Today we’d like to introduce you to Cori Jacoby.
Cori, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Two years ago, I decided to finally enroll in cosmetology school after years of wanting to do so. While in school, I was able to build my clientele by heavily marketing myself on social media and literally doing people’s hair for free in hopes that one day my hard work and ambition would pay off. I graduated cosmetology school in April 2019 and shortly after started my own business “Hair By Cori J” inside of Zeeba Salon and Spa in Fort Worth. I’ve been told on multiple occasions how rare it is to booth rent straight out of school and be successful. I’ve also had multiple people in my ear telling me everything that I wouldn’t and couldn’t accomplish as a new independent stylist. I’m happy to say that I’m proving those people wrong every single day that I step foot in the salon.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not! While I was in school, I was battling severe depression on top of trying to cope with the loss of my uncle whom I was very close to. Throw being a mom in the mix of all of that and it’s a pretty bumpy road. Looking back, I had some really dark days. There were days where I didn’t want to get out of bed and go to school. There were days where I questioned if I would even finish school. There were days where I would question every single decision that I made because I didn’t feel like I was enough. The person I am now wishes I could go back in time and tell myself that everything is going to be okay; that all of your hard work will be worth it; that the days when depression is swallowing you, your fight against it will be worth it; that in two years you will be leaving your dream apartment, getting into your dream car to go to your dream job, and you’ll be happy; that today might be a bad day but it isn’t a bad life.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I own and run “Hair By Cori J”. It started off as just my Instagram handle. I decided to start marketing myself on social media on my second day of cosmetology school. I had no idea what I was going to excel at or if I would even excel at anything. I was just posting pictures of everything that I did on mannequins and then eventually clients. About six months into school, I realized that I loved doing color. I absolutely fell in love with it and I knew that it was the craft that I wanted to specialize in. I started marketing myself as a student color specialist so that I could really work on perfecting my techniques and I started studying/experimenting with different color lines to see what I liked best. I had multiple people reaching out to me via social media which really helped me build my portfolio and gain clientele while still being a student.
As a student, I was booked a month out. All-day, every day while I was in school was spent doing color which really helped me not only learn but be able to be successful now. After I graduated, took my state test, and got my license; I made Zeeba Salon and Spa my hair home. I run my business out of the salon and I absolutely love it. The majority of my clientele from school followed me and I gain new clients almost every single week which I’m so grateful for because, without my clients, I wouldn’t be in the position I am today.
I think what sets me apart from others is my self-motivation, determination, my work ethic, and my confidence. Those things very much set me apart while I was in school and now I work in a salon full of stylists with those same characteristics which drives me to work even harder.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
At work, success is my client seeing her hair after I’m done with it and having the biggest smile on her face. I live for the hair flips and the “I love it” moments. I love making people feel good about themselves. It’s literally what my job revolves around and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Pricing:
- Balayage – $175+
- Full Highlights – $125+
- Vivid Color – $200+
- All Over Natural Color – $70+
Contact Info:
- Address: Zeeba Salon and Spa
501 Carroll St. #638
Fort Worth, Texas 76107 - Phone: 817-870-9800
- Instagram: @hairbycorij
- Facebook: @hairbycorij
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