Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Anderson
Hi Kimberly, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As any creative-brained person would likely agree, I never really knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. From musician to teacher to bartender to dental lab technician, I wore so many different hats it was unbelievable. After college, I landed a “real job” as an inventory control analyst for a local clothing catalog, but I quickly became uninterested and restless. I felt so unchallenged, uninspired, and replaceable. I decided that I wanted to do something with my life that would actually benefit the people around me and make an impact on my community. I was in search of something that would not only scratch my creative itch, but would also allow me to create a safe space for me to just be myself.
In 2016 I went through a really rough break-up. I lost all of my friends and I had no support system. A new opportunity presented itself, and I decided to blow the whole thing up, quit my big girl job, move to Chicago and start cosmetology school. I had always had an interest in hair, makeup and fashion, but I had no idea if I could make a career out of this interest or not. Deep down I was terrified that I was making all of the wrong decisions.
Fast forward to 2018, I was living back in Saint Louis and had just finally passed my state boards. After moving from apartment to apartment, blowing my whole retirement fund, working three jobs and going to night school for a year and a half, I had finally received my cosmetology license! I hopped around a few different chain salons, I made so many amazing connections within the industry along the way, and I was lucky enough to learn from some of the best and most talented cosmetologists in St. Louis, including my first mentor, Tim Guerdan. (I owe the biggest part of my success to these influences.)
Though I was so grateful for all of the education I received while working in chain salons, I knew that I needed more. After covid the industry had completely changed. We all worried that things might not ever go back to normal, and businesses scrambled to cut costs and make up for lost profits, while loyal employees got lost in the shuffle. So in April of 2021 I made the decision to step out of the corporate box and rent my own space at Salon Lofts in The Grove…My second giant leap of faith in about five years! I didn’t feel ready at all to be out on my own, I had no idea if I had the level of clientele or expertise that this move would take, and I had absolutely no way of affording this insane business venture. I felt like a fish out of water.
Despite all of the hurdles I was determined to make this work, because I had literally nothing to lose. I settled into my new location at Salon Lofts, and I discovered that I had a super loyal client base, a father who always supported my every single crazy endeavor, and a community of people who truly wanted to see me succeed. Thanks to all of the unending support throughout this entire wild journey, I had finally landed my dream career as a self-employed cosmetologist and a licensed cosmetology educator.
Almost four years later and I’m still standing! Everyday in my salon I get the opportunity to meet so many cool and interesting people, and to see the giant smile on their faces when they leave my chair. I get to create a safe space for everyone in my LGBTQIA+ community, and I get to help the amazing humans around me to feel empowered, valued, and seen. I finally feel like I’ve found my purpose in helping my amazing and unique clients discover their own version of beautiful. I am so grateful and fortunate to work alongside some of the most talented and encouraging humans at Salon Lofts. And I owe Sarah Harvie a huge THANK YOU for pushing me to take the leap and become my own boss.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The biggest struggle that I have had to overcome through owning my own business is self-doubt. Imposter syndrome is REAL! I heard people say things like “Why don’t you just get a real job?” “Maybe you should just do hair for fun.” And I started to internalize those words. From the day I started cosmetology school I can’t even count how many times I found myself laying on the salon floor going “What the hell am I doing with my life?” I thought I would never make enough money, that I would never be as successful as all of the other talented artists I saw around me, and that I just wasn’t good enough to run my own business. I was terrified of failure, and some days that was all I focused on.
In my own personal spiritual journey over the last few years I have learned that you have to make yourself uncomfortable in order to evolve as a human being. It takes a lot of courage to sit and reflect on your life, realize why you are unhappy, and take steps to change it. I had to put a lot of trust in the Universe, and this lesson has been extremely humbling.
I would not have the happiness and the peace and the success that I have in my life today if I had never chosen to challenge that little voice in my head that told me I couldn’t do it, that I would never find my purpose or a place where I truly belonged. And now every day I get to practice my art and do what I love, while positively impacting peoples’ lives and the way they feel about themselves. I have the freedom to take risks and to make my own path. And that is pretty awesome.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a master stylist, I primarily specialize in precision haircutting, hair coloring and blonding services. However, my favorite hair color projects are vivid or fashion colors. I love having all of those bright colors at my fingertips and watching my client’s hair turn into a literal painting! I also enjoy short haircuts, fades and custom undercut designs. I really enjoy trying any new look or style that breaks the rules!
In my opinion, I believe that half of the experience of getting a hair service is about the atmosphere. As a neurodivergent person, growing up and starting to figure out my own style and identity, I felt very out of place in most hair salons. I had an affinity for alternative styles, and stylists often stared at me like I must be from another planet. Then I met a stylist named Jo Nickels. Jo was willing to step out of the norm and bring all of my crazy hair ideas to life. And what a wild hair journey it was! I was so excited to finally find a salon where I felt comfortable and understood.
I always wanted to create a safe space like this, where everyone could feel welcomed and comfortable enough to open up about their own personal style. I wanted to show people that “beauty” doesn’t just mean you have to look exactly like that actor or that supermodel on the magazine cover. And I feel that is what sets me apart a little bit. I get to create a more personal bond with the people I meet who might normally feel too intimidated to walk into a chain hair salon. “We are the weirdos, mister!”
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Changing careers at 30 was one of the scariest and most rewarding decisions I have ever made, and it literally saved my life. My best advice that I could give to anyone who might be considering starting their own business is to JUST GO FOR IT!
There will never be a “right time.” There will never be “enough money.” And as cliche as it sounds, you only get one shot. Don’t waste the little time you do have in this human experience dwelling on the “what-ifs.” And don’t listen to anyone who tells you that you can’t. It is always the right time to take the leap to create your own happiness.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://salonlofts.com/kimberly_anderson
- Instagram: @BeautybyKimberlyB
- Facebook: BeautybyKimberlyB
