Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Lesse.
Amber, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I began doing hair in 2005 and decided I still wanted to go to college…thinking I would potentially get into the medical field. That all changed a couple of years later when working in the medical setting allowed me to help people every day, but it also helped me realize how much I enjoyed helping people in a different way. Call me vain, but it made the clients in my chair smile, which in turn made me so happy! I switched my major to business, and the rest is history! Since 2007, I’ve been dreaming of owning my own salon. I worked at a few different salons in Ann Arbor, Michigan (my hometown), as well as in Los Angeles, and each one of them paved the way to where I am today. It allowed me to learn the “should’s” and “should nots” of the business, hone in on my hair skills, and most importantly, I learned how to coach and guide my staff to success.
Over the years, I worked with toxic chemicals and I always wondered the repercussions of this. I also wondered why we had to use them. When the covid era began, I had a lot more time on my hands, so I started researching all about clean beauty and wellness. I decided it was time to open a holistic salon that encompassed all of the aspects of clean beauty for our clients. I talked with my husband Danny about my idea and he was excited and totally on board for this next chapter because we both realized there was such a need in LA for a salon like this! We use ammonia-free color, we address the needs of the hair and scalp and make sure we educate our clients on the importance of at-home hair care! I may have a biased opinion, but I truly believe that a holistic approach to health, wellness and beauty is so important!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has most certainly not been a smooth road! But from all of those bumps in the road, I learned many valuable lessons and the importance of staying positive and keeping your eye on the prize. We had setbacks with contractors, sourcing materials during a pandemic, permits, inspections, hiring staff and unfortunately being diagnosed with stage 2, grade 3 breast cancer the day before I opened. I had to pivot and change my vision for the first year because I knew I would be in treatment for the majority of 2022. Ultimately, I was able to hire friends I had previously worked with who were there to support me and lift me up during a really difficult time. I don’t know where my business would be without all of them!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Amber Holistic Hair studio was inspired by my name and the meaning of the gemstone known for promoting self-confidence and balance. We offer all hair services with intention and in a warm, welcoming environment. The studio prioritizes using products from earth-conscious companies to spread awareness of harmful product effects. The ultimate goal is to expand to a non-toxic spa in Mar Vista and create clean beauty products, but for now, the studio is happy to support like-minded brands as we continue to spread our knowledge!
One thing I am very proud of is that during my treatment when I was unable to work, I created a product with my best friend Mazz Hanna. She owns an amazing non-toxic, high vibe, crystal-infused skin care product line and asked me if I’d like to team up with her to create an oil to help encourage women to do self-breast exams. Boobie Ritual was born and we’ve been donating all of the proceeds to non-profits in the breast cancer community! This was my first taste of what starting a product line is like and it has me thirsty for more! Stay tuned!
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
1. Build relationships and market yourself.
2. Have boundaries with your work and personal life. If you start out with healthy boundaries, it’ll make your life so much easier in the long run!
3. Education!
The industry has changed so much since I started out. We now live in a world where social media plays such a huge part in your success story! While I agree that social media plays a large role in our business, there is something to be said about making those in-person connections. I built my business from referrals, which I still believe is the strongest way to build a solid clientele. Market yourself in every way possible and you’ll see a huge return! We may be in the service industry, but we’re in the business of sales too. We are selling our service, so if you connect with people on a deeper level and provide a solid service, they will want to tell everyone they know!
Something that took me many years to learn was the importance of boundaries. The hustle culture is out now and we care so much about our work/life balance. If you have a healthy balance in your life, it allows for things to flourish in such a beautiful way!
Education is far more accessible now too! If you can’t travel to go to in-person classes, there are so many classes online that you can take to further your knowledge. I think being eager and hungry to learn is the most important quality in someone entering this business because you are never done learning! There is always some new product or technique and the industry is always evolving.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amberlosangeles.com
- Instagram: @amber_losangeles
