Today we’d like to introduce you to Dyllan Miller.
Hi Dyllan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It’s sort of funny—I don’t have one of those histories with hair like ‘oh, I’ve known since I was a little kid that I would become a stylist when I grew up.’ It was more about growing into being passionate about my career choice as I studied more about it and physically practiced.
I started cosmetology school as an option for eventual growth into a career, but also to keep myself in school while I decided what was next for me after leaving a college program. I knew I would enjoy doing work with my hands because I’ve always had trouble maintaining the focus and drive to finish more abstract projects or assignments.
I enjoyed the literal nature and instant gratification of haircutting as soon as I worked on my first mannequin head, but color formulation and application took a while to grow on me. The chemistry was so intimidating at first. But I hung in there and I worked at it. That rewarding feeling that came with achieving the color or technique I set out to produce was great enough to keep me pushing.
I’m still pushing and learning and growing in this career almost 10 years later because of that feeling, only now it’s even better because my clients aren’t mannequins and they get excited about the results too! I graduated from Plaza Beauty School in 2012. Right out of school I worked at a corporate chain, moved through several others, and eventually tried working for commission.
Finally, in 2021 I got brave and left the corporate world and became a business owner—Now I work out of a suite in Midtown Memphis and it’s been everything I hoped it would be!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
You know, mostly it’s been overcoming my own fears and doubts which is an ongoing process. Seeking education and resources to learn new skills or refine techniques I already know has eased that a lot. We have so many fantastic resources at our fingertips online and through social media.
Talking with other like-minded stylists is another thing that I’ve found to be helpful during those times. Another true difficulty has been navigating COVID which has been so tough for everyone in the industry, and I felt my own set of struggles there. I had a newborn and a third-grader at home when the country shut down, and on top of that, my partner is also self-employed. So like so many others we lived day-to-day at first and have since bounced back in most ways.
One thing that I have taken away from COVID times and continued to implement is not servicing multiple clients at once. Every now and again I’ll have to work in a quick bang trim while color is processing but, especially now, I’ve found people really value that one-on-one energy.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I focus mainly on highlights, color, and haircuts in my studio. I especially enjoy textured haircuts and using a razor to add movement. Even better if I get to place in some lightness or color in all the right places to emphasize the texture. Regular returning clients and referrals seem most often to come in seeking lighter coloring that doesn’t come all the way up to the root, or that blends into their natural color with a shadow root.
This gives them emphasized lightness throughout but with the added bonus of low maintenance. I’m super proud of that because it shows that even though the goal for those clients isn’t to commit to really frequent appointments, they still come looking to book again with me when it is time for a refresh. I’m thrilled if my guests are happy stretching their appointment results for that long! I also would say I tend to specialize in knowing what works well for fine hair which can be difficult in nature at times.
I think what sets me apart is the purposeful energy I strive for in the studio with each client—If I can’t get a good read, I’ll ask about the experience they’re looking for. I want everyone to feel cozy while they’re in my space, whether that means we turn the music off and have a silent appointment or deep conversation. I do my best to match energy because that’s super important to me.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
This is such a physical line of work—take care of yourself so that you can continue to stand behind the chair and take care of others. Invest in great shoes, make sure to stretch and exercise, and for goodness sake take breaks to eat. It’s way too easy to get burned out when you’re not giving yourself the care you deserve.
Contact Info:
- Email: Dyllan.e.miller@gmail.com
- Website: Alter.salonsuitesolutions.com
- Instagram: @alterhairstudio
