Daily Inspiration: Meet Abby Childs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Childs.

Abby, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Ever since I was a little girl, I would braid my barbies and dolls hair. Once I was over the dolls, I started playing with my own makeup and hair by watching youtube videos of women who inspired me. Following this by only going to two homecomings and one prom myself because I was busy doing hair and makeup for anyone who asked. With this being said, I started & graduated Paul Mitchell the School STL five years ago. Straight out of school, I was found by one of the top salons in St. Louis via Instagram asking to come to a class on a Sunday to get certified in extensions and once I did that, I thought I had found my forever salon, starting as a level 1 stylist. Being at this salon, making as much money as I was, helped my helped ME buy my own homeat the age of 22 and become a level 5 stylist. After being in a salon for four years and seeing how far I had come in such a short amount of time, making commission, I thought to myself, “What is next for me?” I wanted to make my make 100% of my money, make my own hours, be my own boss and decorate my own space. So that is what I did. I moved salons and am now doing what I dreamed of. I have been on my own for a while now and it has been the best thing to ever happen to me and my mental health. As I am an extrovert, I thought having one on one time with my clients would build more loyalty and trust, as it did. I have been blessed with the best clients, friends, boyfriend, and family to support me in whatever way life has taken me and continues to take me.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I am a firm believer of “If it is meant to be, it will be.” So the answer to the question is not a yes or no, has it been a rollercoaster? Yes. Will I overcome and get thru whatever life throws at me? Yes. I have let my talents take control and have listened to my heart every step of the way. Even as early as beauty school, you want to give up but I did not let that happened. I graduated with 100% attendance and was ready for what was next. Which at that time, was my first job in the industry. I have been talked down to by friends, family, bosses, clients, and some people I have just come across over time. Whether it was asking, “How long do you plan on doing hair?” or “You won’t make as much money if you go on your own” or “You aren’t going to make it.” I do not let that phase me. I did not do the college route first, I went straight into beauty school from high school, as I knew it was God’s plan for me. I do not let people bring me down, I only continue to do what I do best(which is hair) and prove them wrong. I love my job and no matter what obstacles I overcome, the stronger I become.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
There’s something about being a “specialist,” a professional who knows a particular technique up, down, and sideways and does it better than anyone in town. That is how I feel about both blonding and hair extensions. Blonding has always been something I have had passion for. Not just because I am blonde, but because I know as a blonde what I want and how to do it the healthiest way possible. I want my clients to leave my salon, being blown away by my work and making their hair stand out no matter where they go. I use my own freehand techniques to achieve a light & brighter result and achieve techniques such as balayage, shadow roots, color melts, babylights, foilage, and on scalp lightening. With that being said, I believe that specializing in blonding means to stay ‘up to date’ on the latest techniques and trends and to always be creative.

Extensions have always came easy to me, as it was the first thing I had learned out of beauty school. The responsibilities of being certified and specializing in this include helping clients select the extensions that are appropriate for their goals and hair, installing the extensions in the healthiest way possible, cutting & styling the extensions so they blend with the natural hair, and handling removals the correct way when your client’s hair grows out. Extension can be a rough and embarrassing topic for some, which is why I like being in my own space so they feel comfortable sharing and showing me what is going on. Extensions aren’t only for Women who want long and thick hair, but they are for those who have severe(or not) health conditions causing unwanted hair loss (alopecia, thyroid disorders, anemia, psoriasis, lupus, trichotillomania, etc.) With that being said, specializing in this is more than just giving someone hair they have dreamed of, it is turning them around in my chair to see their tears of happiness and a whole new level of confidence.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was the baby in the family. My brother(Aaron) is almost seven years older than me & my sister(Allison) and I are 17 months apart. As they would say, I was a trouble maker, I was an extrovert(still am), I had a personality to stand out in a room, I was the one with no filter (at times), I was loud, I was silly. As most of this is still true, it is who I am and it was my client’s love about me.

Contact Info:

• Email: abby.childs@salonlofts.com
• Website: https://salonlofts.com/abby_childs
• Instagram: stylesbychilds