Today we’d like to introduce you to Ally Dirnberger.
Hi Ally, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I graduated from cosmetology school in June of 2021, and from there went on to assist a blonde specialist in Wayzata. This not only helped me begin to grow my business out of school, but gather techniques, tips and tricks for running a successful business as an independent hairstylist. I assisted her full time for about three months, and then from there, I started taking my own clients consistently every day. I chose to go on my own and rent a station full time once I felt comfortable. This was a huge step, but I am so happy I chose that route. Shortly after, I moved to the Salon, “District on 50th” in Edina. I rent a chair full time and specialize in blonding and extensions. I’m coming up on my one-year anniversary at this salon and I couldn’t be happier to call it home.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I can’t say it’s been an entirely smooth road renting a chair so quickly out of school, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Building a consistent clientele was one struggle I think many stylists have out of school. In the very beginning, I would have two or three clients a week which was very discouraging. Instead of feeling sad or down I would take my extra time and invest it into growing my business whether that meant continued education through online platforms, creating posts for my business Instagram account or creating business cards to give to my clients in hopes of reaching a bigger clientele. I think having fewer clients, in the beginning, benefited me in the way that I was able to put so much in behind the scenes to grow my business. Another struggle I had along the way was having last-minute cancellations. I think many people don’t realize that as independent stylists, we are paying rent weekly for our chair and for all of the product/color that we use. It’s not realized that when you cancel 10 min before your appointment, that essentially means we won’t be getting paid. Also, many clients would love to have that spot for a service so it is a lose-lose situation for me as well as other clients waiting to get in. I quickly learned to enforce a cancellation policy to ensure all of my appointments are filled and that I won’t have any last-minute cancellations or no-shows. However, this can still be a challenge to enforce.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a hairstylist in Edina, Minnesota at the salon District on 50th, off of 50th and France. I specialize in blonding and extensions. I would say I am most known for blonding, as a majority of my clients like to be bright blonde or lighter than their natural color. I am most proud of how far my business has come in the last year. I chose to rent right out of cosmetology school, which was a hard decision as that is very against the mainstream hair industry. I think this is one thing that really sets me apart from other stylists. Many people go into a commission salon where they have to provide every service whether they enjoy it or not such as perms, men’s cuts, etc. I knew that was something I didn’t want to do as my passion is hair coloring, specifically blonding and extensions. I am proud of myself for taking a leap of faith and pursuing that dream despite what others thought or said about my decision.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Over the next 5-10 years, I see my industry growing immensely. In the past two years alone I have seen such a major growth in this world as now hairstylists have the ability to reach such a wide audience with social media. I think it is super cool that this career is seen much more differently than it was in the past. People have more respect for hairstylists or any individual for that matter that chose a career that didn’t require a college degree. I think many hairstylists will take their careers to a more social media /influencer presence with apps such as Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. I’ve already seen many hairstylists create their own education programs, apps and or product lines through social media. I think this is amazing so that not only can stylists learn more from other stylists, but clients can learn more about hair care, color and maintenance, etc.
Pricing:
- Full Blonding Session starts at $200
- Lived in blonding session starts at $225
- Haircut $65
- Partial blonding starts at $185
- Extensions consultation $0
Contact Info:
- Website: Hairbyallymarie.com
- Instagram: Hairbyally_marie
Image Credits
District on 50th
The Hair District
Jillian Blanc Photography
