Alyson Berry Hair

For years, when people asked me if I wanted to open my own salon, I would jokingly say: “no, because I don’t think anybody would want to work for me lol.”

And it wasn’t because I wasn’t talented, it wasn’t even because I was insecure or doubted what I was capable of, it’s because I knew deep down that I wouldn’t have been an owner that I would want to work for. THANK GOD, I had enough self awareness to know that the last thing that this industry needed was another salon owner who just wanted to tell people what to do + be in control. But that’s exactly how I would have led.

One of the best decisions I have made since deciding to step into leadership was to work on my mindset first + sometimes I can’t even believe how much it’s transformed in such a short period of time!

I genuinely get so much fulfillment from NOT having all of the answers, being open minded to how somebody else can make something better, by not being the smartest person in the room, and by seeing the magic that flows so effortlessly as a result. I will never claim to be a perfect owner + to be honest I don’t want to be, because at that point you think you’ve learned everything there is to learn + that you’ve grown as much as you ever will, and what a tragic place that must be…

Every day has brought new challenges in the best way possible + all of them have shaped me into the leader I am today. And while that’s not a perfect one, it’s an ever evolving one who is so grateful for every ounce of it along the way!

I recently joined a gray blending
FB group and there's one piece of advice I keeping seeing that is going to set your progress back...

Almost every photo I see has at least 10+ comments that say:

“Don’t do highlights!”
“Don’t do lowlights!”

But if I've learned one thing, it's that gray blending takes a true specialist. One that understands how to properly formulate + one that understands the importance of letting them sit for an extra 5 minutes!

If you’re looking for support on your gray blending journey, as a stylist or a client searching for guidance, I’d love to be a resource in any way I can! My DM’s are always open!

Finding a new salon can feel scary! Whether you’ve experienced a salon you loved or one that disappointed you, or you’re new to the industry and trying to find the perfect fit, here are 5️⃣ things every stylist should ask or do before choosing a new salon…

1️⃣ How many stylists have left within the last 1-2 years?
+ The amount of turnover a salon has can tell you a lot about how happy their team is, how quickly they’re growing, or how well the team is led!

2️⃣ How will you help me to grow?
+ Really consider what your goals are over the next couple of years and ask the salon leaders your interviewing with how they will help you in achieving these goals.

3️⃣ Talk to current stylists
+ Go straight to the stylists you’d be working alongside and ask them how they like working there or specifics about the things that matter most to you!

4️⃣ Google the services you want to do more of
+ Pretend you’re a client and that you’re searching for a new salon or stylist, are the salons you’re interested in showing up and are they the clear choice for clients? If not, it’s likely going to be hard for you to grow.

5️⃣ Don’t ignore the red flags
+ While there’s no guarantee with any salon, there are some things you just can’t ignore! Don’t get caught up in the smoke + mirrors and ignore a gut feeling something’s not right!

Gray blending may be the buzzword right now… but the technique behind our Seamless Grow Outs® is so much bigger than just gray hair!

Our methodology wasn’t created to teach a single service, it was created to teach you how to create color that grows out beautifully…

That means you can use the same principles for:
+ Gray blending
+ Low maintenance blondes
+ Dimensional brunettes
+ Color corrections
+ First time blondes
+And any other client who wants more time between appointments!

When you understand why a color grows out the way it does, you stop relying on formulas + trends and start creating intentional color for every client who sits in your chair!

Gray blending might get clients in the door today, but learning the science behind Seamless Grow Outs® is what will continue to set your work apart for years to come!

If you’re ready to take your work to the next level and offer something that truly sets you apart, our 3 month mentorship program could be what you’re looking for! Click the link in my bio to learn more or shoot me a DM and let’s connect!

The proof is in the grow out 💁🏻‍♀️

Why does our methodology work so well for blondes, brunettes, gray blending, and everything in between?

Because we take 3 things into account that many others fail to:
+ how the hair naturally falls
+ when and how to incorporate their natural
+ how their color is going to fade over time

Our Seamless Grow Out® methodology isn’t about reinventing the wheel, it’s about make small changes to what you’re already doing behind the chair that will make a bigger impact than you even realize!

This little corner is a few of our team members favorite spot in the salon - and we really can’t blame them!

Our inspiration board is full of love, gratitude + reminders of why we do what we do! From cards our clients have given us, to words of encouragement passed between teammates, to our dream client profile that keeps us aligned + inspired every day, this board is full of irreplaceable memories + accomplishments we’ve collected over the last 4 years!

Karlie says:
“It keeps motivation going and constantly reminds me of the small moments that can make a huge impact. Which is super meaningful to me!” 🫶🏼

If you’re an owner (or stylist) looking to add some magic to your space, find a place to showcase the moments you’re most proud of, the moments that remind you of your mission + core values, and the moments that have kept you going when you thought you couldn’t!

Want to know my secret approach for every color that sits in my chair? First I start by assessing what areas need to be lighter vs darker, but then I take it one step further…

For Sarah, I knew our end goal was to be a low maintenance yet bright blonde, which meant I needed to do 2 things to blend her extensions- brighten her natural hair and lowlight her extensions, but how do you know how much to do where so everything blends at the end?!

It helps my brain to break the areas up into %. For example, on Sarah we needed to highlight about 50-75% of her natural color (since it was almost solid dark) which also meant I needed to lowlight about 25% of her extensions (so the remaining 75% of her extensions would remain light) which resulted in an even color throughout!

Looking at the hair that’s left behind helps me to gauge how much has been colored and how much hasn’t! Let me know if this tip helps!