Life & Work with Kayleigh Dwyer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayleigh Dwyer. 

Hi Kayleigh, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I am a stylist at Hair Artists Salon in the Polaris area. I grew up in Huber Heights, Ohio, and eventually moved to Columbus when I was 21. When I was younger, I danced and cheered, so I have always been involved in the beauty/arts industry in some sort of way. I became obsessed with watching people do their hair and makeup or just watching my mom and grandma do their hair and makeup. I ended up being the one who would do her friend’s makeup for school dances. After high school, I had thought that I wanted to be a psychologist (which does go hand and hand with my career now!), but I wasn’t positive if I wanted to go to a university or a community college. I was convinced to try out for the Wright State dance team even though I secretly didn’t want to. I ended up not making it, which worked out also because I truly didn’t love going to WSU. I enrolled in Sinclair then decided if college was the route I even wanted to go. I took a gap year, worked multiple jobs at once, and ended up eventually moving and enrolling in Paul Mitchell partner school. I really never had a “salon experience,” so after finishing school, I truly had no idea what I was even looking for in this career. Ended up starting the associate program at Hair Artists and coming up on my 9th year there! 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Truly anything but a smooth road! Before actually starting school, when I first moved to Columbus, I didn’t have a job for numerous months. From that point, I questioned if moving was even the correct way I should’ve done things. Luckily, I moved with a wonderful friend who believed in me and told me I could push forward. As far as my career, there have been an ample amount of times where I would question if I could even do this or if I was even good at it. It honestly is such an exhausting and rewarding career at the same time. When you are first starting out, finding your “niche” and finding clients can almost be redundant. All while you’re still learning the actual science behind of doing hair. Innumerable times to count, I thought I could find something out there that’s “more stable” for myself financially. I have found myself incredibly emotionally and physically depleted at times. But I actually wouldn’t change anything about my path. You figure out how to manage everything above – realize what is and isn’t good for you and come out more powerful in the end! 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Most of my work is dimensional color, that being dimensional blondes and brunettes! Although, I don’t limit myself currently. I still do haircuts, keratin smoothing treatments, hand-tied extensions, event styling, and makeup. I have poured a sufficient amount of money into each of the categories trying to learn more! I wouldn’t say I would love to continue to do every one of those in the end, but I know there’s more I need to learn before I limit myself to certain creative outlets. I would have to say something I am most proud of is myself, selfishly. This industry has pushed me out of my comfort zone (from hairstyles, makeup, fashion, jewelry, etc.) in an abundant amount of ways that I had never thought I would be able to do. This goes back to limiting myself on the creative aspect, getting different hairstyles/colors makes me feel like I have to use my brain power a little bit more, ha! I think what sets me apart from others is the connection of the relationship more than just being their hairstylist. I want their appointments to make them feel comfortable and that we have a true connection of interests and hobbies. That we can have personal and professional conversations! 

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
One thing I would love to say about this industry is that it’s forever evolving and that you are able to learn so much from literally almost any stylist around you. That being said, I have traveled to a few different places furthering my education. From Cleveland, Chicago, Florida, New York City, Las Vegas even all the way to Parma, Italy. One of the product lines we use in the salon is called Davines, which is founded in Parma, Italy. But I love that it’s an international line with so much diversity involved in the company! 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: kayleighdwyer_hair