Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Lemaster.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
The beauty industry has always been a passion of mine. Since I was a little girl, I can remember dipping my Barbie’s hair in Kool-Aid and cutting their hair with my school scissors. I come from a family of creative people. My sister, Liz taught me how to apply my make-up properly (blend blend blend) and style hair. I started coloring my mom’s hair at a young age. My other sister Amber has helped me with the business side and always encouraging me to keep going no matter how hard things got. Since I was 11 years old, I was always the friend that did everyone’s hair and makeup for events.
I began cosmetology school right after I graduated high school in 2007. I went to Paul Mitchell the School in downtown San Diego. It was a great experience because we got to not only prepare to take our test to become licensed professionals but they taught us about the salon life and allowed us to be creative and network and meet some people who are still in my life to this day.
From there, I started working in a salon as an assistant. Being an assistant before working on the floor is a necessity in my opinion. There are so many things you don’t learn in school that you can only learn by being in a salon and being mentored by another stylist. I am so grateful for the time I spent as an assistant. It really taught me how to manage my time and business behind the chair.
A year after being an assistant, I graduated to being a stylist behind the chair and helped manage the other assistants and stylists. From there, my business started to grow very fast and my skills got better and better. I had this connection with my clients that made every day going to work and standing on my feet for 12 hours all worth it. I worked at my craft every day even if I wasn’t in the salon. Staying educated is one of the most important things in every industry. Trends are always changing. And I personally get bored pretty fast, so I need to constantly be challenging myself and educating myself that way I stay inspired and I continue to grow!
Something I love so much about my industry is that there are so many avenues we can evolve into. Once I had been working behind the chair for 4 years I had built a solid and consistent clientele. I worked hard at building myself a business. And that’s when I moved into being my own business owner. I rented out a chair in a salon. Working for yourself is not as easy and glamorous as it may sound. It has a lot of positive benefits to it like making your own schedule, making more money and running your business the way you vision it. But it takes a lot of work and knowledge to do this right. Understanding taxes and the business side of it all is a lot harder for creative minds. My mind thinks in color, not in numbers. But with the right resources and the support from the people around me, helped me learn even more which then helped me to grow.
While working in my second salon, I had inspiration all around me from the talented hairdressers. So many amazing women and men that encouraged me to follow my dreams as well as challenged me to be better at my craft every day. That is where I got inspired to take my career to the next level and become an educator. I started my journey working for Redken almost three years ago now. I love the education side of the industry. I think it is SO important to stay educated and inspired. My goal is to empower other hairdressers and through education, I have begun to do just that.
I am so thankful for this industry and to be able to keep following my dreams. I have been in San Diego my whole life until recently when I got the opportunity to move to New York City and become Redken’s NYC Educator. I am now based out of NYC but continue to travel back home to SD to take care of clients. Something so special about our skills as a hairdresser is that we can do it anywhere in the world.
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?
Anything that is worth working hard for never comes easy. It has been a roller coaster. There are times I would sit in the back room with no clients on my books but a lot of bills that needed to be paid. Or other times that I didn’t know if I could make becoming an educator and moving to NYC really happen. I wish they would have taught us in high school how to run our own business and do our taxes. That has been the biggest struggle for me. Just understanding how to see a profit in my business. Also having such BIG dreams that almost seem impossible and making them possible.
My advice for young women starting their journey takes control of your own future. If you have a dream and everyone around you has told you it’s not possible, show them anything is possible. I have had many people tell me my dreams were way too far-fetched and tell me I couldn’t do it. But I’m living my dreams every day and making new ones. Find a mentor that has done or is doing what you want to do. Seek resources and build a tribe of like-minded people that will support your vision and journey. Support other artists! In our industry, we have been raised in a world that we feel like we are competing with other women. But we need to collaborate and encourage and empower other women! We are stronger together!! And most of all don’t give up and don’t give into the negativity that can come with having such a big dream. If you have a dream or want something so bad, work your butt off and make it happen!!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Lemaster & CO – what should we know?
I enjoy doing it all. I don’t like to limit myself to one thing. With that being said I do specialize in hair color and styling. I also love doing special effects make-up. With clients, I am known for hair color. When it comes to education, which is what I have been doing a lot more of now that I am in NYC, I am known for being the hairdresser’s hairdresser. I can relate to the everyday life of a hairdresser and I have found ways to maximize our time behind the chair as well as increase your income. I have come up with techniques and placements to help hairdressers be creative as well as efficient. I also like to believe I make a difference in my classes and really go the extra mile to empower other hairdressers to speak with clients on a different level and to educate not only themselves but their clients. I am most proud of the brand I have started to create. Which is branding yourself into something people can relate and connect with. Being a hairdresser behind the chair and/or an educator isn’t only about the techniques you are facilitating or the color/cut you are creating, but about the imprint, you leave on the individuals that take the time to sit with you. As an educator and hairdresser, I consider myself as an equal among my peers. I have experienced and I am here to share them in hopes it will make someone else’s life easier or inspire another artist. And I believe that’s what sets me apart from others.
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
Every person you meet and everywhere you go you are networking. It is all about who you know in every industry. As far as finding a mentor, find someone who is doing or has done what you want to do. Someone with experience in the part of your industry you are looking to go.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 858-762-2797
- Email: VashleyLemaster@gmail.com
- Instagram: Ashlemaster_redken
- Facebook: Ashley Lemaster
Image Credit:
Lindsay Mcnicol, Justin Witron
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