Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhiannon Smiddy
Hi Rhiannon, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When I was 14, I was in a tragic car accident, resulting in my left foot being amputated. As a 14-year-old girl. I knew that this was going to be a big struggle that I needed to overcome. I spent almost 3 months in the hospital and during that time my hairstylist came and washed and styled my hair. I instantly felt so much better and more confident and in that moment, that’s when I knew that I wanted to make other girls feel the same feeling that I felt in that hospital bed when my hair was done, which led me to becoming a hairstylist. I have been a hairstylist for almost 14 years now and it has truly helped me overcome so many obstacles in my life.
10 of those years I was in a salon suite by myself growing and building my clientele. In 2020 during Covid, I realized that I didn’t love being alone in a room, and I wanted to be surrounded by other inspired, like-minded stylists who shared the same passion and drive as I did. I felt like our area was lacking a salon culture of independent stylists that could work together as a team in a more collaborative environment versus competitive Which I feel like it’s very hard to find. It was a big goal of mine to create a salon where we could collaborate, but still have the freedom to make our schedules have our own style, and be as creative as we wanted to be. That’s whenRHI & CO. salon came along. We have been in business for almost 2 1/2 years now. We are a 10-chair independent salon with a suite in the back of extremely talented stylists specializing in extensions, color, cuts, and eyebrow powering/lamination. Our salon is held together by our incredible manager Baleigh who will welcome every client who comes in and will go above and beyond for any stylist. In the future I plan to expand the salon, adding on a commission Stylist to have a hybrid salon where new stylists can learn and grow their clientele with the option of moving over to booth rent. I am so passionate about this industry and strive to create a place where other stylists can feel driven to achieve more while making their clients feel confident and beautiful.
I think becoming a hairstylist has proven to my 14-year-old self that no matter what struggles we go through in life, we can be strong enough to still achieve anything we set our mind to. Our scars are only stories of who we are and set us apart from the rest.
Like it’s written on our wall, Dream Big, Make SH*t happen!!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being a wife, mom, hairstylist, and now salon owner is not an easy road. I have learned so many things about myself, my leadership skills, and what I want my salon to be about in a short 2.5 years. I have so much more to learn but I embrace all the struggles along the way. I have been through a lot of struggles and they have not held me back from achieving what I set my mind too.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory would probably have to be all the time I spent in competitive cheerleading and dance! It was always where I was most happy working hard on my goals.
Pricing:
- our stylist set thier own pricing
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rhiandcosalon.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhi_co.salon/
Image Credits
Nikole Cobb
Bledi Lena
