Today we’d like to introduce you to Diane Grogan.
Diane, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a hairstylist with 25+ years of experience working as an independent contractor, in a warm and inviting boutique salon in West Acton, Massachusetts. My schooling included a two-year apprenticeship at The Golden Curl Salon; graduation from Toni&Guy Academy; and continuing education through advanced coloring, cutting and styling classes in Boston, Los Angeles, and San Diego. I bring my experience and talent to my clients by collaboratively creating and complementing their professional and lifestyle images.
My journey in the hair industry started when I was 15 years old living with my parents and five siblings in Warren, Michigan where my family owned a hair salon. My mother and older sister were hairstylists, and my father worked for Chrysler. One day my father came home from work and announced to my mother and sister that he had bought them a hair salon.
I started out as a receptionist at the salon taking appointments and greeting our clients and became very interested in the art of hair styling, coloring, perming and cutting. At age 16, I enrolled in Michigan’s new two-year apprentice program in lieu of attending beauty school. I worked under a very skilled stylist and teacher, and those two years gave me hands-on experience in every aspect of hair styling.
My passion grew when I moved to California at age 20. I worked at Carlton Hair International in their Santa Monica Salon and called it home for nine years. They had a wonderful education program that consisted of a collaboration of stylists from their nine saloons.
There was tremendous talent among the many stylists, and we all shared our knowledge. I became a manager of the Santa Monica Salon, overseeing eight stylists and two assistants. This was an awesome experience where I grew both professionally and personally. Some of the stylists will forever be called my friends!
When I met my husband we moved to San Diego where I decided to break away from the commission model. I became an independent contractor at a small salon, an arrangement that allowed me to have freedom and flexibility for two years. My husband’s job then moved to Fresno, California where I worked for nine years as an independent contractor at The Spectrum Hair Salon, a large spa salon.
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?
Our family moved to Massachusetts in 1995. We had two small children, and my husband opened his own business. New to Massachusetts, I found myself a stay-at-home mom. After my husband and I raised our two wonderful children and became empty nesters, I wanted to go back to a salon lifestyle. But Massachusetts didn’t recognize my two-year apprenticeship or my license from California. This created a challenge as it required me to go back to school for 1000 hours in a licensed cosmetology school.
So off to school, I went. As an older woman among much younger students, going back was tough. As a joke, I told my daughter my new friends were younger than she was. The upside of going back was that the young students had a fire of creativity which inspired me even more! While in school I was able to participate in some exciting events, such as creating an avant-guard look for a Toni&Guy competition, where I placed in the top eight in the country.
I did hair and make-up for The Miss Massachusetts pageant, the Barbizon modeling school, and a fashion show fundraiser. I also had the pleasure of designing and creating the hair and make-up for my daughter’s ice skating performance in Theater on Ice with the Colonial Figure Skating Club. All of which I was very excited and proud to be a part of.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My business name is Diane Grogan Hairstylist, and I am an independent contractor in a small boutique salon in West Acton, Massachusetts. Doing hair isn’t just a job for me, it’s a passion! Active listening during the consultation is an essential part of doing hair, understanding my client’s needs and wishes and then guiding them to expectations realistic and flattering for their hair and face. I do this part very well, enabling me to have successful outcomes and setting me apart from others.
After doing hair for many years I would say I am most known for being an expert hair colorist, from a simple root retouch to complex balayage, multi-dimensional highlights, baby lights and color corrections. In addition, my clients tell me that because I work to understand each client’s hair and preferences, my haircuts and coloring advice make for easy styling between cuts. I have to say, I love all of it, cuts, braids, blowouts, up styles and also my new addition, make-up application.
West Acton is a smaller community, unlike the larger cities that I worked in or had a business in. The town of West Acton has been a great place to start and grow my business. The West Acton Merchants Association actively engage in the community. They organize events such as Holiday Stroll, Octoberfest, Marketing & Mingle, and Community Yard Sale. This allows the community to engage in all the businesses to help us grow.
The new West Acton Villageworks is a group of growing independent retail, dining, wellness, learning, non-profit, and professional businesses that make the community stronger. I enjoy working as an independent contractor, but it isn’t for everyone. New stylists starting out would need to work for a salon on commission or salary till they have a strong following.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up in Warren, Michigan. I was the second child of five siblings. Two girls and three boys. All are names started with the letter “D” Deborah, Diane, David, Douglas & Daniel.. My parents were Bernice and Robert, Bob for short. So I always called us B-B and the five D’s!
I was shy but put me on a softball field, I was outgoing and a strong competitor. Other interests were cooking, sewing and creative arts. I guess that’s why when I was introduced to the art of hairstyling at my parents’ salon, it was a natural fit.
Contact Info:
- Address: 260 Arlington Street Acton, MA 01720
- Phone: 978-697-3086
- Email: dianegroganhairstylist@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/di.meblonde/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Diane-Grogan-Hairstylist-at-Le-Petit-Salon-851923941568948/
Image Credit:
Mark Spooner Photographer
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