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Meet Brian Hinkle of Kefi by BjH in Arcadia

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Hinkle.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Brian. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Ever since I can remember, I have been infatuated with all things beauty: the Hair industry in particular.

Thankfully I have an amazing family who has helped support me and push me to follow my greatest passion, which leads to the incredible and thriving career that I have today.

I passed my Ohio State Board of Cosmetology test in March of 2008, despite the fact that I hadn’t even graduated from high school yet! ( That happened the following May).

I started my hairdressing journey in several neighborhood salons including a stint at the local Smart Styles in Bryan, Ohio. In 2009, I decided to expand my horizons (and my experience) and moved to Phoenix, Arizona where I currently reside.

When I got to Phoenix, I was an associate with the Regis company and their sister store Supercuts, where I worked my way up to salon manager. I felt as if I had finally achieved my dream, working and thriving in the industry in which I felt I was born to be a part. After three years however, I realized that while I didn’t so much mind working 40- 50+ hours a week, working with 15-20 clients a day did not give me the opportunity to give each person the attention that a smaller, more intimate venue might provide. I needed some time to step away and reassess what I was looking for in this industry and how best to utilize my skills.

It was then I decided to step back, take the time to think about the industry and how I could best apply my talents in a way that would benefit both me and my clients. To support myself during this time, I became a retail store manager. While I enjoyed my time at both Michael Kors and Aldo gaining valuable retail and managerial experience, I quickly realized that the hair industry was my true passion. Throughout my time in retail, I had continued my education and kept my cosmetology license current. I still had clients to whom I provided services and stayed on top of the newest trends and styles.

After several years of being away from the industry and introspection about what I was looking to provide to my clients. The Fairmont Princess in North Scottsdale offered me the opportunity to be an independent stylist in the “Well & Being Salon” where I grew tremendously and became more confident all-around in my craft and abilities as a stylist/artist. I realized the individual attention and the boutique atmosphere I could provide here was closer to the ideal setting that I wanted to provide, as well as more consistent with the way I saw working with my own clients.

With my growing awareness came the want to open my own salon. With the support team that I had built here in Arizona, now included a partner (who, in January of this year became my husband,) I finally realized that what I wanted and was now ready for, was to open my very own salon!

Like any new business owner, I was scared- I had never done it on my own before -but I had dreamed it, had studied for it, had worked hard for it. In February of 2018, I took the leap and opened my own boutique salon at 32nd st and Indian school: Kefi by BJH.

Everyone always asks what “Kefi” means: it’s Greek for Passion. I have a passion for life and an even greater passion for hair and education.

Two years strong and my business growing by leaps and bounds, my mantra remains Healthy.Happy.Hair.

I feel truly blessed that I am living my dream.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Throughout my career, I’ve had a few struggles but overall, I’ve grown from every single one. Here’s a few that stick out the most.

The hair industry, in general, has changed so much from when I first started that keeping up with all the latest trends wasn’t the smoothest road. Back then, education wasn’t so easily accessible, I feel like now I have so much education at my fingertips that my business is thriving in all areas.

When I did leave the hair industry for a brief moment, I realized it wasn’t that I was tired of doing hair I was tired of doing the same monotonous thing every day. Running my own salon I can fine-tune my niche and focus on what I want to offer.

Since I’ve opened my salon the first few months were a struggle. Filling the books, making sure I had all the products to do the services that I was offering, learning the ins and outs of online booking, taxes, and all the fun stuff. After the first slow summer, I have taken off and I’m blessed to say that my business is growing tremendously and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

We’d love to hear more about your business.
My Salon is Kefi by Bjh. I am a full-service hair salon. I specialize in blondes, lived-in color, and natural beaded row extensions.

I am mostly known for my hair coloring abilities.

I am most proud of my growth over the last two years, not only as a salon but also as my stylist I have done so much education on crafting my skills that I am producing more and more flawless hair transformations.

What sets me apart for my peers is my commitment to excellence and my pure passion for my work and all things hair.

Healthy.Happy.Hair is my mantra/motto and my clients will tell you I always put the health of your hair first.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was the outgoing social butterfly, my interests were very wide from working on the family farm to singing in junior choral society, cross country running to doing hair for the local prom. I’ve always had an interest in helping people become there best, in doing so I’ve been able to explore so many interests.

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