Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Goode.
Hi Sarah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my career in Chicago. My training was typical Midwestern with a splash of the American dream. I apprenticed long hours and strived to learn everything available about transforming women’s hair into the soft, natural, beautiful hair of their dreams.
My mentor was originally from Greece, and my grandparents were first-generation Americans from Germany. I grew up learning to set my goals high and never give up. That with hard work and perseverance, we can achieve anything!
I had a short haircut that wouldn’t grow. Hair extensions were just becoming a thing. We had a new specialist in the salon, so I decided to give them a try. A few hours later, I was transformed. From basic blonde to gorgeous and confident. I knew this was the direction to take my career, I’m an artist second, what matters most is the way we make women feel. I felt so amazing at that moment and moving forward; I knew this was my passion: to create beautiful hair for women less fortunate to grow it themselves.
In 2012 I made the move from Chicago to San Diego north county. I had visited a few years back when my brother was graduating from the Marines basic training and the moment I put my toes in the sand I knew the west coast was where i belonged.
I had to start my clientele from scratch and build from the bottom up. I had a full book of loyal clients when I met my husband in 2018. He was from OC and working in Long Beach as the CIO of a major health plan. The furthest south we could do was San Clemente.
I fell in love with him and my new home in Dana Point. The majority of my clients followed me. The way that I dry cut and apply hair extensions is unique and apparently worth the hour-plus drive.
Then the pandemic hit, forcing us to stay home for multiple weeks. It was tough. I’ve never had this much time off in my life! I decided to use my time wisely and begin planning for the future.
Everyone offers color and extensions out here, but to offer 100% natural blended low-maintenance hair replacements in a quiet, comfortable atmosphere and walk out feeling like they can take on the world become my dream.
I honed in on my skills, sought the expertise of industry celebrities, and learned how to do the business and marketing side.
The thing with hairstylists and cosmetology schools is that they teach us impeccable hygiene and cleaning skills, basic styling skills, and zero business skills, so we have to source that elsewhere. Even my years at the University of Iowa towards earning a BS didn’t prepare me for owning a small business.
I started small; once the pandemic ended, I was in a salon suite. We quickly outgrew it and needed more space. I didn’t want to open a traditional salon. My clients loved the intimacy of the suite, but we need a bigger space, natural light for photographing our work, and space that I could host my growing side business, Blend – cutting extensions with confidence.
There is so much education on methods of installing extensions however nothing about the cut. Which is my specialty. I believe women should be able to participate in any and all activities and not have to worry about the way they look. They should feel confident in all situations. I saw the need and wanted to inspire other stylists to be able to deliver natural, low-maintenance results to their clients, too.
Enchant Studios was born with the idea that women could escape life, relax, and feel pampered. A few hours later, they walk out as the very best version of themselves. Extension specialists need room, a comfortable setting for their clients spending hours in the chair. We needed a place to host classes to raise the bar in the industry.
Today, my education has launched. We host quarterly in-person, hands-on training for extension specialists as well as touring the US training stylists in this unique style of dry cutting.
I also have an online course for those that like to study at their own pace.
Next up, I’m training my own personal assistant so I can grow this brand and reach more women. There is a lot happening in the world right now. Much of it is out of my hands, but I do have the power to create happiness and confidence in the women who visit my space. Those feelings are contagious, and if I can spread more joy one head of hair at a time, I can rest happy.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The biggest struggle was shutting down for the pandemic, but it also became my biggest strength. I was just gaining traction by getting the word out about my offerings. But It gave me the gift of time To pause, reflect on my dreams, and build a future that I am excited for.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My specialty lies in creating seamless blends with extensions. It comes from the way I dry cut. It’s different from traditional dry cutting, where big sections are sliced off; rather, we take intricate pieces and taper the hair, creating movement and shapes designed to support the structure of the client’s hair as well as accentuate their face shape to bring out their best features.
This technique was taught to me by my mentor in Chicago, Andreas Zafiriadis owner of Salon Buzz. Our system was created by John Sahag celebrity stylist in NYC. The two were students together in Paris, so my technique is somewhat French-derived.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What truly makes me happy is seeing the smiles on my clients’ faces when they feel beautiful! Also, I love the look of satisfaction my students get when they nail a shape. It’s art and customer satisfaction at its best.
I live for this and a healthy balance of time. Traveling with my family. A couple of years ago, we went to Fiji, and I had the opportunity to surf Cloudbreak. It was one of the most magical moments in my life!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.sarahgoode.com/
- Instagram: Saraharielstylist
