Today we’d like to introduce you to Mandy Galyean.
Hi Mandy, 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.
I have been doing hair going on 8 years now- and before that, I worked in healthcare for about 20 years. So, when I started cosmetology school, I was 39 and basically twice the age of most of classmates. Let me just say – I always thought I was good at keeping up with trends, but I soon realized while spending time with 18-year-olds that I was MAYBE a little out of touch! It was good for me to go through that – I learned a bit about… humility. The desire to do hair has always been inside me. I gave my Malibu Barbie a nice bob and was always styling my dolls’ hair and clothing. I would cut my younger brother’s hair – he had curly hair, and it would get a little crazy, so I would have him sit on top of the toilet and take the kitchen scissors to his hair. Then I remember my mom promptly calling to schedule him a haircut after that. In high school and college, I learned to use clippers and would cut a friend’s hair- maybe not well, but I enjoyed doing it.
I also was very experimental with my own hair- I always have been a fan of shorter hairstyles for myself and that translates into me having a better eye for them with clients as well.
After high school, I went to college and completed a Bachelor of Science in pharmaceutical science and worked in that field until 2015. I will say that just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. That career was not a good fit for me. I think I chose it because I knew it could be financially rewarding, and I always did well in sciences and math. But I neglected to realize that all the time spent doing something I felt dread for would take a toll on my mental and physical wellbeing. I did a lot of journaling and reflecting in 2015 and realized I had to make a change career-wise. I’m summarizing here, but as is often said- “when you know, you know…” and I knew. So, I toured cosmetology schools and enrolled. We sold our house and downsized. These decisions didn’t come without precedent- my husband had also made a career change that positively impacted his life, and I witnessed the results of that, which convinced me that I needed to do the same.
Since completing cosmetology school, I stayed at my first salon about two years, then moved on to a corporate salon that had a great education reputation and was there four years, and in the aftermath of the pandemic (which seemed to amplify issues in corporations and society as a whole), I switched to suite rental, creating MG HairCraft LLC. My best friend Bailey (from the corporate salon) and I decided to make a go at independent hairstylist life, and we share our suite. We have always been very supportive of each other, and it’s important, in my opinion, to have someone who will be honest when you have crazy ideas.
I have been independent now for two years, and it has allowed a better lifestyle. While I still experience being tired sometimes (don’t we all), I don’t have the day-to-day exhaustion that I had working for someone else. I am able to adjust my schedule or say no when I need to. When I was an employee, I didn’t have that freedom.
Alright, 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?
What is life without obstacles? It makes for weak character- just think of someone who has had everything given to them, and most likely they are not better off for it. The pandemic has made things different for people- and hair services are a luxury. Also, moving locations is usually going to have a negative impact for a while. So yes, there have been some slow times where I decided to be productive and do things such as focus on social media and marketing. I am not great at that- but I have put in some effort so that there is something for potential clients to reference. I find that if I put in some kind of effort, there will be some kind of benefit down the road. Also, suite life can be a little lonely if you’re used to a salon environment. That’s why Bailey and I decided to share a space because we need that support. There have been times that a service didn’t turn out how I wanted or expected, and that is very difficult when that happens. It can have a profound impact on your confidence, and you begin to question things. This is why a lot of people quit doing hair. It can mess with your mind. So, education is also very important to counter those doubts- take experiences that you’d rather forget and turn them into learning opportunities. I would also say that having your own business just means you are automatically going to have frustrating situations- and there is no one else to take care of it but you, so I’ve learned to be resourceful and avoid panic when it seems like the sky is falling- it’s a skill that comes in handy in other areas of life, too!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about MG HairCraft LLC?
MG HairCraft is my business name, and to tell the truth I modeled the name after my husband’s business name (BG Recovery). I was looking for something that was less typical, and it also reminded me of some authors’ names, so I thought it sounded cool. I tend to be known as a stylist who loves shorter hairstyles and precision cuts- but I also have many clients with long hairstyles. I am not curly hair certified (YET), but this is one of my goals in the next year. I enjoy working with curly hair so I’m ready to step up my skills in that area. I also do color- I have a range of clients that do everything from global lightener (which is where hair lightener is applied to all hair and scalp), to men’s gray blending, highlights, balayage, and gray coverage. I like the variety and look forward to using my creativity to tweak client’s looks. Sometimes a seemingly very small change makes a dramatic difference. I would like to think something that sets me apart is my refusal to rush a hair service. I believe in quality over quantity. I focus on one client at a time.
How do you define success?
Success to me isn’t necessarily about achievement, winning, or financial gain- but rather did I learn a valuable lesson though this experience? And how am I able to take what I learned and move forward in life with peace. Success in the hair business also pertains to how I’ve made someone feel. When a client texts that they love their hair, I look at that as a success. When a client refers someone to me, that is a success. When a client keeps returning to me for their hair services, that is a success. So, the key is to have many small successes- they will add up over time!
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