In July, at a press conference at Cosmoprof North America, Beauty Changes Lives Founder Lynelle Lynch kicked off the organization’s ScholarTips campaign, aimed at providing future beauty professionals with words of wisdom from some of the most successful people in the industry while simultaneously raising money for beauty scholarships.

“To date, Beauty Changes Lives has raised more than $3.5 million in scholarships that have changed the lives of hundreds of professionals. However, participation has historically been limited to the foundation’s board, sponsoring companies and the scholarship judges who as industry icons generously volunteer their time and expertise,” Lynch says. “We wanted to create a fun, interactive challenge that would allow all professionals to unite behind an industry cause supportive of the beauty and wellness profession.”

At the press conference, CND President Jan Arnold ignited ScholarTips’ momentum with a $5,000 donation, while Wella and Salon Today pledged to challenge the stylists, owners and other professionals in their networks.

The ScholarTips challenge invites professionals to share two kinds of tips with future beauty professionals—a tip of money as a donation to the Beauty Changes Lives scholarship fund, along with a tip of advice in the form of a video posted to Facebook or Instagram and hashtagged with #ScholarTips and #IGaveaTip.While donated tips are beginning to fill the foundation’s scholarship coffers, more than 1 million impressions have been made from the hundreds of tips shared through social media.

Recently, CosmoProf jumped on the fund-raising bandwagon, announced a partnership with Beauty Challenge Lives to encourage shoppers to donate while shopping at their 1,325 stores or through a designated sales consultant. Throughout November and December, limited edition Licensed to Create cosmetic bags will be available for $9.99, with $1 of the purchase price going to Beauty Changes Lives.

Salon Today readers can continue to participate by offering their words of wisdom through social media channels, donating tips of money to Beauty Changes Lives and challenging their peers and team members to do the same. For more information on how to get involved, visit www.beautychangeslives.org/scholartips.

Through the campaign, salon owners offered a wealth of wisdom. Click on the highlighted names below to view their videos:

“Create beauty with your heart as well as your hands…this will make people look and feel their best.” —Lisa Fiorentino, co-owner of Hello Gorgeous!, a chain of salons and spas based in New Jersey

“Listen and shadow! Once you get into a salon and you find one or two people that you really want to emulate, approach them and say, ‘Can I shadow you? Can I listen to what you’re saying? I would truly like to learn from you.’ I’m sure they’d be flattered, and you can learn from them and emulate their success.” —Shelley North, owner of Glow Beauty Boutique, Braintree, MA

“Put your heart into whatever you do. If you approach this business with an attitude of gratitude, a heart of service and a spirit of creativity in all things, it will be a joyful experience whether you decide to teach, travel for a manufacturer, be a craftsperson or build a big business.” —Cindy Monten, owner of Cindy Monten Art & Beauty, Excelsior, MN

“When you get into this business, you are going to be interviewing with salons. You want to impress on that business what your core value is. What are you bringing to the table that’s going to make this business a better place? You walk into a lot of salons, and they are just brick and mortar without the people. What the owner knows that you don’t know is that people are paid based on the value they bring to the marketplace. So, focus on impressing the owner about why they should invest in you.” —Bryan Nunes, owner of Blo, Raleigh, NC


“Be cognitive in everything you do, in every moment. Cognitive thinking is super important in those micro moments of guest experience. Take you time to speak well and make a specific connection with the guest.”—Wade Zylstra, director of CARE and co-owner of Lux Aveda Salon and Spa, Fullerton, CA



“It’s an interesting industry that we live in. It’s one where you can use your creative side and your logistical side more than ever. It’s all about working to your strengths and managing your weaknesses For those of you more on the creative side, you’re going to learn to make friends with that left hemisphere because your goals and numbers will all be tracked and measured. For those of you who more linear, you’ll make friends with your creative side.”—Terry McKee, co-owner of Nuovo Salons and Spas in Sarasota, FL



“The most important thing you can do is figure out what your own personal brand is. How you want to dress, what you want to wear, what you want to be known for, what kind of clients you attract, what kind of hair you want to do. Figuring out your purpose and how you want the world to know you will help you stand out, attract clients and be successful.” —Inez Gray, owner of Habitude Salons and Spa in Seattle, WA

“Find a salon that gives you the opportunity for training and education. Make sure the salon meets your core values and your vibe. It’s about the culture of the salon, so feel that energy when you come into the salon.” —Kellie Diana Johnson, owner of Elan Hair and Makeup Studio in Sea Girt, NJ

“Find and follow your passion and the money will follow. If you truly love what you do, then you’ll be successful. We are in an industry with an unlimited amount of possibilities from being a stylist to an educator to a salon owner.” —Coral Pleas, owner of Cutting Loose Salons and Spas, Sarasota, FL

“Be your best self at work every single day. We are on stage from the time you walk in the door until the time you leave. Even when you’re off stage in the break room, try to stay on stage in your heart and in the words that come out of your mouth. Be your best self even when no one is watching you.” —Bonnie Conte, owner of Avalon Salon and Spa in Deer Park, IL

“Be willing to do things outside of work to give back to your community and while you’re doing that, you’ll attract new clients.” —Wendy White McCown, owner of Signatures Salon in Lake Charles, LA, who took us viewers to an event at Roll Indoor Cycling

“Always have an open heart and a humble spirit. Always be willing to learn and get involved with your community.” —Lensi White, stylist from Signatures Salon in Lake Charles, LA

“Throughout your career, pick your teachers and mentors, listen to them and work hard. And your teacher will have your back. It’s very important to find the right people to hang with and grow with.” —Ginger Boyle, owner of Planet Salon in Los Angeles, CA

“Always be a student. No matter how great you become or how far you get, open your heart to learn because no matter who you are, you are always in the place where you don’t know what you don’t know.” —Van Khanh Nguyen, owner of Karen Allen Salon and Spa in Riverside, CA

“Have patience and build a strong foundation of education, because that is how you will develop the confidence and skills to be great. Whatever work you are doing, it has the represent you at the very highest level for wherever you are. So whether you are a one-year stylist, five-year stylist or 20-year stylist, you need to keep taking classes and learn what’s new so you can stay fresh, relevant and the best you can be.” —Karie Bennett, owner of Atelier Salon and Spa in San Jose, CA

“To behappy, you need to have a balance. Learn how to eat right, drink lots of water a day, sleep many hours, come to work refreshed and looking great, spend time with family and good friends who believe in you and support you, and do what you like to do. You’re going to be working many hours and you don’t want to burn out—so make sure you invest 10 hours every week in your soul.” —Ronit Enos, a hair stylist and the former owner of Maxime’s in Boston, MA

“Having a mentor is essential to growth. It can ensure your success because you have someone who holds you accountable. Finding a mentor is easy, but being a good mentee is harder. Listen when you find a mentor you respect. If they believe in you more than you believe in yourself, believe them. Respect their ability to see in you what you can’t see yourself.  Put into action the things that you learn from your mentor, and you’ll be successful.” —Tamra Fiedler Segerts, owner of Studio 700, Corona, CA

“Take the time to Google the top 10 to 15 salons in your community. Pick up the phone, ask to speak to the manager, introduce yourself and tell them what your future plans are and see if you can ask a few questions. If you’re lucky enough, they might invite you in to spend time in their space with their team. You might be surprised to find how easy it is to get in a salon and in front of an owner and pick their brain.”—Chris Murphy, owner of Maximum FX Salons in Austin, TX

“Always think about paying it forward. As you grow and learn and improve in your career, take a hand reach back and pull someone forward with you. It’s never too early to start teaching. As soon as you know something, share that with someone.” —Joelle Ray, co-ownr of Samuel Cole Salon in Raleigh, NC

“Give 100 percent every day. There may be days you may come up short, and feel like not going to work. Every day, no matter what, no matter how you get to work, make sure when you come through the door you are ready to give 100%. Those who differentiate themselves in this industry, do that every day.”—Jack Cole, co-owner of Samuel Cole, in Raleigh, NC

“I have a son who is getting his license in the next couple of months and I’ve been thinking about what advice to give him. When it comes to finding a salon, find the right fit and stay with it for a long time. I’ve found when you can find the right home, stay with it and keep your clients going, that’s when you can excel in this industry.”—Gayle Fulbright, owner of Headlines The Salon in Encinitas, CA

“Always be authentic. Be you. Your best you is what is what’s going to make the difference, because when we touch people we change lives. Hairdressers are amazing people. Eighty percent of what we do in on the inside, 20 percent is the hair. You never know what’s going on with the clients who are coming in and how you can make a difference.”—Rowena Yeager, owner of Studio Wish Salon in Twinsburg, OH

 

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