Check Out Nicole Dovin’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Dovin. 

Hi Nicole, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a hairstylist when I got into a career. I went to cosmetology school right after high school and I quit about 3 months in. I was a receptionist at a salon at the time. I then went to school to be an aesthetician. Make-up is a true love of mine. I finished school and started doing facials. I did not enjoy it at all. I wanted to be a make-up artist but at that time in 1997, there really wasn’t a market for that. Especially in my area. I was let go from my job. I started to rethink if hair was really what I wanted to do. I started waitressing and I loved it. I did that for several years. I went back to cosmetology school, and I completed it in 2001 at the age of 26. I have worked in 3 different salons at various times as an employee. I went through a divorce with 2 children in 2011. It was financially very rough on me. I wasn’t making enough money to support myself and my children. So, I left my current situation and I decided to open a salon. I have a business partner who is also a stylist. We worked together at the previous salon, and we have owned Salon Belle Vie for almost 7 years. It was very scary opening a business. We had to borrow money to get things open and ready. Where there’s a will there’s a way. It has been the best decision of my life. I never imagined how things would turn out. I just crossed my fingers and made a wish. I truly love what I do. I love who I work with and I love my clientele. Things are good! 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I feel like it’s never a smooth road. When I left my job to open the salon, I didn’t have a location. I didn’t have any money to get things going and I gave myself 1 month to be off work. It was very stressful, but it all worked out. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a hairstylist. I specialize in color. I love to create color for each individual client. I have been doing hair for about 21 years and I still have some of my very first clients. I think that it’s very important to develop a relationship with your clients. I am very proud of myself for taking the leap to open a salon. You just never know what you are able to achieve unless you let yourself try. 

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The Covid crisis brought a whole new set of worry for everyone. We were shut down for 3 months. It was very scary. We had no idea when we would be able to work again. I’m just very thankful we always keep a clean salon. We do our best to keep everyone safe. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: nicoledovin_hair
• Salon Phone Number: 440-420-6391