This month, we’re highlighting an amazing member of our Midtown team, Allison Parsons!
Allison’s dedication and love for her job stands out to many. Continue reading to get to know more about Allison and her personal journey as a stylist!
How long have you been a stylist at Garbo's Salons and what made you want to work here?
I’ve been a stylist with Garbo’s for a little over 4 years now. I started out of school at an all Aveda salon and fell in love with the brand, but I felt like I was doing a disservice to myself by limiting my knowledge of this industry to only one product and color line. I grew up getting my hair done at Garbo’s, and when I found out that Aveda was one of the brands offered, it seemed like the clear choice.
Why did you choose to be a stylist and why do you love it?
I went to UNO for about 3 years as a theater and broadcasting major. After constantly coloring my roommates hair in our dorm, and styling wigs for the theater performances, I realized I should probably just take the hint and go to cosmetology school. It was absolutely the best decision I could have made!
I love the versatility of the job and the fact that I get to do something different every single day. I also love the flexibility my day to day has. I have a 1 year old son, so any extra chance I can have to be with him I jump at, and Garbo’s has really given me that opportunity!
What would you consider to be your specialties when it comes to your job?
I specialize in fashion colors and unnatural colors. It’s a service that allows me to step completely out of the box and truly be artistic. I’ve done just about every color in the rainbow (and even a couple rainbows) on my guests!
What is your favorite service to provide to your clients?
This is going to sound weird, and I’m sure it’s going to make a lot of my coworkers cringe, but I actually love doing corrective color. When I see a note on my books that someone is coming in with box black on their hair and wants to be blonde, I simultaneously have a panic attack and do a happy dance. It’s such a difficult, but rewarding process and you really have to use all of your color knowledge to make it work.
What is the biggest challenge you encounter as a stylist and how do you overcome it?
My biggest challenge as a stylist is not taking my work home with me. If you’ve ever sat in my chair, I can almost guarantee I’ve sat at home later that day and thought about what I could have done differently to make that cut or color better. I’m constantly continuing my education and practicing my craft so that the next time I won’t find something to nitpick about my work in hopes of overcoming this challenge, but so far I’m not there yet!
In your opinion, what does it take to become a successful stylist?
The best part about both this industry, and working for Garbo’s is that success is really whatever you want it to be. If you want to be a six figure, working 60 hours a week stylist, there is a path for you. If you want to go into education, there is a path for you.
For me, success is moving into a leadership position and being able to focus on my team reaching their goals. I’ve spent the last couple of years working up from the business coach to manager at the Midtown location, and when I see someone in my salon rocking out something I know they’re nervous about, or hitting number goals they’ve set, that’s when I really feel successful.
Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you or your work?
My team refers to me as a kindergarten teacher because I love to plan silly games and events for us at the salon. At least once a month they’ll find me at the back table making something ridiculous out of construction paper or planning a team building activity. I think the best one we’ve done was our murder mystery party a couple years ago. Another stylist and I set up clues around the whole salon and had the team try to solve it. We like to do silly things all the time at Midtown and laugh a lot. It’s such a fun environment and especially after how tough the last year was for our industry, I couldn’t be more proud of the people I work with!
Allison is just simply the best! We are so grateful for the heart and soul she puts into her job every day. If you’re interested in booking an appointment at the Midtown location, you can schedule any service by calling 402-933-9737 or booking online.