Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Graveline.
Lisa, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My love for all things beauty started at a young age. I was fortunate enough to have a mother who was skilled with hair and makeup and embraced my desire to express myself (with limitations, of course). Makeup was reserved for dance competitions, theatrical performances, and special occasions. I looked forward to the routine of dolling myself up for such events, applying my bright and dramatic stage makeup with excitement. At 10 years old I would go into hair appointments at a local children’s hair salon armed with reference pictures for my stylist. I always wondered what it would be like to work in such a field. To be able to play with hair day in and day out. Little did I know, how much was actually involved with such “play.” However, as I grew older these aspirations moved to the back of my mind as I became more and more involved in dance, theater, and school.
After high school, I started my freshman year at Dean College as a Dance major and although my grades were fantastic and I was performing well and improving rapidly, it just didn’t feel right. I struggled with major anxiety and knew something needed to change. The summer after my freshman year I began a Nail Technician program at Cosmix School of Beauty Sciences. The plan was to get my Nail Tech license and work through college and eventually go back for Cosmetology school. From my first day in the nail program, I knew there was no way I was going back to college. All of the excitement I had from my younger years came rushing back. I withdrew from college and enrolled in the Cosmetology Program at Cosmix. I went to school as much as possible trying to get the 1000 hours required before taking the licensing exam. But school was not easy. I was learning about chemistry, geometry, infection control, anatomy and physiology, and so much more than I ever could have imagined. It was overwhelming but I soon learned how making people feel confident day in and day out was so rewarding. That’s when I knew I was on the right path and wanted to spend the rest of my life doing just that; making people feel pampered and special.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Although I love what I do, it definitely was not a smooth road getting to where I am now. I received some criticism for deciding to withdraw from college and pursue a career in the beauty industry. Unfortunately, there is still a strong stigma surrounding skilled workers and viewing trades as “fallbacks.” For the majority of us, being a hair stylist, esthetician, or nail tech IS our career and implying that it is nothing more than a fallback is extremely damaging and discouraging to our community. It truly can be a rewarding career path, but getting started in any client-based field is never easy. It takes hard work, dedication, and consistency to build a clientele. I was fortunate enough to land a job out of school where I was allowed to both assist and perform services. Over five years later, I am still employed at Prisms Hair Design Studio & Spa where I first started out. I have been there to help the business grow from a small two-chair salon to a larger six station salon that now offers esthetic services as well. It has been amazing to see what rewards can come from persistence and an amazing support system of family, friends, and clients.
Please tell us about Prisms Hair Design Studio & Spa.
At Prisms Hair Design Studio & Spa, we pride ourselves on the fact that we are continuously staying educated. Recently we attended a class where the instructor informed us that only 20% of salon industry professionals continue their education after becoming licensed. It is so important to stay on top of the latest techniques, trends, and products so that we are always offering the best possible services to our clients. Personally, I would say my specialties lie in balayage hair painting, tape-in extensions, color corrections, razor cutting, special event styling, and makeup application. I pride myself on being extremely versatile in my work. I have clients with fine and thinning hair, clients with thick and curly hair, and clients with everything in between. Whether it is a change in color, cut, or simply a new styling technique, my education has prepared me to be able to offer solutions for any client who sits into my chair. I am also proud of the environment that we have created at Prisms. We provide award-winning services while still maintaining a warm, down-to-earth, and family friendly atmosphere for our clients. We were recently voted the #1 Hair Salon, Tanning Salon, and Day Spa in Framingham and won the Silver Medal for our region in each of those categories as well. We received this recognition solely based on the nominations of our clients. I think that goes to show how much our clients appreciate our hard work and the quality of services that we provide for them. And for that, I am most proud.
Contact Info:
- Address: 419 Worcester Rd
Framingham, MA 01701 - Website: www.prismshairdesign.com
- Phone: (508) 788-3400
- Email: prismshairdesign@gmail.com
- Instagram: @lg.confessionsofacosmetologist @prismshairdesignstudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrismsHairDesignStudioLlc/
Image Credit:
Sue Teplanksy Photography, Kate Donovan Photography
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