Today we’d like to introduce you to Becke Sneed.
Hi Becke, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 1991, I went to work at my first salon Jonathan’s. I assisted for about a year before I was put on the floor full-time. Assisting right out of school was the best decision. I had great mentors in John and Orene.
After working there for a few years, it was time to move on and I worked for a corporation for 20 years. Never thinking I would leave there, my friend Julie who I had worked with prior talked me into jumping ship and going to work at a private salon. It was the biggest decision I had made up to that point. Somehow she knew it was exactly what I needed.
Six years later in February 2020, I decided it was time to go on my own and become my own boss. For almost 30 years, I said it’s something I would never do. Julie was there again. She owns @joliestl. Obviously not realizing when I made that decision a pandemic would be coming only seven weeks later and I would be shut down for seven more weeks. But as I look on my first year in business once again, it was the best decision and the most scary one I’ve ever made. Being my own boss allows me to have the freedom to plan my own days and I get to be as creative as I want with whatever color line I choose. It has been the most rewarding decision I have ever made and having my client’s loyalty and continued trust makes me love my job even more than I ever knew I could.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
When I left the comfort of a corporation, I didn’t realize how little I knew of business side of our industry. Since then, I have learned that it is as important to work on my business as it is in it. We need to take time to work on social media/marketing. Word of mouth isn’t what it used to be. So I am continually learning how uplevel the business side.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I hope what I do is make people feel more confident when they leave my chair after getting their hair done. Since “specializing” is more of a new term, I’m not sure I fit that category. I had to learn at a young age to be proficient at all hair. But now thirty years later, I guess I would say that redheads, grey coverage and just knowing what looks good on people are my specialties. I’m most proud that I continue to educate myself. The learning never stops in this industry. Once you think you know it all is when it falls apart. I think what sets me apart from others is again my passion for learning and always wanting to try new things on clients.
What does success mean to you?
Success to me isn’t about money or fame. I feel most successful when that client who came in having a bad day or week sits in my chair and allows me to help them forget about what is troubling them or be the person who just listens and doesn’t judge. Or getting the text from a client after their appointment telling me how awesome they feel. Those things are what make me feel successful.
Pricing:
- Color and haircut starts at $140
- Highlights and haircut starts at $185
Contact Info:
- Email: itsmebecke@gmail.com
- Website: Hairbybecke.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chemicallydependent/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/chemicallydependent71/
- Other: https://www.vagaro.com/us04/hairbybecke
Image Credits
Ashleigh Dupree
