Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel McDaniel.
Hi Rachel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I started doing hair 10 years ago in Ohio. After I graduated cosmetology school, I moved to South Carolina and worked for 2 years, and then moved to Southern California, where I assisted a celebrity stylist. After some years of training out there, I moved to Florida and finally back to Ohio. Upon my return here, I decided I wanted to share the things I had learned from all the wonderful people I had the honor of working with and training under, so I began teaching at a cosmetology school. After a few months at the school, I was put in touch with Brenda, the owner of Quirky Bird Salon, a toxin-free salon. She was going to be deploying out of the country with the Air Force for a few months and was looking for someone to run the salon. I met with her and instantly felt like the salon felt like a perfect fit and was thrilled to find out she used toxin-free, fair trade, professional products. I have been at Quirky Bird for a little over a year, and we now have a team of four and have expanded into a bigger space!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It is has not been a smooth road; I went through a divorce, and moved to 2 new states alone, and had to start from scratch building a book. Once I came back to Ohio, I got remarried and was finally ready to build a clientele at a salon, but Covid shut everything down, and then I had a baby. So, it was a really hard decision to go back to work full time with a little one at home, especially when daycares would be forced to closed due to new cases all of the time, all while trying to manage a new salon, my job at the school as an instructor, and a little one.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At Quirky Bird Salon, we are a full-service salon who truly value quality over quantity. We strive to make every client’s experience a good one, with individual attention to their service. We exclusively use toxin-free products at the salon, from color and skin care to polish, even spray tanning. That is why so many people choose us; they know they’re receiving a quality service without harsh chemicals and toxins and an individualized service to their specific needs. We are truly where beauty and wellness meet.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
We believe you receive what you put out. So, my specific journey, like many others, has had ups and downs, but this business has truly blossomed since we’ve put our mindset towards growing as individuals and as a collective.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://quirkybirdsalon.glossgenius.com/
- Instagram: @raecollettestyles
- Facebook: Facebook.com/fixedfeathers
