Meet Theo Sayler | Hair Stylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Theo Sayler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Theo, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
Part of having a business is experiencing success as well as failure. Not everything is going to go exactly as planned and you have to know when to give up and pivot on certain concepts you have for your business, as well as for your own personal ambitions. I find myself knowing something might need to be reconsidered if the idea at hand is no longer in alignment with my “Why’s” anymore. Why did I start this? Why do I stand out from others who are also doing this? Why are my clients choosing to align themselves with me and my business? Why am I choosing to put my effort into this goal, plan or endeavor? And If something no longer make sense for my “why”, I know it’s time to give up on the idea but not the intention behind it and redirect a regroup a new plan that does.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’ve always loved hair and had been using hair as a creative medium for as long as I can remember. From asking my mom as a little kid If I could style and braid her hair. To doing the hair of my high school friends in my basement, I’ve always been drawn to the self expression and artistry that hair provided for me. I knew it was the industry I wanted to be a apart of after completing high school. So I enrolled at Paul Mitchel The School, to get my license as a Master Cosmetologist and found myself learning about all the things I had been doing incorrectly to my friends hair in my basement, Haha. But honestly, learning from your mistakes are an essential part of learning a skill. I was taught the correct producers and protocols for haircutting and working with chemicals. I studied and practiced preforming a variety of services under the guidance of my teachers for a year and then set off to take my state board licensing test as a Master Cosmetologist.
After obtaining my license, I started working at a salon as an assistant before becoming a full fledged stylist. Soon, I was taking clients of my own behind the chair and begun building my clientele. This is where a lot of the real learning happened. As I was now working on hair of all different lengths, densities, textures and colors. The variety of clients that sat in my chair presented me with all different kinds of scenarios that made me a much more well rounded stylist.
Formal schooling teaches you the basics of your craft, but I believe working with people and being able to problem solve for them is really what takes your proficiency of hairstyling to the next level.
So I continued to build my client base and advertised my portfolio on social media until I was able stop working as an employee of someone else’s salon, to becoming a independent stylist and renting my own chair at a beautiful studio in downtown Roswell Georgia. I now have complete control over my hours of operation, what services I want to offer, and the products I want to work with.
However, this freedom comes with a new set of obstacles and challenges, as I become a business entity of my own. And to be completely transparent, I am still figuring out what works best for myself and my clients. And I think that needs to be normalized. Finding a work/life balance and still having an identity outside of your craft can be a bit tricky. Since I love what I do, I find myself working all the time. I’m so grateful to be busy enough to be able to work all the time, but the saying that once you have a business you go from working 9 to 5 to working around the clock is very true. Especially when you’re passionate about your career. It can be hard to stop yourself from devoting all your time to your work.
I’ve discovered that creating healthy boundaries for yourself and allowing time to exist outside of your work is crucial to being your best when you are working. Otherwise you are operating from a place of exhaustion instead of passion and that never leads to anything positive for anyone.
So my biggest piece of advise for small business owners out there starting their own hustle would be to not forget to take time for yourself. Having something that is yours takes a lot of energy and effort to manifest and can become all consuming if you let it. There are definitely times you will have to be on the grind and work a lot to accomplish a goal. But just make sure at the end of the day, you still make time for you. Take a break for lunch, have the weekend to yourself to do other things that fuel you, go on vacation now and again! Otherwise it’s going to be hard to sustain long term and you’ll burn out. Your business will be better for it and your clients would want you to take care of yourself to. You will be able to better take care of them in return. And if you’re getting push back on making yourself just as much of a priority as your business, then that isn’t business you want to entertain anyway. You will attract the right people who align with you and your business. So be authentic, set your boundaries, listen to your gut and go be great!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The studio I’m located in, Fancy Hairdressers, is in the heart of downtown Roswell. A perk of working in this beautiful and historic spot, is the variety of awesome restaurants and entertainment that keeps downtown Roswell a buzz. Specifically Canton Street, which features a multitude of different restaurants, shops, and cafes to enjoy. It’s especially exciting during the warmer months when the Alive at 5 festival begins. The street shuts down to traffic and It becomes a big block party with live music an local vendors to explore. It’s defiantly a bright spot in Roswell and I would recommend it to anyone looking to eat good food and enjoy some historic charm.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my fellow creatives, artists and small business owners. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know so many amazing people on this journey, who’ve shared the same desire to live their most authentic and fulfilling life, while using their passions to make a living for themselves and create community along the way.
Curating your own path can be incredibly difficult, but knowing you aren’t alone on that journey makes all the difference.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glamjesus

Other: Booking Number: 470-226-5015

TikTok: @glam_jesus

Image Credits
Photography by:
Lizeth Hernandez
Theo Sayler