally curly, so I would shampoo and condition and straighten. There was this one particular time where my aunt had her done by her close friend who was a professionally licensed hair stylist she had saw the work that I had done on her daughters hair and requested that I get in contact with. Well, I did, she expressed how impressed she was with me and asked that I would become her shampoo girl. Well, I did, I eventually went to hair school after my separation which turned into a divorce. I then became a single parent raising three children working full time as well as going to cosmetology school full time, volunteering at a daycare and yes, still a shampoo girl. It was all worth it! Here I am today, in my own salon, Truly Blessed Hair Design and Blessed is just what I am!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road most definitely hasn’t been smooth, the pot holes, dips, dead ends and wrongs ways have been life lessons that I used to work for me and not against. They have help mode and shape me to get me where I am and where I’m going. In the salons that I have worked in, I learned some do’s and a lot of dont’s I took heed to what was around me but in the same sentences made efforts to not allow myself to be caught up within the tangles that surrounded me. First starting out, you want to know if booth rental or commission is best for you and what is and isn’t included. Knowing how much you are worth having confidence in you and your work, but always having an open mind ready to receive wise counsel and not always feeling that you know it all with that mind set, you will not get very far. I’ve learned and still learning that I am ever learning and that’s why no matter how long I may have been servicing a client each time they sit in my chair, I provide them the service as if it was the first time.

Please tell us about Truly Blessed Hair Design.
My services that I provide more than others are natural hair usually the client request that there hair is straighten not chemically but with heat, weaves, wigs and beading installation. working with clients who have lost there hair due to alopecia or cancer. all over color relaxer and curly perms up dos. My clientele are mostly women and children. My motto is “The Gate To Healthy Beautiful Hair” Hair care is and has always been who and what i’m all about.

There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
Throughout my journey, there wasn’t just the one mentor I have looked at each experience as a mentor. I must admit networking has always been my weakest point. I looked at that as an opportunity to network. Word of mouth has always been my way of networking which isn’t as popular as it once was.

Contact Info:

• Address: 9020 S McClintock Dr suite #22 Tempe, AZ 85284
• Phone: 480-788-2439
• Email: trulyblessedhair.scheduler@gmail.com
• Instagram: trulyblessedhair_lisa
• Facebook: Facebook.com/trulyblessedhairdesign
• Other: trulyblessedhair.appointy.com

Image Credit:
Lisa Loring

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