Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Cohen.
Heather, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In all honesty, I was on a very different career path in the beginning. On my mother’s insistence, I enrolled in business school. Right away, I knew this wasn’t for me. I needed color and fashion and sparkle and I wasn’t going to find that sitting behind a desk. So, unbeknownst to my mother, I left and enrolled at LIBS Beauty School. Needless to say, she was none too pleased when my letter of non-attendance arrived! Following beauty school, my first job was in Somerville at the Caputo Hair and Makeup salon, owned by Mark Caputo. I consider myself a successful business owner and I can directly trace my success back to the mentoring I received from Mark. He taught me technique, he taught me business savvy and most importantly, he taught me to teach and that, I feel, is the core of my success. b.LUXE Hair and Makeup Studio are founded on the belief that we are stronger as a team. I insist on synergy.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Of course, it wasn’t a smooth road! It was bumpy as hell, but, I’m immensely thankful for that! I think one of the most important things to keep in mind is that everyone struggles. Everyone has their own path to walk and a different towing capability for life’s challenges. What might seem easy-peasy to you might present itself as a mountain of difficulty for someone else. Our strength lies in our ability to extend our hand, share our knowledge and authentically celebrate the success of the people we surround ourselves with. My advice for success; Try! You’ll never look back and regret trying too hard. And after you’ve tried your hardest, try your weakest. Try at your saddest, try at your happiest and keep trying, even when you have nothing left. And when you think you’ve made it – help others make it.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about b.LUXE Hair and Makeup Salon – what should we know?
Our hair, makeup, and micro-blading services are second to none! There’s no question about that! The b.LUXE team is at the top of their game with the newest, most cutting-edge education. The girls travel the US, attending conventions, exclusive industry-lead classes, one-on-one demonstrations and participate in national competitions. We also have an amazing roster of senior stylists who have trained and worked internationally. These artists are extremely generous with their knowledge, time and talent and make it a priority to share their skills with the junior stylists. We specialize in all aspects of hair color and cutting, smoothing treatments and color correction. I support and encourage the stylists to not only excel behind the chair but to move past it and explore other artistic endeavors. We regularly contribute to commercial and editorial work, national ad campaigns, photo shoots, runway shows and movie sets. b.LUXE regularly participates in charitable events, philanthropic endeavors, local fundraisers and a yearly trip to Mexico to The Martello Institute of Beauty where two applicants are selected each year to receive their fully funded scholarships. For three seasons now, b.LUXE works throughout the year raising money. This year, we held a Beauty Basket Raffle that featured $400 worth of b.LUXE salon products and services. It also contained a variety of gift cards donated from our Mill neighbors, Molly’s Apothecary, Wendy Shea Photography, FBT Aesthetics, and Chat Noir Nails! We also work with our beauty distributors gathering product donations to outfit the entire class of students with top-of-the-line hair and makeup supplies! Like I said… we’re a team. We excel as a team, we cross the finish line as a team, and we celebrate together as a team. That’s what I’m most proud of.
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
Listening has worked well for me. I listened to Michael, my first employer, and gained huge benefits from his expertise. I listen to my clients and try my best to fulfill their needs. I listen to my staff and value their input. I listen to the industry and keep an open mind to new challenges and projects. I listen to the community and urge my team to do the same. We believe in giving back. If you can network and help people at the same time, it’s a no-brainer. One of the ways we have found to give back is to offer community fundraisers. We invite your group of 15-30 people for a night of beauty with mini-makeovers for hair and makeup. You select the charity and charge your guests a flat rate. Your charity keeps 100% of the proceeds and we get to meet and interact with 30 new people from the surrounding towns. It’s a win-win. I lucked into a very good situation after beauty school. Not everyone has that type of mentoring experience, but my advice would be this: Never stop asking questions, learn your craft, educate yourself and listen to people who are trying to share their knowledge and save you from some of the mistakes they made. We have a saying at b.LUXE – b.BOLD, b.DARING, b.BEAUTIFUL and b.MORE.
Contact Info:
- Address: Medway Mills, Suite 208
165 Main Street (Route 109)
Medway, MA 02053 - Website: bluxehairandmakeup.com
- Phone: 508-321-1624
- Email: info@bluxehairandmakeup.com
- Instagram: bluxehairandmakeup
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluxehairandmakeup/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/bluxehairandmakeup/overview/
Image Credit:
Jillybean Photography, Joan Sutton Photography
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