Today we’d like to introduce you to Cole King, Aubrey King.
Jennifer “Cole” King, known in the industry as Cole, began her career by accident or at the very least, not intentionally. She started apprenticing at an established Rancho Bernardo salon in 1998 only as a means to finance her pursuit of Environmental Design at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California.
Enjoying what she was learning at both the ArtCenter and as an apprentice, she continued at the salon to support her path. By the end of 2002, Cole found herself as a single mom needing to reposition herself. Cole wasn’t completely aware of what the hairdressing industry had to offer until many years later, but for now, this was her new career. The art she enjoyed creating with multiple mediums gradually gave way to become the Art of Craft Hairdressing. During this time, she had discovered the constant creativity that is in hairdressing, and the love for creating art with hair only grew greater as she expanded her skill set.
Cole worked fifteen years at the Rancho Bernardo salon, and although she loved every minute of her time there, her career demanded more growth professionally in both skillset and independence. She then made the leap with faith and took a station at a very reputable salon in the Bankers Hill area of Downtown San Diego. Arriving into a completely different environment introduced Cole to even more inspiration with the city, sounds, and colors. With that daily influence, her internal flame to create came back full force. This same desire for quality art and craft hair has continued to fuel her to where she is now.
As Cole advanced in her career downtown, she again found herself desiring something more. Once again she became an educator for multiple product companies (Wella, Nioxin, and Sebastian to name just a few) and during that time of traveling throughout Southern California, Nevada and Arizona she developed an even greater passion for education. Not one to rest on laurels, and in typical graceful Cole manor, she decides there is no better time than the present to put everything she has learned and experienced in her career to work. Now is the time to create a standalone idea. Something familiar for the client, yet completely different from what the industry had been accustomed to. The moment to create the vision of education coupled with mentorship for the independent craft hairstylist, a storefront that hearkens back to the barber and beauty parlors of years gone past and ultimately bring rise to the humble culture of Craft Hairdressing in San Diego.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
With Aubrey’s background in real estate and construction and the many tenant improvements under his belt, we were able to get our space built out from an empty space with no internal walls, floors or finished plumbing to an open and functioning salon and storefront in just eight weeks. All this was not without the pains of working 13-14 hour days, even on Fathers Day or picking up our salon stations in Beverly Hills on Easter morning.
Please tell us about Bristol Hairdressing.
Bristol Hairdressing is an educationally driven creative space with the purpose of supporting the independent craft hairdresser. We support the stylist with the best amenities and education, which allows them to then focus on their customer’s experience. Bristol Hairdressing is not only a place to visit; it is an idea, a culture that is built by and for hairdressers. Bristol Hairdressing provides support to independent hairdressers so they can operate at the absolute top of their profession. Our craft hairdressers understand that there is no compromise when it comes to education, skillset, and the sourcing of the absolute finest products and tools available to use and recommend.
Although we work collaboratively, at the very core, Bristol Hairdressing operates as a wife and husband duo, Cole and Aubrey King. Cole, a 20 year veteran in the Hairdressing industry, was an artist turned stylist, an educator, and now lives out every day as her best version of self for others. Aubrey, a serial entrepreneur with 23 years of retail management, and once avid skateboarder who is still holding onto his childhood by continuing to be highly involved in skateboarding events and ministries throughout San Diego.
The couple together worked diligently to create a very real space of inclusivity and creativity for the craft hair connoisseur and of course, provide the very best performing hair and skin products available. Gone are the days of being given a suggestion of where to go and what styling product to use or tool purchase to maintain your new look, it’s here, at Bristol and at your convenience. We have partnered with only the best and most ethical companies in the industry. Providing the very best products for our stylists to use and to also provide the same for our clientele was an extremely important choice to all of us and a large part of what Aubrey’s support role provides. Currently, Bristol Hairdressing is a proud supplier of Oribe Hair Care, R+Co, Wella Professional and Nioxin as well as, CBD Daily skincare.
Contact Info:
- Address: 9932 Mercy Rd. #107, San Diego, CA 92129
- Website: www.BristolHairdressing.com
- Phone: 858-705-8124
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @BristolHairdressing
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/bristolhairdressingsd/
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