We’re looking forward to introducing you to Zoë Antoine. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Zoë, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
My proudest moment this year would be my award nomination for the behind the chair awards. I feel so honored to be seen in the hair industry and being nominated for an award like this! Especially being nominated in the red hair category because that is my passion.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’ve been styling and making people beautiful for 8 years, and it is my greatest passion!
My mom has been doing hair since I was little and I used to go with her to the salon when I was young. Right when I hit high school I knew that I wanted to do hair. I ended up doing a program at Boulder Tech, graduated and got my hair license when I was 18 and started then, and I now have my own studio. All of my services are gender neutral. My specialties are blonding, fashion color, and reds.
I’m originally from Laguna Beach, California, but I have lived in Colorado for 15 years. My favorite things to do outside of styling are spending time with my family, going to festivals with my friends, and traveling.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I think I really felt powerful earlier in my career when I realized I could set genuine boundaries with my clients. Whether that means not tolerating someone being late, or telling someone that they can’t have the hair that they want on that specific day or we would have to work towards it. I think that gives you a lot of strength in the hair industry.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I think a lot of people have generational trauma, whether they know it or not, and in some cases more severe than others. But I have been in therapy for years now, and I can say that I have been healing a lot of that.
I think being able to rest, having a good relationship with work and life balance, and making time for your health can really shape someone’s life and future.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I would say staying at a salon that is toxic, hustle, hustle, hustle, and not charging your worth.
Every time I had been in a toxic salon that required many hours, especially during holidays, I found myself getting sick and was overly stressed. I once worked 12 hour days for two weeks straight, and ran a salon by myself when I was 19 with no receptionist. I’ve been through some terrible salon experiences, but they have taught me and shaped me into the hairstylist that I am today.
Running my own studio is no easy task, but it has given me so much freedom and makes it so I can create my own schedule. I can take the clients that I want and take the time off that I need to perform the best as a business owner.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
I think the guests in my chair would miss the fun chats we would have. I feel like a lot of my guests come in and update me on everything that’s going on in their life. I have people that I’ve seen in my chair for the first time and they tell me half of their life story. Hairstylist have this unique relationship with their clients as if they they’ve known them forever but we are “just doing their hair”.
I think about my guests all the time. I wonder what their updates are until the next time that I see them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://salonantoine.glossgenius.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoeantoinehair?igsh=MWN6YXM2OTBtN21jOA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
Shane Still
