Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Carter.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Michelle. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started my career 30 years ago in my native country of South Africa. 10 years into my career, I got recruited by an American hairdressing company to come to the US to teach and work in their salons for 18 months. As the time was drawing to an end, the company wanted to extend my contract, at which point I decided to take a chance and apply for a green card. As things in the company began to change, I decided to branch out on my own, and chose to move to a rental salon. After moving salons multiple times, I began to become disillusioned with the lack of service and quality of hairdressing. This inspired a desire in me to start searching for my own location. In 2013, all the stars seemed to align. I found my first location, and finally became an American citizen. It felt like the beginning of my American Dream.
Has it been a smooth road?
No, the road has not been smooth. As an immigrant and first time business owner, there were definitely many surprises and challenges along the way, but what I didn’t know, I was determined to learn. One of the biggest challenges has been to find quality hairdressers, which has inspired us to start training from within, thus creating our in-house education program.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Alkali Salon story. Tell us more about the business.
As a company, we pride ourselves on customer service and our brand. We hold our hairdressers, who we call alchemists, to a very high standard. We are most proud of our education program as we teach hairdressers to provide quality service and succeed in the industry.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
As the popularity of salon suites increases, it is easier for people without the level of skills required for the craft to still get a chair. Nobody who is fresh out of school has the experience to fully deliver on client’s expectations. At most of these places, a Cosmetology license is all that is required, whereas most salons require further training and an audition to get a chair.
Pricing:
- First Time Guest – Lady’s Haircut,Treatment, and Style $45
- Happy Hour Haircuts, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 12 – 3 – $35
Contact Info:
- Address: 3930 S Bristol St Suite 104
Santa Ana, CA 9270431 E MacArhthur Crescent, Suite 104
Santa Ana, CA 92707 - Website: alkalisalon.com
- Phone: 7145575353
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alkalisalon/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlkaliSalon/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/alkali-salon-santa-ana
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