Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Cryer.
Madison, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I always knew I wanted to do hair when I was gifted barbies and would always want to do something with their hair! Fast forward a few years later, I started at Mesquite High School and the girls on my cheer team always wanted me to braid their hair or put it up in a pony. I was the go-to girl for competition and prom hair and it came very easy to me! My mom mentioned the idea to attend EVIT during my junior and senior year and I haven’t looked back since! It was one of the best decisions I ever made for myself. By the time I graduated high school, I pretty much had a career for myself doing something that I loved by the time I was 18. I worked as an apprentice for a little while at a commission salon, but I knew I wasn’t going to be working under someone forever. I ALWAYS wanted to own my own salon! After two and a half years, I decided to go out on my own with my friend @michellemartinezhair back in November of 2018 and that’s when M&C Hair Company was born! It has been a wild ride to get to where I am, but I love being a little salon owner and doing my own thing.
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?
It wasn’t easy trying to make sure all of my ducks were in a row and doing what I needed to do in order for the salon to get up and running! Starting up wasn’t exactly hard, but it did take a lot of patience and time and was definitely challenging to do everything correctly with the state board and all the licensing needed for Arizona. After opening, I realized that it has been difficult to find a work/home balance and finding time to spend time with my husband while also needing to book clients! I’m always someone that wants to take care of someone right away so that’s definitely been a struggle for me! I’ve also realized that I really have to plan out my days according to when I have clients. When I don’t have clients, I find myself either going to the color store, doing inventory, going to get snacks for clients, cleaning the salon, etc. it’s a never ending cycle of things that constantly need to be done but it’s definitely gotten easier; I’ve learned a lot about time management and I’m constantly finding solutions to things I struggle with!
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I love my brides! Weddings are one of my most favorite things to do. There is nothing more exciting than turning a bride around on their special day to look at their hair, and see their face completely light up! It makes everything so worth it! There is so much that goes into their big day and I feel so lucky that I get to play such a big role in that! When I’m not doing hair for a wedding I love to do balayages and blondes. I call it the 4 B’s because I love my Brides, Blondes, Balayages, and Braids! I will almost ALWAYS. If I have the time, finish off a client with a braid just so I can take an after picture! I love that I can form relationships with my clients, make them feel beautiful while they sit in my chair, and make them feel like models when they step outside for me to take an after picture! There’s nothing more rewarding than that and makes my job that much more amazing!
How do you define success?
I think that this question could go in many directions but to me, success is an attitude and requires the most amount of effort and I think what defines success in my industry is referrals. I live off of referrals and personally, when I’m looking for someone to do something for me, I will go out and ask people on social media who they would suggest for that particular service! In my eyes, if a client refers someone my way, that means I’m successfully doing my job as a stylist and that they genuinely love their hair and want more people sent my way! Referrals are everything to me and they play such a huge role in my business!
Pricing:
- Balayages start at 125
- Blondes start at 80
- Styles are 65
- Contact me for pricing for bridal hair!
Contact Info:
- Address: 480.227.3526
Madison.milano@gmail.com
@hairbymadisonriley - Phone: 4802273526
- Email: madison.milano@gmail.com
- Instagram: @hairbymadisonriley
- Facebook: Hair By Madison Riley
Image Credit:
@hairbymadisonriley Madison Milano
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