Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Ullrich.
Hi Laura, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
From the time I was a little girl I was always playing with my mom’s hair, and putting makeup on my sisters and I can vividly remember teaching myself how to braid on one of my barbie dolls. I started telling my parents I was going to become a hairdresser when I was 8 years old. I can remember saying “when I grow up, I’m going to own my own salon!” I always loved going to school but mostly to socialize. I enjoyed art and music and any projects that let me be creative. I signed up for the Cosmetology program my Junior year of High School thinking it would be a great way to carry me through the next two years of High School. I could have a job right after graduating until I figured out if I would be going to college. My first semester in Cosmetology school I realized I could make a good career and a great life out of this profession. I got to work and graduated from Midlothian High School in 2005 with a diploma and a cosmetology license in hand. I got my first job at Orchid Salon in Duncanville, TX as a receptionist and apprentice. The owner of Orchid Salon, Roxanne Fox, taught me everything. She took me under her wing and I watched her run an extremely successful salon for four and a half years. She laid a foundation for my career that I still carry with me today. I moved to another salon in Midlothian where I worked for over ten years. I built a clientele and a name for myself in the town I grew up in. During those ten-plus years I had gotten married, had two children, divorced, and a lot of life in between. My career as a hairdresser allowed me to be fluid and flexible to be able to be with my children. During the hardest season of my adult life, my career carried me along the way. It also showed me that life is short and to live it to the fullest. I have a deep-rooted entrepreneurial spirit and I always knew I was meant for more than just being behind the chair. I knew I had so much to offer for our community and the industry. My husband, Austin, listened to me dream of being a salon owner for years. He believed in me from the moment I started talking about it. He has been my biggest cheerleader and partner in this journey. With a lot of hard teamwork, we opened the doors of The Collective Color Company in November 2021. I love getting to watch the stylists be successful and grow their careers. I love seeing our client’s faces light up when they walk in the door. Every time I walk in the door I am filled with happiness and overwhelming gratitude. It has by far been the greatest accomplishment of my 17-year-long career.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In January of 2020, my husband and I really ramped up the goal of opening The Collective Color Company. We started looking at locations, plans, budgets, and what opening a salon really entailed. Covid shutdowns postponed our visions coming to life but that didn’t crush my dream. If anything, it made me realize how precious our time is and to live our lives to their fullest potential. I made a goal and got to work when we opened back up. I worked more than I had in years and saved every penny I could with The Collective Color Company in mind. Our house was destroyed in the winter storm of February 2021. Again, we had to postpone and focus on getting our home back together and our family having stability until then. Spring of 2021 I hired a real estate agent Jaime Eagleson. Every time a door shut and I wanted to just throw in the towel she would call me up and say “No ma’am! We are not giving up! You will have your salon!” We worked together on a new building in Midlothian for about 4 months but it did not work out for us. I told Jaime we needed to pump the brakes but not to give up on me, our house was almost finished and I needed to focus on getting my family moved back in and settled at home. We moved back in and about a week later Jaime called with the “perfect location” for the CCC. A previous salon was closing and we were able to lock down that location. The timing was perfect. Everything fell into place as I knew it would when it was the right time and place. We got the keys November 4, 2021, on my 35th birthday! We all worked sun up to sun down that weekend and opened our doors for business on November 9, 2021. Just in time for our busiest season of the year! Being a new business owner has definitely had its learning curves but I have enjoyed it every step of the way. My husband, our three kids, our family, and friends have all been so supportive of this new venture. Our clients and the team of artists we have are amazing. The CCC has been a huge success since we opened and we have many more plans for the Collective Color Company!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We have 6 professionals working at The Collective Color Company. We specialize in lived-in color, blonding, and lash extensions and have three stylists certified in hand-tied extensions. We have seen many of our clients struggle with hair loss and damage this year from the after-effects of having Covid. The hand-tied extensions offer a short- or long-term solution to thinning or breaking hair. The extensions are customized to each client whether it be length or added thickness. This service, in particular, has been a game-changer for our clients. We also carry a salon-exclusive product line, R+Co. R+Co is an award-winning, color-safe, leaping bunny-certified haircare line. The products give our clients results they are looking for and we love using the line. My goal when opening The CCC was to bring a high-end experience while maintaining a small-town feel. We have an amazing group of artists and the vibe and energy is magnetic. The CCC would not be what it is if it wasn’t for the team of people who work there. I can speak for all of us when I say we value each individual who sits in our chairs. I have always felt that the actual act of doing hair on a client was just a vessel for so much more. We may be the only “adult” time a mother has, the only human touch a new widow will get for weeks, or the only listening ear to support someone going through a hard time. Clients will come and go, that is the nature of our business but the impact we can have on a person’s life for whatever that timeframe maybe is not beneath any of us. We strive to make each person feel like they are home when they are at the salon and leave feeling their most confident selves.
Contact Info:
- Email: theblondingbabe@gmail.com
- Website: www.thecollectivecolorcompany.com
- Instagram: @the_collective_color_company
- Other: https://www.randco.com/
Image Credits
Bailee Sterling Photography
Lasca Rose Photography
