We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Cano and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Nicole, what is the most important factor behind your success?
At first I was going to say the advanced education on all the up and coming cut and colors and being able to execute it in the salon but then I got to thinking I really believe it is my ability to truly listen to my clients wants and needs when they come and sit in my chair. I have been in the hair industry for 16 years. The majority of my clients have been coming to me since the beginning. They know if they sit in my chair I either know exactly what they are wanting done or if they are wanting a change we will talk it through to make sure it’s exactly what they are looking for. Sometimes what someone thinks they want isn’t really the case and most of the time I know my clients better then they know themselves. (They have told me that several times lol). The new clients I get come in looking for something new or someone who will listen to what they want after not getting it with they previous stylist. The looks they give after I am done fixing them up and the smile on their face is what makes my job worth it. I have traveled across the country to take education from pioneers and stylists who are amazing at their job to set me a part in my field but none of that matters if I can’t connect with the clients who sit in my chair and listen and give them exactly what they came in for!
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
You know, I am not going to lie. It’s really hard to talk about myself. I absolutely love taking education. The renewed feeling that I get after I get done with the classes and summits is so energizing. I think a lot of stylists get comfortable ( I have been one of those) and believe that learning new things or just updating what we do is unnecessary because normally our clients are ok just doing the same thing. What I have learned from getting out of my comfort zone, making myself vulnerable in front of educators who are so amazing, is that we all need to better ourselves and our craft. I really feel like that is what sets me a part. I want to grow and be a better stylists for the clients who trust their looks with me. That is such a huge compliment! I worked in a salon setting for 5-6 years before I decided to work for myself. It actually took me having mine and my husband’s first child to finally take the leap and not go back to work for someone anymore. How scary is that?!? We had another human being to take care of. My husband is also a hairdresser so for us we both did not have a fixed income to rely on. At first I thought I would stay at home more, maybe do some hair here and there for some extra income to help out but turns out I had a ton of my clients waiting for me to come back! So my husband and I decided we would trade off so our kiddo wouldn’t have to be put in daycare. After having our second child, my husband decided to leave his salon he was working at and we both started working together trading off! The road to get to where we are now was not an easy one. Both being self employed and at the beginning not knowing if we would have a full week or not was really stressful. We now have 4 kids and I have been on my own for 11 years and my husband is about to hit year 10 of being his own boss as well. We are now booked 4-6+ weeks out. We have now been trading off schedule wise at the salon for 11 years…we call it the trade off. lol. One of us could work in the morning and then we drive up with kids in tow and switch to where the other works and then they other parent totes them off to their activities. But now all 4 kids are in school at least 3 days of the week so we will both be soon working together again as we have planned from the beginning. Has it been easy? No. Being self employed is really hard never knowing what is going to coming in financially. But all of it has been worth it! I have learned that mine (and my husband’s) work ethic speaks loudly for us. I am usually one of the first ones into our salon (we work at a salon suite) and the last to leave. I will work almost every day in the week to make sure I can get everyone in that needs it. I will do my absolute best to listen and make a promise to give the very best experience for anyone who sits in my chair.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh man, I don’t think this is the best question to ask me. lol. You remember when I told you I work almost everyday and have a husband and 4 kids. I don’t really have time to go out. But I will tell you what I love to do in our little bubble of the world. I love going to both of our boys’ baseball games and tournaments to cheer them on or watch our two daughters shine bright in their gymnastics classes and competitions. That is my absolute favorite thing to do is go watch our kids do what they love and what they work super hard to do. We always eat out as a family at our favorite restaurants. So really, I know that this isn’t the answer you were looking for, but it is what I love and look forward to doing. My husband and kids are my world and when I am not up at the salon, they are the people I want to be with.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My foundation I have to give a shout out to Toni&Guy. That is where I went to school and worked from 2004-2009. My advanced education on the outside that I have taken in the last few years started with the Business of Balayage (I loved every single one of the ladies I learned under). The next person is Jaime Sea, who is also known as PrettyLittleOmbre. I took a class in Connecticut. She was amazing to take a class from. And the other group is called The House of Collaboration out of California. ALL of those ladies have always been there to support me, guide me, answer questions from me, and cheer me on. It’s amazing the boost you get when you make your educator proud–especially when they are legit at what they do. Last but not least my parents (they were the ones to suggest I do hair) and my sweet husband who always tells me to go get em. I definitely wouldn’t be able to do the things I do without him.
Instagram: queenofcrowns_beauty
Facebook: Queen of Crowns-Hair & Makeup by Nicole Cano
Image Credits
The professional looking pics are by @blackallphotography. The others are by me. I couldn’t find a lot of horizontal pics. Sorry, I hope it works, if not let me know.