Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Jones
Hi Madison, 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 was born into the hair industry in 2002. I was raised by my grandparents, who my grandmother, was and still is a hairstylist and hair salon owner. At a young age, I was very artistically inclined. From the ages of 2-10, I loved to draw, color, and paint. Going into middle school, I was starting to understand who I was. Taking all the art classes I could and met new girlfriends. Around this age I was figuring out you could actually do things to your hair. So with all of my new girlfriends I would color their hair, cut my barbie dolls hair, or even my own hair. While no, they did not look the greatest, this is my first memory of beginning my hair journey.
Going into high school, I did not have the best idea of what I wanted to be. High school teaches you to go into a four year college to be able to succeed in life. Looking at life this way, I knew I did not want to live like that. I wanted to express my artistic abilities into something greater than going to a four year college. Starting my freshman year, I start working reception at my grandmothers hair salon, D’Llands. Being around all of the hair stylists and clients taught me how to have customer service at an early age.
As I was getting closer to graduating high school, the pressure really sunk in of “what am i going to do?”. All of my friends had their plans set to go off to college and obtain a degree, but with me I still could not settle with the fact of that. Spring of 2020 rolls around, and as we all know, COVID-19 hits. School was shut down and we were forced to stay inside. I was not sure if I was going to be able to even graduate. Those tough months were really rough on us seniors of 2020. I enrolled in the University of Memphis for the fall of 2020 online. I was forcing myself to go to college because that was my only option at the time. Once the country started to open back up a bit, I knew this was my time. I dropped out of college and enrolled myself into Cosmetology school.
I started Cosmetology school in 2021 and at that time I also became an apprentice at the salon. Being an apprentice meant watching and learning all of the hairdressers and their way of cutting and coloring. This really helped me in school because while yes, I was still learning, it helped me understand my school clients better and their wants. While in school I learned the Vidal Sassoon way to cut and shape hair and I also learned M.U.D. makeup. I graduated Cosmetology school in July of 2022. One week later I took my state boards and I was a licensed Cosmetologist.
After I graduated Cosmetology school, I attended hair shows as well as Bellami Hair Extension Master Certification Course. I, still to this day, am continously continuing my education to further my knowledge within the hair industry. What I love about this industry is there is always something new to learn and master. I look at my work as my art, as I said above, I knew from an early age that I wanted to be in a field where my art could be seen. Creating realtionships with my clients as if they are my family and working with them towards their hair goals is a standard I strive to meet every day. I love hair with everything in me and I could never do anything else. Making my clients happy and seeing my art loved by someone else is a feeling I will never forget, every single day.
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?
The pandemic was really hard because it set me back from being able to go to Cosmetology school for about a year. It was also hard not being able to go into the salon then and see everyones work and their clients.
It is not always a smooth road, I am still learning to this day that it is impossible to make everyone who sits in my chair happy. Of course, I still wish I could make everyone happy.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a hairstylist and makeup artist, but I like to just call myself an artist because what I do is art. I specialize in blonding and color. I am most known for my blonde hair transformations. I am most proud of my ability to translate what I am being taught and transcribe that into my own way of mastering blonding. Being left handed, I am a minority in the hair industry. Most hair brands do not have left handed things so most of my equipment is for right handed people. Also, learning from other people, 99.9% of those are right handed, so everything that I have been taught, I have to absorb that knowledge well enough to do it backwards. Because everything a right handed person does, I have to do it the total opposite way.
I think what sets me apart from others is my ability to understand the client in my chair. I am an observer and listener, I would rather listen to someone than for me to be the one talking. I think that really helps me in the industry because as an artist, I have to understand their wants and needs. Even if sometimes they cannot get the words across, I have to be able to tell by their body language, eyes, and hand gestures.
How do you think about luck?
I do not really believe in luck, I believe if you want it you have to go out and get it. That nothing will just come to you. For the first 6 months in this industry, I worked day and night 24/7 to master my craft and find a way to achieve a clientele. When I first graduated, it was hard getting a clientele because I was new. So I had to figure out a way to get my name out there.
I still work endless hours after hours on my social media presence, countless other platforms, and my education to make sure I am giving my buisness my all.
Pricing:
- Full highlight: $125 starting price
- Partial highlight: $100 starting price
- Lived in color: $175 starting price
- Haircut and blowdry: $55 starting price
- Gloss and blowdry: $85 starting price
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dllands.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_thehairjunkie_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehairjunkie2
