Today we’d like to introduce you to Anastasia Strattan.
Anastasia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I got started in hair and makeup in 2009 in the DFW area. I started on a team called TC Makeup where I learned the power of customer service, hard work and much of my aesthetic today. I worked for TC Makeup for five years before branching out on my own to create Concepts by Anastasia, LLC. I have now had my team for five years and I could not be more proud. I went to Paul Mitchell Cosmetology school about three years into my freelance career as I wanted to know all I could about the amazing industry I had stumbled upon. This has been one of the smartest decisions I have ever made as a business owner. It has helped me be multifaceted and immensely more valuable to my customer base as I can serve them multiple capacities. I worked for my dear friend and bridal boss babe, Malorie Avaline while I attended Paul Mitchell in Norman, OK.
I would come back and forth to Dallas to do weddings, as well, during my time in school. I learned so much about what to do and what not to do while in school that I feel like I knew exactly what I wanted when I graduated. I knew that I did not want to work in a big salon, if at all. I loved knowing the chemistry and cut and color aspects of hair and I took this into my own booth rent right out of school. I started my salon career five years into my bridal career. I had six clients when I started and I now have a thriving salon clientele. I contract with seven other bridal companies in the Dallas area, as well as having my own business. I have also started an education system called BLOOM. In order to better serve not only professional stylists who need to up their hair game but also serve the community with consumer classes.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I would say the road has been as bumpy as I have let it be. I started my career with a very small child- my daughter was only nine months at the time. Her father and I were both in school, he in law school at OU and I in hair school. We made it work, for sure, and I truly believe this aided in us both having great work ethic and instilling in her how important achieving goals, having dreams and reaching for the stars is. We now have a son who is 18 months old and we are proud to be doing well in our perspective fields now. I am a true hustler and love the networking aspect of my career. It is not always easy to get out there and sell myself and my business, especially with kiddos. I love, however, being able to show them both that I can be a working mom and a successful business owner despite the odds.
Please tell us about Concepts by Anastasia.
Concepts by Anastasia, LLC is known for a couple of things aesthetic wise- airbrush foundation, individual lash application and true teamwork. I take pride in the fact that not only have I hand-chosen my team based on an interview and hands-on technique based working interviews but that I am able to train them on both hair and makeup. I love mentoring my girls and guys to be all that they want to be in this industry and world. I believe that knowledge truly is power if learned and then implemented. We specialize in special event hair and makeup as a team.
From weddings to galas, senior portraits to corporate headshots, prom to homecoming- we can and will do it all. I feel that as the leader of the team, I not only educate my team but also myself. I love going to continued education classes both in the area and in other parts of the country. The beauty industry is ever-changing and I think it is beyond important to stay up with the latest trends and aesthetics. I also think that having BLOOM. As part of my brand now will set me apart as there are not many if any, people or companies teaching hair from the ground up. I love being able to help pros of all levels and consumers of all experience levels how to do hair.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I would definitely have better discretion in who I put on my team. I have burned multiple times as a business owner and friend by people who just did not meet the standards of the team. I am a very trusting person and I sometimes let my truth factor and humanity get in the way of making sound judgments for the good of the team. I have fantastic mentors who have helped me knock down mental blocks and become hyper-focused on the success of the company and team as a whole. This has been an integral part of my continued success. I would have also had an amazing CPA, turned my business into an LLC and S-CORP, and had separate bank accounts for personal and business. These are the back end decisions that artists sometimes do not want to think about or put effort into but they are crucial to a small business surviving, in my opinion.
Pricing:
- Hair and Makeup- special event $250.00
- Bridal Hair and Makeup- starting at $375.00
- Wedding party/attendant Hair and Makeup- $190.00
- Balayage+cut starting at $200.00
- Childs cut- $25.00
- Men’s cut- $40.00
- Hairstyling class- consumer- starting at $75.00
- Hairstyling class- pro- starting at $350.00
Contact Info:
- Address: Ava Pro Salon
5639 Dyer St.
Dallas, TX 75206 - Website: www.anastasiastrattan.com
- Phone: 8067899795
- Email: akstrattan@yahoo.com
- Instagram: anastasia_stylist
- Facebook: conceptsbyanastasia
- Other: www.conceptsbyanastasia.com
Image Credit:
Stephanie Brazzle Photography, Fairooz Imaging, Cindy and Saylor Photography, Rachel O. Photography, Clara Bella Seniors Photography
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
