Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Booth.
Nikki, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I always was creative. All through my adolescence, I had an affinity for the arts; I loved writing poetry, sketching and drawing, and [attempting] to teach myself the piano. I also was very into fashion trends, makeup, and hair, and experimenting on myself became my new favorite pastime. I got my professional start in a local salon, assisting/shampooing/reception. It didn’t take long before I realized that this was the path for me. After getting my cosmetology license in 2006, I gleaned a little experience here and there landed at I Design Salon in 2008. It quickly became my home and a decade later I am still happy to be a part of such a supportive and reliable team.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I think in any creative industry a big struggle is making mistakes. In the world of hairdressing/hair coloring, there is no one correct solution for any problem; we have hundreds of avenues to get to the desired result and it is up to us to make those decisions based on what we think will be best for each specific customer. Sometimes, we can be hard on ourselves when things don’t turn out exactly as we expected. We cannot be too critical of ourselves; I always try to remember that every mistake can and SHOULD be made once, and only once. Learn from it, grow from it, and evolve. The mistakes will naturally become fewer and farther between. For anyone just starting out, the best advice I could give would be to get your hands on every head of hair that you can. Use your friends and family to practice and gain your confidence. They will also be your best billboards and will help you start your clientele. Continue your education throughout your entire career – you can literally never stop learning in an ever-changing industry so take advantage!
What makes I Design Salon so great?
I Design Salon has been making the Hinsdale Community beautiful for 18 years. We are a family owned business founded by 3 partners backed with over 70 years combined experience in the hair industry. In 2016 we were recognized by Hinsdale Magazine as one of The Readers’ Favorite Salon of the year. Because of our family-like culture, we have been embraced by the community for our welcoming atmosphere, outstanding customer service and our unrivaled creativity. We have an extremely talented team of long standing stylists, each possessing their own specific strengths. At the salon, I specialize in Haircolor, Balayage/Hairpainting, Color Corrections, and Hair Extensions services. I enjoy the instant gratification of a huge change that I can deliver to my customers. I have a very meticulous and detail-oriented personality and I get extreme satisfaction out of tedious tasks, which is why I think I took so naturally to bigger services like color corrections and hair extensions. I think my attention to detail is what sets me apart. I am most proud of my customer service and the long term relationships that develop out of it. I enjoy being a salon mentor to the young stylists as well as an educator. In addition to overseeing the color education at I Design, I am also part of the Sunlights Balayage Artisan team, whose goal is to spread balayage specific education around the globe. We welcome you to come see what we are all about!
Which women have inspired you in your life?
I’m lucky to have my mom and my mother in law as my two biggest inspirations; over the years they have exhibited what true physical and emotional strength and perseverance is all about. My older wiser half-sister has shown me what it means to live and love and survive after great loss. My younger free-spirited sister is a constant reminder to me to follow your heart wherever it may lead you and to not take yourself too seriously. Professionally, we are all so lucky now to have thousands of positive influences through social media. I’m inspired on a daily basis by my peers in the industry!
Contact Info:
- Address: iDesign Salon
777 York Rd
Hinsdale IL 60521 - Website: www.idesignsalon.com
- Phone: 630-986-0000
- Email: nikkilaynehair@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/hairbynikkilayne
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