In 1981, at the tender age of 18, I started my career as a hairdesigner. In the first four years I became a Matrix Color Advisor, and performed most of the salons color services. I had my sites set on a career of platform artistry with a major company, when my vision changed to the Central Coast. San Luis Obispo was calling my name. I felt rejuvenated being closer to the ocean, and decided to relocate. After building a clientele for 8 months, my partner Stephen Patrick and I purchased a small 3-chair salon downtown. We became The Bladerunner! Staying in that same location for over 10 years, we expanded to both sides growing as large as the landlords would let us. In that time I focused on being the best hairdesigner that San Luis Obispo had to offer, and the best Salon as well. I participated in many local theatre productions as a hairdesigner, and actor. Our salon organized several fashion shows, where the hairdesigners were the main attraction. We opened The Bladerunner Day Spa at its new location in the spring of 1997. I always had a strong motivation to have my own salon, but this was something I had never dreamed of.
In the past few years I have focused more on giving back to my community. In that, I have volunteered to local elementary schools on their career day, talking about the benefits of being in the beauty industry. And every year I pick a charity that we will donate our time and money to. I feel it important to give back to our communities. It takes so little time to make a huge difference in someone's life.
Clients and friends ask me often, what motivates you, and how do you keep your staff so synergized? I can only answer with two simple words Balance, and Trust. I do my best to keep myself motivated through education. I attend at least 5 educational events a year. Most of them dealing with the hair and cosmetic trends for the year, but focusing a lot on my position as a salon owner and manager. Reading articles in several industry magazines, about how everyone else is balancing their salons, and themselves is very helpful as well. Choosing to be a positive force, friendly, and compassionate towards others, whether it be staff or clients makes the difference in a good or bad day. I think I enjoy my career most when I have changed not only the appearance of my client on the outside, but also the mood or feeling they have on the inside. Making someone's day happier when they leave my chair, is my key to success.
Teamwork is very important to me as well. The entire staff of The Bladerunner Day Spa and I are a team. We are all here to synergistically make our clients look and feel their best. I feel that my client and I are a team as well. Both working towards the best look for them. It takes the clients communication coupled with my skill as a hairdesigner to create and complete a vision. Some of my clients refer to our time together as therapy. That is probably the best compliment I could ever receive!
Todd~