Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsie Meyers.
Chelsie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
When I think back on my journey to where I am today and how I got here, one word that comes to mind is “perseverance”. I started my journey as just a small-town girl wanting to do people’s hair for a living. My parents really pushed for me to attend college, so I did and lasted all of one semester. I reminded them that I still wanted to do hair.
In 2013, I enrolled at Hays Academy of Hair Design in my hometown. After graduating school I moved as fast as I could to Kansas City which was my first big adventure and about four hours away from home. I moved with a good friend who also had completed hair school with me. We applied for the same salon and ended up both getting hired. We were a full force, or so we thought, we quickly figured out that we knew nothing about the industry and we needed all the hands-on we could get. We chose a mall salon location so we were never seeing repeat clients. We got to get all of our mistakes out on them and wave goodbye as they left the building!
After about a year and a half, I decided I needed to make my next move. I never felt like I was able to get a good start at building a regular clientele basis, and after all that was the end goal, so I moved salons. I went to an all booth rental salon and I was promised to be the only commission stylist there which would mean I would get the salon’s overflow walk-in/new clients. I worked there for a year and a half and met some really amazing people, and started to build my clientele. Three years later I decided I was destined for more! So I attended a family wedding in Dallas Texas. I never ever saw myself ending up in Texas but I thought why not? I knew I wouldn’t be able to convince my parents that this was my best idea yet if I didn’t have a job lined up before the move so I secretly drove to Dallas and interviewed at this really beautiful salon I had google searched on the internet. Bam! I got the job!
Once again I packed my life and hit the road, this time all by myself! I got to Dallas and two weeks into my new job I realized they had over-promised me. It was a bartering system when clients checked out, we weren’t able to provide enough toilet paper in the bathrooms, and I was always shushed when asking for a breakdown of my paycheck at the end of the weeks. I remember thinking to myself how in the world did these people own a salon, and what bad luck I had for choosing this exact place. So common sense told me I wasn’t going to be sticking this place out for long. I quit that place two weeks in and hit the town that following day to land whatever salon would take me. I got lucky and landed on my feet. I was hired into what I felt like was a pretty upscale salon and promised them that I would take all the men’s cuts to get them to let me join the team (they had a need for that!) I was also back to square one on needing clients in my chair.
So I picked up a job nannying in the mornings before work and after work and on the weekends to make ends meet. There was no way I was going to let anyone know that I was struggling! I met a lot of really cool people like Pauly Shore would “pop“ in to get a haircut, or different hockey and basketball players were some of my clients, and for goodness sake, Troy Aikman walked his Frenchie by the salon a couple of times a day!. I was so eager to tell my friends and family how cool my new salon job in Dallas was and how I had finally made it… until I discovered that working with a bunch of people who were my only friends in my new found city and people I spent the weekends partying with was not in my best interest. I had crossed boundaries, and it was a learning curve yet again. So I thought ok where is up from here? Early on I had discovered this salon called Charlie & Co. I had always heard “Best Salon in The big D” but always thought in the back of my mind that this kind of gig was for sure out of my reach.
Although I had proven to myself over and over again if I wanted something bad enough I was capable of making it happen. I reached out to the owner, it took him weeks to reply back to me. His response was “I don’t have any spots available for hire but would love to meet you to see what it is that your looking for“. Done we had a meeting it went well and then I didn’t hear from him. I actually started to apply for other jobs around Dallas just knowing I couldn’t continue where I was at. A couple weeks went by which felt more like months and I finally heard from Charlie again! He said he would let me join the team, but was sure to let me know that I would be under his watchful eye for the first couple months to make sure I was worthy of letting my clients walk out under his salon name!
The first couple months were rough I remember calling my mom on the way home being like I don’t know if I’m worthy of this opportunity, I am working around more talent then I have ever been exposed to in my life. Being the good mom she is, she always reassured me that I didn’t make it this far by doing crappy hair! Months in I grew to know that I am right where I need to be! I am now three years at Charlie & Co. with a great clientele base, surrounded by amazing talent, with plenty of room to keep growing and succeeding. I am thankful each and everyday for my career and for my opportunities that I’ve been given and for all the growth that has come with it. They say “love your job, and never work another day in your life!”
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Smooth, no. It’s hard to grow. I had to work two and three jobs to make ends meet, but now I know that I am capable of that, and not only am I capable of that but it doesn’t last long. Working three jobs seemed so hard in the moment, but it was temporary I just needed them to help me get through. I’ll also let you in on a secret, that I am very hard-headed in thinking that I don’t need any help and can do everything on my own. It’s not necessarily a good way to be but helped me get through the struggles. I have started over in two new cities one being all by myself! And then starting “new jobs” in those “new cities”. But while in school I was told once to “get comfortable being uncomfortable“, and “if your not afraid your not growing” and those have served as little reminders to keep me growing.
Charlie & Co. – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I do hair cuts, color treatments, men, & women. The thing I am most proud of with my business is that I have kept my talents broad. Through the years I have been told by several people to narrow down the services I offer. To pick one or the other, cuts or colors, men or women, but I don’t want to. I enjoy being able to do all the different services. I want to continue learning all of the latest color trends.
I pride myself on being able to provide clients with a cut after their bomb color. I truly believe a “perfect” cut won’t be as “perfect” without the “perfect” color or vice versa. Both matters. And in this industry “time is money” so I can schedule a men’s cuts in between processing color times. I truly enjoy both so much, and I would be so bored if I only had one talent.
Who else deserves credit – have you had mentors, supporters, cheerleaders, advocates, clients or teammates that have played a big role in your success or the success of the business? If so –who are they and what role did they plan / how did they help?
Yes, first and foremost my parents. I owe a lot of my success to them for raising a stubborn headed, hard-working girl who was out to prove I could do anything my heart desired. All while always knowing I had a place to go “home” to, and two voices who would tell me I was good enough when I didn’t feel like I was. Charlie Price, my boss now. I have had a lot of bosses in this life but not one like this boss. When I first started and he was watching me with his eagle eyes and ears he noticed that I was putting a lot of pressure on myself. New job, some “new clients”, “new environment” there was so much to live up to. He reassured me that I was worthy.
That “he” was the lucky one to have me on his team, and that he believes in me. Still to this day I don’t know if he knows how much it means to me to have him cheering me on!
And then, of course, all my loyal clients (my friends)! Forever grateful for each and every one of them.
Contact Info:
- Address: Charlie & Co.
1645 N Stemmons Fwy Suite E,
Dallas, TX 75207 - Website: charlieandco.com
- Phone: (214) 303-1799
- Email: cameyers22@gmail.com
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.
