Hey there! It's time to share Part 1 of my journey with you all. While I've touched on it on social media and my website bio, I believe it deserves a dedicated spot here, on the blog.
Part 1: TIME
I have been a hairstylist for 22 years now- sounds surreal when I say it out loud! My journey began at 19 years old in Las Vegas, Nevada. Being a hairstylist wasn't a lifelong dream; it was where life led me. You see, my ultimate goal was to be a mom. Some might not consider it a lofty aspiration, but to me, it meant the world. And at 19, I found myself in Beauty School, realizing quickly that it offered the flexibility I craved to support myself, create my own schedule, travel, and still pursue motherhood.
Life seldom unfolds as we envision, and I wasn't going to become a mom before 19. So, there I was, charting my path in the beauty industry, driven by a mix of determination and stubbornness. Despite the lack of full support for my choices, it fueled my journey and still does, especially during setbacks.
Within the beauty industry, there are countless challenges that often go unacknowledged. One issue that personally drives me is the value of TIME. As a hairstylist, I've learned the importance of every moment, especially through my experiences as a parent. Setting hourly pricing involves considering numerous factors like product costs, salon rent, staffing expenses, and travel time. Despite our best efforts, the true value of our time may never be fully reflected in our profession's compensation. This isn't a complaint; it's a reality that shapes my decisions and helps me establish healthy boundaries. Understanding this empowers me to prioritize what truly matters and drives the success of Jill Buck Hair.
Creating this idea of Jill Buck Hair, driven by finding more time to be with my family came because of the support I had from my community. When I partnered with Night to produce my first accessory I saw first hand how supported I was by clients, friends and total strangers from instagram. I was blown away and for the first time social media felt like a "real" place for me. This was 4 years ago and with two years under my belt of prepping JBH on my own, I finally found the space to launch it! I design the bows and work with a friend out of Vietnam to help me bring them to life. I am only making small quantities to keep this more unique and special but that story is for another blog post I'll write next month!
I am so grateful for my career and more importantly the PEOPLE that are my career. I love my clients so dearly and think of them as an extension of my family. I am so blessed and supported by them, they give me confidence. So, if you are a client of mine and you are reading this- THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.
If you're still here, thank you for reading this and don't worry this is my final thoughts for today. We're all driven by something and sometimes it's a lot things but narrowing down my drive helped me to be creative and think of alternative ways to create income, to connect with people, to raise my kids and to make the most out of this life I have been given. Step 1: create a hair accessory company with purpose.
xx, Jill
"Balance is not something you find, it is something you create" -unknown