The Real Cost of Wigs, Bad Hair, and Salon Ownership

Hey guys, I am Kali Gibson. I am a salon owner and business coach. I own a brand called Silk and Blow, which is a million dollar beauty brand. I have over 20 years experience behind the chair and as a salon owner, I created this channel to bring inspiring stories from other leaders in the industry and also to give you step-by-step tips and plans on how to open a most beautiful and successful salon or barbershop. Now since you know a little bit about me, let's dive deep into this next interview. I am bringing on a beautiful young lady, very intelligent, very talented. I've known her since hair school. Now she is a salon owner of one of the best hair extension salons in Gwinnett County. Please help me welcome Ms. Chaz Hands. Welcome to the Callie Gibson Show. Hi Bessie. Hi Bessie. Yeah, I didn't even say all of that. But the other part, I was going to wait until we started. Bestie, you know, sister, mentor, mentee. Yeah. How are you doing today? I am just happy to be here with you. Welcome, welcome. We are going to let everyone know, like, how amazing you are. And I want them to know, like, your journey and where you are today and pretty much the next steps for you. How you feel about sharing that information? I'm excited. It's time. It's time. You are, for me, and I know others as well, but I'm just going to speak for myself. You are a big blueprint for me. And that's not just saying, just to be talking, but I am where I am truly because of my sister. She is very much my sister. I'm throwing through. She has no problem. You know how some people don't have humility or they can't give flowers to others? Every time we get together, before she starts talking about herself, she brings me up and I love you for that. I can't wait. This is all about you. I'm happy to get where you are. I can't stay without bringing you up. This is the truth. Thank you, Ches. This is the hardest truth, seriously. Seriously. So, you know, we met what, 15 years ago? 2011. At Paul Mitchell. I know. I know. I did the interview. I was like 18 years old. I'm 34 years old. That's crazy. I did my interview with Elise. That was in our core too, right? My favorite. That was so awesome. If y'all didn't watch that, go watch it. Go and watch that. Go and watch that. All the gyms. So from 2011 to today, did you see your career going the way that it went? It's crazy because when I started, I always said I do not want to be a behind the chair stylist. Like I thought that I just kind of wanted to just jump in the industry, like do artistic stuff, do movies, do this and do that. Like I just thought I would just jump into it. Not really knowing the buildup of everything and how to make a solid life for myself. Cause you know when you young, it's like, I've been doing hair since I was nine years old. So it's like, it got so fun where it's always fun. I make my money. I work hard. People like me, they're attracted to me. I'm like, I can do it, you know? And, but you go to salons, you start working and you start getting experiences and you realize it's not as simple as you think it is. And you do definitely need the basics of working in a salon. because it will teach you the things you need to know to go to the industry, work for movies, and do all this stuff. Because you need a base. We need a base. And school does not teach you – I don't even know. What's the word? What would you say the word is? School teaches you the base. They'll teach you real life skills, business skills, even the communication that you need to know how to have with dealing with – It's layers to it. It's layers to it. Yeah. Yeah, and sometimes when you get people straight from school, they do everything so by the book. Yes. And that's not how life is. It's not how it is. At all. Well, it was a reality check for sure. So you worked in multiple environments, including mine. Yeah. I've seen you go from student, you know, you got your license, stylist, suite owner, business owner. And you also have, what did I forget? Manager. Manager. Manager. That was a big thing. And the salon owner, and you have products that you sell, like the hair extensions. Out of all of those roles, which role do you feel like had the most impact on you? I brought up the manager part because that was my biggest learning point. Because I feel like I always was naturally talented with doing hair. And of course I learned it. You go to school and you learn those things with just skill wise. And even going to salons before I came out here to Gwinnett, because you were the reason I came to Gwinnett. I'm from Decatur, Georgia. I was in salons at 15 years old doing booth rent. Even so, I was paying $25 a week for a booth. Ooh. Yeah, just to be in there because the owner really didn't know. So this is pre-licensed? This is pre-licensed. Okay. 16, 17, 18 before I went to Paul Mitchell. And just being in those different lines, you really realize how people, us black people, I'm just gonna speak for us, because that's what we are. We don't really, we don't really, I feel like we just not learning how to take it to the next level. Like, it's always been booth rent, booth rent, booth rent, booth rent, and it's such a different type of culture when it comes to the commission. So I say, I go back to say the manager part That was my biggest thing because yes, you can learn how to do hair. Yes, you can learn how to do skills, but if you don't know time management, if you don't know scheduling, if you don't know how to pay yourself, you don't know how to allocate your money, and it's pay for products, and pay for yourself, and pay for the function of your whole things. Because even if you are a booth renter, you have to pay for products. You have to pay for your life, literally, and if you don't focus on where things need to go, you will just float. We just want to float out here. We ended up like, where's my money? With tax time coming, it's like, oh, gee. Nobody want to pay taxes. Nobody want to pay taxes. We don't know how to pay taxes. So being in that manager position with you, which started after Cali's Hair Studio, I got there making great money. That was the first time I ever knew I could make $800 in one week. I said, oh my goodness, what? And you were young. I was so young. I was like 22. I'm I'm like, whoa, okay, that's my, I will never forget, that was my first week. I made $800. And I was like, okay, so this is what we doing. Okay. So I just keep working, keep working. And you asked me about things, about my experience, my experiences, because she didn't just let me come in and be a manager, y'all, just because I was her friend and I was her little, you know, little friend from hair school. I had some experiences with working at different salons and just seeing different ways that people ran their shops. And we kind of just talked about that all the time, like all the time. Like, so what did you do? You always want to know, like, everybody's experiences to get to where you are. So that's why I really, I picked up on it. I'm like, you have to be open to listening to people and their experiences because that's how you really learn. And that's one thing I can say, you put me in that position and trusting me to even try to do it because I had never been in a manager position, but I had managers and I was a top stylist. So I was like, okay, they want you to do certain things. They want you to be more responsible. And I didn't know how to do that. There's some things you don't really get it until you're in the role. Until you're in the role, literally. So the main thing that set me up to be a salon owner now is being a manager at Press Bar. Press Bar was the name before Silken Blow, just to let y'all know, if y'all didn't know. She been around. You've been with me since it was Cali's Hair Studio. Yes. Cali's Hair Studio and Press Bar. Yes. Cali Hair Studio and Virgin Hair Store, then Press Bar by itself, Silken Blow. And that's when she expanded and got her own thing going at the press bar. Yes. Well, let's talk about that. Was that 2020 when you opened up your salon? That was 2020 during the pandemic, right before the pandemic, right before everything shut down. So what made you say, all right, I'm ready for my own salon? Okay. That's a pretty good question, because I had the suite- I hope I didn't push you to it. No, because having the suite, like after, because even before that, when we were at at Cali's Hair Studio, that was a whole different type of growth, because I was on the floor, like the regular booth rent situation. Then it's like you kind of transitioned. I feel like that was one of your biggest experiments, with having all these stylists come in and be, not booth renters, but it's kind of crazy because we kind of moved like booth renters. Because I had those suites in the back. Not yet. I'm talking about before you even did that. We were just kind of experimenting. You had us in there, but we were still doing commission, but we kind of moved like Boothran. So I feel like you gave us a lot of leeway. And you know, you learned a lot of lessons with that. We learned a lot of lessons with that. And it's like, okay, we got to do commission, you have to have a little bit more restraint on stuff. And I see exactly where you are now because that stuff, it can take you, Boothran can really take you to a real super duper free, free place where which some people like, but we're trying to really get to like a empire. I feel like you have to have more structure and boot threat will not get you there. I can honestly say that. I agree with you and you understand. That's my model. Yeah. Commission is my model no matter if it's employees or if it's 1099. So if we talk about you being a salon owner, tell us about your salon. Okay. So my salon is named the House of Lace Wigs and More Salon. I specialize in wigs, extensions. I've been doing weaves literally since I was in my first weave ponytail on myself when I was nine years old. So I've been really like into learning how to really empower women with weaves. Because all of us, we're not all blessed with having hair all down our back. And some people don't want to have a short cut, you know. So I really wanted to make that a thing. And especially when my mom got sick with cancer, the wig thing, like I always was into pieces. but when my mom got sick with cancer, it was like, okay, we got to take this to another level. Like, how do I make these wigs be a thing? Even to the point where my mom, she was helping me make wigs. When I first started, before I even got my salon, it was like, I want to focus on wigs. And my mom would literally help me make the wigs. We were trying to figure it out. Me and you, we were working like, oh, wigs, that's becoming a thing. I remember that was on Silda here. Yeah. You remember the name of it? KC Extensions. KCE, wasn't it? No. Oh, just KC Extensions and Wigs. KC Sterling Extensions. That's what it was. Sterling wasn't on there. Yes, it was. Yes, it was. I got to look back. Oh my gosh, y'all. Yeah, we did. Kind of like found a wig and extensions wig together. And it was the Becky and Kelly studio. You didn't realize how much work was involved in that. Oh my God. Keeping up with orders, keeping up with the hair, keeping up with the different limbs and textures. But that was the first one. And trying out hair. Exactly. That was one of the first ones. I really wasted like $10,000 on a bad batch of hair. That was like my first time really understanding like you really can waste the money. Like or not wasted, but it takes a lot of money to even start that type of business. And I learned a lot from that as well. Let's get into the hair and get into the wigs. Is there a wig for every woman? There's a wig for every woman. Every wig is not created equal at all. You have your lace friends, you have your closure wigs, you have your no lace wigs, where it's just tracks. Honestly, I feel like it's more of a need. I kind of hate where we're going with it when it comes to the younger girls. I know that's like a random thing to bring up, but it's a problem I see every day. Ask her what's a trend or what's a problem that you see arising or something you want to fix. Yes, I do specialize in wigs and extensions and everything, but I'm very much for healthy hair care. I don't think you should damage your hair just for a look. I don't believe in that. If you have a whole full good hairline, you have full nice healthy hair, I would say put your money more into your natural hair, it make wigs and extensions a luxury, an extra. Because there are women out here that don't have that luxury. They don't have hair. They don't have a choice because they have alopecia. They have anything. Cancer, all of that stuff. Hair loss is just something they can't control. So when you can't control it, I feel like you need to take advantage of that. Don't use these wigs and this stuff to rely on it. So I try to tell my younger clients, because like I said, I do specialize in natural hair. I do silk press, blowouts, trimming. You're not going to come and get you a weave and a wig without me taking care of your natural hair. That's a must. And that's the real cosmetologist. And I'm going to keep it real with you. Like I said, I specialize in the wigs, but I do not believe in these girls going to spend $300, $400 on wigs. And they don't even take the time out to go get their natural hair done. Yeah. That's something that needs to change. And it started younger and younger, I noticed. It's getting younger and younger. It's unnecessary. So why do you think caused that? Trends. Trends and being in. Because I have girls with a whole hairline. They got baby hair all by their eyebrows and they still want a wig. Why do you want a wig? Just learn how to take care of your hair. So is it deeper than just convenience now? Yes. Because as far as people were popping on wigs, vacation, or just convenience, and especially the kind of clients we get, the natural girlies, they're like, oh, my hair just don't last when it's hot outside. So they'll go and get a wig. But now, what would you say it is? It's way past convenience. Like a lifestyle, huh? It's a lifestyle. It's a sacrifice, almost. Like, I got to have this wig. If I don't have these inches, I'm not going to fit in type thing. And I just really kind of hate that. Because it's not necessary. Because there's girls out here that really, really have no choice. And for you to have a whole full head of hair and say, I want to go and buy a wig and keep it on for two months. And it's bald at the top. But you got a whole full head of hair up under that wig. You think it's worth you walking around with a crusty, dusty old wig. Because you can't keep up with the lifestyle. You can't afford it. Everybody cannot afford wigs. So a wig is a lifestyle. Very much so. Keeping up quality wigs and installs. Now you can buy wigs now. No, not just wigs, but installing. Proper installs, that's the lifestyle. And wigs too, I guess we can say overall wigs are, but when they go as far as taking it beyond your means, and it's not necessary. Why don't you look at other options before you jumpstart? If you have other options, because some don't. How much is a wig on average, a good quality wig? A great quality wig will at least start you at $300. Especially with what the girl's like, with the length and all the fullness and the lusciousness, they will at least 350. But the thing about a wig is with them wanting to be so ... They don't care how much they pay. They go to Amazon and pay $100 for a 30 inch wig and then they'll come get it installed and wonder why does it look like the girl on the internet. It's not the same quality, babe. Do you feel like hairstylists are taking advantage of trans right now for their benefit? Like I see prices sometimes for wigs, $2,500. Yes. I definitely think they're taking advantage. Are they overdoing it? Yes. Not all, because. On a not, they're not getting it. It's not like the highest quality. What hair would you say is the best? Indian or? Raw Indian. Okay. So it's not even raw Indian. Yeah, exactly. But these girls are just, and the stylist may not even have a license, and they're charging these high prices for these wigs. Yes, they're taking advantage. What do you say about that? They're taking the advantage. But like I said, the girls want it so bad, they don't care. And then you have the girls that, the younger girls that are learning, and that's the trend. So of course they are like, okay, I'm going to discharge so-and-so just to get them through the door. They might go get a wig off of Amazon, the stylist I mean, the young stylist or whoever, like that's trying to get ... I don't want to say get over, but they're trying to make their money. They'll go buy a wig from a cheaper place and then try to sell it as a higher quality. Now I do recommend, of course you got to put some money on top. It's not just, you just mind a wig, you're not doing anything to it to customize it, but it has to make sense. And a lot of young girls don't even know. They're just like, okay, is that a price? we do that? Is that okay?" They just take whatever they can get. I just feel like that's just kind of crazy. Being in the hair extensions field, I can imagine that some people might want to do charge backs often on products. Have you experienced that before? Luckily, thankfully, I have not really dealt with it. Oh, you are blessed. Thankfully, seriously. Seriously, I can say, me doing hair for almost lord jesus let's say for my license what's that 12 years um i haven't really had any crazy no charge bags like nobody just said oh i spent 500 i want my money back now what about making a mistake and you may not have known that it was bad quality here but have you ever made a wig with bad quality hair and you had to a client called about it and you like okay i believe because I remember as I was making it, that quality probably wasn't the best. What did you do in that situation? That was like super early. In the beginning? Yeah. And I would just, if first of all, if it made sense, because some people they will come to you and make some stuff up or it's something that they, you know, you just have to kind of, it's an individual type of situation. But the one case that I can't think of, I feel like as a business owner, you have to take responsibility because we know some like we know enough to know when we take a risk okay you know like who you okay like this might not be the best situation especially when you're just starting off but now it's like okay but starting off it's like okay it's kind of and i hate to say experimenting but that's what it is that's because i mean that's how we learn but you but with that comes you might have to refund somebody. You might have to do a free service. You might have to fix something, and that's okay. So what do you say about these stylists now that have that kind of attitude? Like, I don't care. No refund, no redo. Even the ones like you don't get the address until after you pay the deposit, the day of- The ones that don't give the deposit back, when they done was, they cancel. Yeah. Are they making our industry better or worse? They're making it difficult. They're making it difficult. They're making it really difficult because not all of us are like that. And I feel like it's greedy. It's greedy and it's not realistic because if somebody do that to you, how would you feel? You got to put yourself in that position. And because things do happen. But it's like, okay, what would I want this stylist to do to fix the situation? Because I might like how they do my hair. It might just be one situation that I don't like. But if she would have handled it differently, I would have went back. Yeah. Yeah. So I think about that myself. Like, I have a lot of patience. Like, my nail salon, I've been at the same nail salon for 10 years. But so it takes a lot for me, like, you really have to play and, like, really mess me up for me to move on to something else. I'm very understanding. But everybody's not understanding like that. And I had to learn that some people are very high-tempered, they're real quick, they want what they want when they want it. And no matter how nice I am, they might not receive that. And sometimes it's okay, but all I can do is be fair. Like, I feel like it's like, as a business owner, you have to just be fair. Like, you take your losses. And even with the customers, the customers are not always right. So I have to move off of what's fair. And if I have to lose you as a client, because you are not being fair to me and I'm being fair to you, that's okay. It is what it is. It is what it is. Have you ever had to block a client? Yes. Have you seen that? Did you ever see that client in public? No, I've had a client. I had to block her on my site to not book, but she she kept calling me. She kept calling me. I thought you were going to say she was booked under a different name. Have I had somebody do that? No, because I haven't really had anything. Like I said, anything that was so bad, I blocked you from booking, period. So you would have to reach out to me. And I guess I don't know if they ever thought to even put it up under anybody else's name, because, you know, if you come in here, and we'd had a whole situation. I don't care what name you're under, ma'am. Okay, so when she called you, did you book her? No, no. I had her name under, do not book. No, ma'am. No, because I'm all about respect, respect. Like, I take accountability for the things I do wrong when it comes to my business. I'm not keeping nobody's money, nobody's deposit. If I need to redo something, I don't have a problem with doing it, but I'm going to keep it real with you. But you're not going to disrespect me. And once we get to a point of disrespect, we can't move forward. And there's a lot of people, they play back and forth. There's no back and forth. If you can speak to me respectfully, like I'm going to speak to you, we can find a resolution. We don't have to do this. And people, I feel like some people like drama. I don't like drama. Life is hard enough. If I can help you, I can. If I can't. Speaking of the drum, I'm glad you said that. Some salon owners don't think about that when they open, and especially when they hire, they just fill their chairs with whoever. Are you at a point where you're hiring right now? I am. Okay. What's important to you with any stylist that you allow to work in your salon? My first main thing is being able to communicate. Because in the first steps of interviewing anybody, you have to, I need you to tell me. Like, you know you have those times you might be a little late. I don't care if you're two minutes late. like, hello, hey, Chaz, I'm going to be 10.02. That's how I move. Like, if I'm going to be a little late, I don't care if it's only five minutes. I'm going to tell you so you can be prepared for that. I'm not just going to walk in late and act like you just should be okay with that. I feel like that's respect. So that's like a red flag to me if you cannot communicate. I don't care what it is, even the smallest thing. I mean, but what if they're so good, they can get the client out quick, you have no questions about their work, it's flawless, but they're always late? No. Time is a big thing to me. Time is very important to me. I feel like that's one thing I am popular for. People know, Chad's not going to have you in there all day. And if I am running late, or I'm a little bit behind, even if it's 30 minutes, I don't want you sitting just sitting in my shop just sitting in my face if you can go get you something to eat You know if you need to go do you have to do something a little extra that you can do and she's happy that you 30 Minutes behind. Yeah. Yeah, I'm a little know to give you a little bit of leeway because why we why if you don't I feel Like if you are a stylist you a season, you know your time. We know how long it take to do stuff You know, you gotta have a heavy head to curl. You got 15 more minutes that you already behind time, call, at least text her and say, hey, I'm running a couple of minutes behind. You know, you're just going to eat. If you want to wait, that's okay. But I just wanted to let you know. It don't take much to say that. But when people sit there, they're wondering like, well, is she okay? Like when they're wondering, that's what stresses them out. They don't know how long it's going to take. Because somebody else might take 45 more minutes to curl a head. And another person might take 10 minutes. They don't know how long they're going to be sitting there waiting. So at least communicate and that's the I can honestly say that's one of my biggest things you know one thing I was thinking about too um you know how people have jobs and they um they talk drunk about their jobs and they're just like oh yes I hate that yes I'd rather you talk to me like you ain't gotta say oh I hate that you do this if you have something that you don't like say something like I I will respect that more than you going behind my back talking to your other co-workers and making and a whole kind of little, you know what I'm saying? Because the other people might be okay, but just because you're talking, you're spreading negativity. Except for coming to the stores, and we could have fixed it. I'm that type of owner, boss. Hey guys, it is me again. And real quick, if you are serious about opening your salon, you should know that now is the best time to open a salon. I've opened up a couple exclusive spots for one-on-one calls if you're ready to start now. To book a call, you could just head to the description or if you're following me on Instagram at IamKaliGibson, Kali with a K and Gibson with a G and P like Peter, I love you guys. And if you're not following me, what's stopping you? The link to book a call with me is also in my Instagram bio as well, okay? So go ahead and book now and let's start that dream salon and I'll talk to you soon. So if one of your staff members, You find out like they are the one that's like the bad apple out the bunch and spread and stuff. And you start noticing everyone else is slightly acting different towards you. You walk in, now no one is speaking to you now. What needs to happen? A meeting. Immediately. Because I like communication. Like, we need to talk about it. I don't like that. My energy is very important. And honestly, that's what has... because I took a little spot off, a little time off. And I've been working by myself in my shop. And people are like, oh, you have the stylist here? I'm like, no, it's just me. And they think it's so unbelievable, but it's like, it's not, it's really not that hard to do. But I did that- Is that because you put your piece first over everything? I did. And I kind of, I had to step back because I had a stylist in there, I had a makeup artist in there. I even had one of my little cousins working for me. And that's one thing I probably wouldn't do again. Family members. And if we do, it will have to have a lot of stipulations, a lot of boundaries. And probably a little bit more distance. Because you know you have family members that are, you know, real close to you and you have some that are not so close. And I would rather them not be too close. And I'm going to be honest because I'm a little simp. For the people I love, I'm a little softy. So I need to know my boundaries. So if I know I love you too much, I'm going to be a little softy. I'm gonna be a little easier on you and I can't do that. I'm gonna call the business. Yes, I'm cost me. That's a tough one It is I've even been in partnerships with family. Yeah, it's tough because when when you don't agree on something Well, it all depend on the Person that you're either working with or in partnership with because sometimes they can take things But usually when you have to talk to that well for me when you have to talk to that family member, it's difficult Is this life? Because you don't want to breathe first. You don't want to think about like how it's going to come out your mouth because you care about them outside of business. You're still family. I'm still going. I'm going to see you at some point. It don't mean that to me. Like when we see each other, it's just this. Yeah. Then I got to do what I have to do for my business. But I still love you. I'm with you. And it's been times I had family working for me. And I come to a point to like, I think I just need to keep those two separated. Exactly. You know, you just watch my greatness from a distance. Yeah. It's a lot simpler. It really is. You can stand on your standards and your boundaries. Yeah. And if it's something else that I can contribute to later on that don't involve me, maybe somebody else, I would definitely put you on. But we probably need to keep the two separate. Exactly. So I heard you say that you are working alone. Have you come to the point where you like, OK, it's time for something else? it is um because you can only do so much by yourself um just really just all the way around physically business-wise um shoot your personal life like it takes so much out of you um and and so i feel like it is it's becoming to the point where it wasn't exciting anymore like i I needed the peace and I have that and I have more understanding too. When you stepping away and have had a whole staff and stepping away from that completely, it's like, okay, I have a little bit more clarity. How long has it been? What is this? 26, two years. Okay. Do you feel like those two years maybe held you back a little bit from the success that you are striving for now? Yes. And the thing is, my assistant that I had, I had her for five years. Really, the whole time I opened the salon, I had her. And she was so awesome. And she ended up moving on, doing her own thing. And I feel like they kind of, she was like a little comfort for me. Because when you have that consistency, you get comfortable. And I can't say I won't do that again. I will not just have one person for my daily operations. I need at least two to three. Because I don't want to get too comfortable. What positions do you want to hire for? Assistant, because I definitely feel like assistant can do multiple things. They can be a manager role. I mean, manager role meaning keeping the booking appointments, answering the phones, especially if it's just me and her during that time. And even when you had other stylists in there, she'd answer the phones, she'd help shampoo. Help maintain and clean up. maintain, clean up, because that's very important, customer service, like being just being a buffer in between everything. So definitely assistant, honestly multiple assistants, because that definitely helps. And if I'm still in the shop, I would definitely, I guess that's the question I want to have for you. Like with me still being in there, I know with hiring a manager, I would have to train the manager, but would you wait until you're ready to step away to do a manager and just have assistants and your stylist and you pretty much be the person and bring somebody in and slowly get them in or just like, okay, these are my assistants, these are the stylists, let me go hire a manager. What would you say? Figuring out what your business need with the roles is a little confusing, right? Because you don't, the money that we spend out for that position, we're so connected to that money and it's like i don't want to waste it on the wrong person yeah and i don't want to pay this person and they're doing the same thing i'm doing or i'm still going behind them you know doing things so i would say do what your business can support financially financially for one and also put somebody in place with the stuff that's the most important as far as the task so whatever you want to delegate and stop doing the most that's a position i would hire for right so if you're trying to get away from behind a chair then you need to bring somebody in that's going to help you to start working less so that could be your manager but from what i'm learning because i'm still learning on some ways that i want to transition my salon too what i'm learning is when i was hiring managers that did not do hair because you will get them stylists that call you like I think I'm tired of being behind a chair but I still let an industry I want to just work there without taking clients I went right on in hard hiring those type but the way my shops operate they see everything that happens they see how much money the style is bringing in and then they're like well dang I think I need to get behind a chair and now they want to get behind a chair yeah so now I'm right back to trying to find a manager so now my next managers are going to be working managers they are going to be behind the chair okay but on top of that i can pay them an hourly to um to manage to manage some other things and so you prefer that we're gonna see this would be my first time doing it but i i don't see why it wouldn't work right because they are still getting a little extra for the small things that they're doing one thing that i was doing is giving so much to my manager like every single thing i didn't want to do this person is doing it all but i realized they're not going to handle all of that stuff like i would because it's my shop it's not theirs right even though you want someone to love your business like it's theirs and treat it like it's theirs it's not possible you gotta be realistic yeah these people still want to check exactly it's super rare you'll find someone that will treat it like yours i was very special to find someone like you but out of all the other women i know it's only one chance right So for me to keep finding Chaz, I would, that probably would never happen, you know? So now, since I know like, okay, let me make it beneficial for everybody involved. So I'm not giving so much to my managers now, but now the next person under them could be an assistant manager or it could be a lead or, um, I even love the way another guest of mine has had different names instead of using lead or assistant she had cute names for it but who's ever under the manager they could take on some of the things that i was giving the manager right right right so now that manager is not overwhelmed because if you're behind a chair it's only so much you can do anyway you're still getting a stylist and a manager at the same time right and then so the one under them they'll do some of the lighter things right right so now i have two that's the money is down take them yeah they're still taking clients so revenue is coming in and then i am giving them a little bit additional but less than what i would have been giving them if they were only a manager so you know we're going to see that's what i said too when i um shout out to my girl wanda i'm like girl that was that's awesome let me try that so i'll get back with y'all soon and let you know how that went but i realized like my shop they need a manager if there's some manager there it's going to be me yeah and you You know, I love developing a business that I can sell later. Yeah. So is retirement in your future? As far as, like, being behind the chair? Yeah, just behind the chair. Yeah, well. Or do you still love taking clients? I still love taking clients. I think what I want to do is kind of take it to another direction. Do more, like, freelance type things where I don't just have to be in the salon. Because I do makeup as well. So I would like to go and, you know, go travel, do a wedding or get on a set. While your salon is still running itself. So you would have who running that shop while you're gone? A manager? A manager slash assistant or a manager slash stylist. And that's why I definitely like that because being a stylist, you'll be able to take the clients. Because if I just had a manager there that doesn't do hair, I still need the other stylists. And that was the thing. I had that under my manager's job duties. You got to be real. They only going to take so many clients because then they mind is like, well, I'm still making the same amount if I take one client or no client. Exactly. So after a while, all of that starts to change. So even though I'm on a different caliber of salon owner or stylist, I am still learning. Yeah. Because we're still creating something brand new that don't exist. So with you hiring, with you knowing like how you want your salon to go, do you have a timeline that you want to get all of this done? Honestly, I said by the end of the year, I want to at least have my salon run into where I don't have to be the main stylist in my shop. As far as ... Things won't be perfect, but as far as me just kind of not having to be the main person, the main stylist. You just have to let go of some stuff. I will. I will have to ... And that's one One thing I'm working on trying to just be more, not even trusting, because I remember in the four-week workshop, the main thing you said was like, we have to get out of our emotions with dealing with stylists and human beings, period, because it's easy to get caught up in a little emotional, especially when you have been through some things with people. That's one thing I'm trying to learn just to, business is business. You just got to just keep it that what it is. You have to have your rules your system and your boundaries and just stick to it And there's just just how it has to be. Otherwise, you will be Stressed out in your feelings. I don't want to do I don't want to do that. So what's the hardest part about letting go? Sure, I'm praying. Yeah, I was gonna say letting go and trust somebody else Because they, because I know what I want and I know what my clients expect and so let somebody just come in. I need them to be able to bring that type of standard to the House of Lays. Yeah. And you know, letting go and trusting somebody else can run your business. The hardest part in my opinion is just doing it. Yeah, just doing it. You got to trust yourself and know like my brand is strong. strong enough and I'm strong enough to take it. Yeah, to deal with it. You right. You right. You right. It's very much a me thing. It's me. And a lot of this part about just being an owner is a personal thing at the end of the day. It is. Are you proud of yourself? I am proud of myself and I have to remind myself sometimes because we're not perfect and we go back and forth. We learn and I'm, of course, like you say, you're still learning. We learn and we end up learning. That's just how it is. I'm just trying to make it make sense because I've been through things and I don't want it to be in vain. So it's like I want to be smarter about knowing exactly. If I know better, I need to do better. Yeah, I'm with you on that. And with this being a year that you want to get the business how you want it, I asked you what was your timeline for that, right? and I didn't let you finish that because we started talking about something else but um do you have a timeline like within 12 months two years okay where do you want to see yourself so by this time next year I would definitely want to be able just to I want to have all my stations filled and have it flowing to where if I want to come in or I have my basic my clients that I still do i'll come in and do them but i wouldn't have to be the whole operation of everything that's really the main thing because i feel like once i do that i will be more comfortable to move on to other things but i need the consistency i need to see it and i need to work it myself is your salon a niche salon um you know like uh some people say niche some people say niche yeah yeah i know she mean like we just do one thing like um so right now yes like more of um just wigs so is quickly it's more extension based um but like i said on the flip side more i'm still into hair healthy hair care are you going to keep it like that with the new people you hire like they have to do extensions yes so you want to be known as the only place to come to for the best wigs and And we use extensions, yes. But still, we're not taking your hair out. We're taking care of your hair at the same time. I want that to be a big thing as well. Not just, are we just throwing a wig on your head and just throwing some wig in your hair? And whatever happens after that is whatever happens. No, I want it to be, I still wanna help when it comes to taking care of your hair, because I am a cosmetologist, and I know how to take care of hair. And I want that to be a main thing. And I do wanna teach the young girls how to do that. while they're trying to keep up with the trends at the same time. But you could do both. You could definitely do both. Do you think it's easy hiring? No, it's not easy hiring. No, you know what? I take the bait. It is easy hiring, but keeping or finding quality people, that's the hard part. Where do you find them at? Ooh, girl, you tell me. You tell me, friend, I don't know. It's kind of like, hell, if you knew it, everything would be perfect. It would be right there. But I can say, like you said earlier on other interviews, I do agree with having more stylists that are fresh and new, like from school. Because I can say not to knock more seasoned stylists, which I am now. We got to be stuck in our ways. You know, not everybody. back i feel it do you feel it hold it hold it yes yes but then too like you said the niche niche niche niche some people have their niche and it works for them yeah because you still have those clients that still want those they don't want all this new stuff you know and it's also okay if you're a stylist and you ain't trying to grow you just want to keep that clientele and that's it but for those that want to last you have to change up and you have to be okay with coaching same in any business could look at Blockbuster. They went out of business. They wasn't ready to change. Netflix came around and knocked them on out. So same thing can happen when you're a hairstylist. All these new things come about and can knock you out. So even if you are a niche, within that niche, you still need to keep up with the trend, I believe. No, definitely. At least one way or another, because there's so many different new things every day. So just pick something. I mean, it don't have to be all of them. Just definitely add something to it. So is there, I asked you earlier about how you felt about the wigs and then the the younger girls, are they keeping up with the hair underneath? You went through all of that. Is there any other thing with our industry you feel need to change? I feel like we need to be a little bit more, we need to communicate more with each other. I feel like we do we're doing it now a little bit with social media but because of the whole suite culture now it is people it's like it's all for one like I'm just by my I mean I'm just by myself and it's like I didn't grow up in that so I'd have to remind myself that like I actually like the whole setup of being in the salon and there's multiple stylists around because I did the suite thing which was cool you know you can stand on your own I feel like when you know you can stand on your own testing yourself having a suite is a good test to know if you can really run like bring yourself because you still have to do it on in a booth rent situation but it will be a lot more smooth um but when you are around other stylists like the old like back in the day you kind of we talk more we communicate more we learn from each other more we kind of losing that a little bit and not to say all together but now you know the internet everybody got their classes and I do love that. I definitely love that. But you didn't have to pay for no class back in the day. You just walk up to Miss Shirley and she'd be doing finger waves and you just learn how to do finger waves. She would show you how to do it. Or I would show somebody, oh, how you fix that? How you do this on it? I'll show you how to lay your tracks flat. I think we're so stuck on monetizing so much now. Monetizing is kind of selfish, which I mean, we should be for sure. But I feel like it's the community and we should treat it like that a little better because we have a lot of people against us. They be so mad at us and it's like, y'all don't even understand. Only we understand. So I feel like we should do better with kind of supporting each other. You mean like as stylists and stylists? Stylist to stylist. Because I feel like we've done that. We've done that. And I feel like it's needed. Like I... Matter of fact, just through my whole career, I've had other stylist friends that I can lean on. And it made stuff make sense. See, and that's another reason why this channel was created, because it's like, okay we can't touch everybody face to face all the time so now we gotta get on the neck and have people can connect that way yeah and then maybe like once a month or so many times throughout the year connect in person and we're gonna build it we work like you said it's needed so what's next for chess and your salon i am ready to get fully stabbed i i can't lie i miss having a whole walking in the shop on Saturdays, everybody just like doing their own thing. I do miss that. I miss it. So that's something I'm really working on, but I'm working on finding quality and not just hire anybody. Because like you said, I've seen that with you. I've done that with you where we have, okay, we need to get some stylist up in here and then hire somebody. And it's like, okay, we're just holding on to them just to have somebody in here or really they need to go, but we're trying to give them a chance, trying to, you know, and I know that comes with it, But I feel like if you have, like you said, your system, you know what you're looking for. There's no teeter tottering. It's just, this is what it is. We're going to stick to it. And if you can't do it, do something. Period. Wow. All right. Well, I am on the edge of my seat, just sitting there with my popcorn and my little notebook, taking notes on everything you're doing. Well, I just want you to be proud of me. And I'm going to witness it all. I feel like I'm a little mini. I feel like you should be proud of me. And it's not even on no jokes. Like people like, people following people know, when you have a good mentor and a good friend that love you and have good intentions for you, you can only do the same thing back if you are really in the same mind frame. And I feel like we always been like that, always. For life, right? So y'all, I want y'all to follow my sis, Chaz Hands. Please let them know. Even if you need a great place to work at, Take note, follow, and give her a call, but let them know you're on platform. And I do train. That's what comes with being in the commission salon. I train you. I'm going to nurture you. Just give me the love and loyalty back. That's all. And I want everybody to grow. So if you want to join the team, you want to come get your wig done, whatever you need, you can follow us at underscore the House of Lace Salon on Instagram, and then thehouseoflacesalon.com. So what your point is to apply to just come see me. So, you know, we are out way. Look, we we like to make money over here. We like to look good at the right for it. That's right. Where are you located? Lawrenceville off of the Lord Jesus. Hurricane Shoals being silly in Lawrenceville. Yes. What's the address? 57 Hurricane Shoals Northwest. Lawrenceville, Georgia. We all love Chaz. We're going to end it right here. Y'all going to have to just keep following to see more. If there's any questions that you would love my guests to answer that you need answers to, drop them below and I'll make sure to pop them out with my next guest. Or I can follow up with whatever guest is your favorite. Just let me know and continue to follow, like, subscribe, share all of that good stuff I am Callie Gibson is my Instagram also my website and also this channel thank you so much well actually the channel is Callie Gibson but everything else is I am Callie Gibson and I'll talk to y'all soon welcome to the Callie Gibson show

In this episode of The Kali Gipson Show, Kali sits down with her longtime friend, mentee, and fellow salon owner Chaz, owner of The House of Lace Wigs & More Salon in Lawrenceville, GA.

Chaz opens up about her journey from doing hair at a young age to becoming a salon manager, suite owner, and full salon owner specializing in wigs, extensions, and healthy hair care. She breaks down the real lessons behind building a beauty business, including learning time management, handling money properly, hiring the right people, dealing with difficult clients, and creating boundaries that protect your peace.

This conversation goes deep into the wig and extension industry, the pressure young women face to keep up with trends, why every wig is not created equal, and why healthy hair still matters underneath the install. Chaz also shares her honest thoughts on overpriced wig services, bad-quality hair, refunds, client disrespect, and what stylists need to understand if they want longevity in the industry.

Kali and Chaz also discuss the challenges of hiring stylists, working with family, managing salon energy, stepping away from doing everything yourself, and building a business that can eventually run without you being the main person behind the chair every day.

This episode is for salon owners, hairstylists, wig specialists, beauty entrepreneurs, and anyone trying to build a real business in the beauty industry without losing themselves in the process.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Chaz’s journey from hair school to salon ownership
• Why managing a salon taught her the most about business
• The truth about wigs, installs, and healthy hair care
• Why every wig is not created equal
• How young clients are being influenced by wig culture
• The cost of quality wigs and extensions
• Refunds, bad hair, and taking accountability as a business owner
• Why communication is non-negotiable in the salon industry
• How to handle disrespectful clients and when to block them
• The dangers of hiring just to fill a chair
• Why working with family requires strong boundaries
• Building a team after working alone
• Letting go of control as a salon owner
• Creating a business that can run without you
• Why community is still needed in the beauty industry

If you are serious about opening, growing, or restructuring your salon, this conversation gives you real insight from women who have lived it, learned from it, and are still building.

Follow Kali Gipson for more salon business tips, beauty industry conversations, and real stories from entrepreneurs who are building behind the chair and beyond.

Guest: Chaz
Business: The The House of Lace Wig & More Salon
Location: Lawrenceville, GA
Instagram: @_thehouseoflacesalon_
Website: www.thehouseoflacewigs.com

Host: Kali Gipson
Instagram: @iamkaligipson
YouTube: @Kaligipson
www.iamkaligipson.com

Recorded at Silk and Blow walk in Silk press and Blowout Bar. Located at 1365 Grayson Hwy, Lawrenceville, Ga 30045, 855-401-4849 ext 1

Like, comment, subscribe, and share this episode with a stylist, salon owner, or beauty entrepreneur who needs to hear this conversation.

Let me know in the comments if you have specific topics you want me to cover.