Meet Trailblazer Emily Ross

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Ross.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up in Douglas County, between Franktown and Castle Rock, and after high school I spent 2 years at Fort Lewis College in Durango and a semester at Metro. State University of Denver. After going to the traditional college route for 2.5 years, I knew it wasn’t the route for me so I looked up beauty schools and clicked on the first one: Aveda Institute Denver. I scheduled my tour and signed up to start in the next available session. After 15 months of school, I started my career as a hairstylist and worked in the Aveda network until July 2018, when I decided to go on my own and start Tonic Hair Studio.

I have been with my husband for almost 10 years, and together we have four fur-babies that are our everything! I also have a passion for dog rescue. I spent the last 2.5 years on the board of directors to All Points West German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP) Rescue, running the fundraising with merchandise and events, and building the brand on social media. My team and I have saved over 200 dogs since our inception in September of 2016.

Has it been a smooth road?
Working in the hair industry isn’t easy. There are so many lessons, big and small, from working with others to working with a clientele and keeping up with the latest trends. I have worked in salons that are corporate and salons that are privately owned, each one shaping me to the stylist I am today.

My advice to young women starting in the hair industry (I feel like I can write a novel on just the things I wish I could share with the next generation), if I could put it into one sentence: don’t have a sloppy or sluggish work ethic. Nobody is going to hand you your dream, you have to work for it! I’ve seen many assistants that come into this world thinking social media is going to get them the clientele off the bat, but it’s not that easy. At the end of the day, the stylist who doesn’t stop learning from others are the ones who push their careers into the next level.

We’d love to hear more about Tonic Hair Studio.
Tonic Hair Studio was started when the “same old” salons weren’t giving me the salon life or advanced education that I was looking for. I was hungry for more in my career and I knew that I would not be able to achieve it in the atmosphere I was in.

Since starting THS, I have become the stylist I had always knew I wanted to be! At THS I have spent the last year and half exploring what my “why” was and am so excited to be able to grow my passion further in this industry.

At Tonic Hair Studio, I am certified* and focus my time in a technique of extensions generically known as the “Handtied Method”. While the word “Handtied” refers to the way the hair weft was assembled, it is a method that uses beads and your natural hair to create a kind of U shape on the head. When a weft of hair is sewn onto the beads, the weight of the hair is distributed in a fashion that gives the perfect blend to all types of hair and avoids the damage that most people associate with extensions. This extension method is also quite customizable to fit your needs- they can even be worn, unseen, in a ponytail for the most active lifestyle!

Because of the recent popularity of this extension method, there are a lot of stylists who are not certified and offer them as a service. If you’re interested in learning more, please make sure you talk to someone who is certified.

We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
I love that the industry of hair is full of amazing, passionate women! This industry has taken a huge turn into entrepreneurship which just fuels my fire to be the best stylist I can be and support the women along side me doing the same. Its a beautiful time to be a stylist!

One barrier that drives me nuts is I hear often that women get into this industry for an easy and flexible schedule. While there are some truths to that, there are also late nights and long weekends spent behind the chair. We are at the mercy of when our clients are available and most of that time is after 4 pm or on weekends, and if holidays are involved, count on working double time! If one wants to get established quickly, they have to be willing to work some craziness initially. Once a clientele is established, there is wiggle room to optimize your time behind the chair to benefit both the stylist and the client.

Pricing:

• Handtied Extensions- $900-1600
• Dimensional color- $150-250
• Haircut- $60

Contact Info:

• Address: Tonic Hair Studio
  1610 E Girard Pl, Suite 102
  Englewood, CO
• Website: www.tonichairstudiodenver.com
• Phone: 720-773-1119
• Email: tonichairstudiodenver@gmail.com
• Instagram: @tonichairstudio_
• Facebook: @tonichairstudiodenver

Image Credit:
Emily Ross

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