Hidden Gems: Meet Jade Lauren of BALAY+BAR

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jade Lauren.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
It wasn’t my dream to do hair or become an artist. I was a competitive softball player my whole younger life. In high school, I had the opportunity to attend Cosmetology school and began working in a salon immediately following graduation and passing my Cos state boards, which was back in 2011. It wasn’t until 2017, when I found the technique of Balayage – a hair color technique that creates / mimics dimensional hair color that the sun naturally does but more enhanced, that I fell in love with my craft and the magic of being a hairstylist.

Being in this industry is challenging, and I’m not referring to the actual work side of the industry. In my 13 years of serving behind the chair, I realized how powerful this space can be because it is vulnerable. You’re sitting in a chair with a person asking you all these detailed, maybe overwhelming questions, and you have to stare at yourself in the mirror for 1-3 hours. Those working in this industry know- we hear and see the good and the ugly. Self-love + acceptance a bitch, and let’s face it, most of us struggle with them. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard a woman tear herself down in front of me in my chair, Hoping I can wave my wand and create some outside appearance that will help make it all better. I began to feel guilty and sad when I would finish their hair and fail to help them see their light. Because of this, I went through a rough period in my career where I battled to see if this was my path. I was a part of the beauty industry, and it was toxic. We still battle with it today; what is beauty? And so many of us are chasing after it. Changing our appearance, buying the next syringe, etc. Playing with these things as art is excellent, but the other side of that is using it as a way to accept and love ourselves, which has surfaced finally and unfortunately won’t last. Beauty is more profound than skin, and the most beautiful people I ever met were the ones who loved themselves + others + life so much. Like little rays of sunshine walking around, they light up a room without trying, and it’s because of that small yet mighty shift.

Finding balayage gave me a new way to create art and bridge that gap I felt I had in my career as a service provider. I felt like a robot most of my career, doing the same thing with the same patterns/looks, and I hated how it would grow out and not look so great. I hated that my guest only felt beautiful after their hair, and then in 2 weeks, that harsh line came back with the regrowth, and all hell could break loose. I wanted to find a way to enhance someone’s natural beauty and give them more power and freedom with their hair, especially with the hair color. Balayage gave me that solution and created more creative freedom as an artist!

So, I opened up a small hair studio named BALAY+BAR, where I only offer hair painting, Balayage services, and French haircutting in the fall of 2019. The funny part is that I did have an old employer, long ago, tell me I would never make it as a balayage-only artist, and I’m grateful to say I’ve been in business for 4 years now.

I didn’t stop there, though; beauty goes more profound, and having a more natural hair color that gives you more time between appointments ain’t going to provide you with the love you’re looking for. No one talks about your inner journey and work as a small soul-led business. Insert 2020 chaos and me hurting my back as I learn my brand + market and wear all the hats. I all of a sudden hurt my back and couldn’t move without being in severe pain. That led me to late nights scrolling on social media. I found this account of another magical hair stylist ( Brittany Carmichael ), who and her husband were doing guided meditations and breathwork. They also had this monthly subscription to learn all about mental health and how I can support myself more holistically, and it was, at that time, only $1, so I said, f*ck it, let’s give it a try. And wow, did that change my life? It gave me a lot of tools, knowledge, resources, and community that I needed, and I loved that one side was witchy + energy wielder.

In contrast, the other side was scientific and analytical, so getting both perspectives was terrific. I grew up in a strict Baptist home, so meditation and spirituality were fascinating, yet I didn’t know much, and fear kept me from diving in. Now, I use Tarot cards as ‘ poor man’s therapy’ and breathwork + meditation to help regulate my nervous system. You wouldn’t think these are connected, but the thread weaves in them all. Knowing myself on a deeper level and learning to understand my mental and emotional health has helped me show up in my business as well as for my guests. I have created a more soul-led business I didn’t know I was craving.

I have now created my dream work schedule. I work on dream clients with whom I can geek out on all these topics. What’s the cool part? I don’t even know the ripple effect is happening, but I can sense it when they sit down. You never know what seed you may be planting in someone, and for me, I hope it’s a seed of love and hope. I’ll let Spirit do the rest with it. I also offer tarot readings and became a certified Reiki 2 practitioner this past year, both used in the salon for clients. – reiki is soon to be coming in. I’m still building my career, and I don’t have it all figured out, but I love that everything I do has a common interest: Aligning with your truth by knowing yourself and always having a great crown ( hair ) on your head to match it.2

Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It was not a smooth road to open a business when the chaos of 2020 hit a struggle. At the same time, I was in a non-compete from my previous salon and had to trust the purpose and embrace the process. I had to rebuild my entire clientele from scratch while having a weekly rent that I didn’t have before. On top of that, I was going back and forth with lawyers for the first time in my life.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about BALAY+BAR?
I am a professional, yet I lean heavily on my creative, artistic, intuitive side to serve my clients + family + community, helping them feel more aligned with their power and comfortable + confident in their skin.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Structure within the business and foundations- policies and courage to uphold them seasons- knowing when it’s rest time, work, creative, etc.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://balaybar.glossgenius.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guided.by.jade/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ-kEQHKsJ9jzVLjmWEQoWQ
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/thehappyhairpainter/

Image Credits
First 6 images are all by: Abby Reilly – Frame The People Photography, image of me teaching a balayage class: Jennifer Hayward Photography Co., last image of me doing a tarot guidance session: Mallory Landis Photography