We ❤️ our students and alumni! Whether they graduated years ago or just set foot onto campus, we are proud of those in the Douglas J family. This month we are proud to shine the spotlight on one of our more recent graduates: Blake Webster!
About Blake
Blake graduated from the cosmetology program at our Ann Arbor campus in 2016. Since then she’s been making a name for herself in the local area. We know that anything she sets her mind to she can achieve. In fact, Blake has aimed high, and it all started during her time at Douglas J Institute!
“I wanted to be a celebrity hairstylist, and I still do! I want to be a hairstylist that people have heard of. I want to be well-known. The main reason I want to be a known artist is because I want to help other stylists have the strategies to make the most out of it and grow their businesses.”
Right now Blake works at a local salon named Salon Bella Vi in Plymouth, Michigan as a level three stylist, but that’s not all she’s doing. At the end of 2017 Blake had the chance to become an educator for Surface Hair, a vegan hair product line. Blake is passionate about helping others achieve their dreams.
“I’m really open about the fact that I took the opportunities presented to me to get where I am, and I have always worked with people who were willing to put their time into me. I want to do that. I want to be an influence on the successes of other stylists.”
Why Douglas J Institute?
“I didn’t look at any other schools. I realized that I didn’t look anywhere else while I was in school, actually. I just heard the most about Douglas J. I had seen them at a cool college fair, too. From there, I went online, and I signed up to do the tour of the school and then I went there with my mom. As soon as I arrived, I knew I wanted to go there. It looked so professional. It looked like a salon and not a school.”
Enough said!
Real Talk: Industry Myths
We asked Blake to get real: Did she face any objections going into the beauty industry? What advice would she give to someone who wanted to pursue their dreams of a beauty career? What should someone new know before they jump in, feet first?
“I know when I started my mom was really supportive, but many other family members didn’t want me to go. If you’re passionate about it, it will show in your work.”
“I would tell someone right out of high school who wanted to begin school this: if you are passionate about it, just do it. Don’t fall for the idea that “hairstylists don’t make money”. Don’t listen to people like that. A lot of people are in their fourth year of college and have no idea what they want to do.”
“My main message to those entering the industry is that it is all on you. It is 100% on you. It’s not on the owner of the place you’re at or the educator you’re learning from. It’s you. You have to build your own business. You’re the one who has to decide to do continuing education when the salon is closed or watch videos to learn new techniques. Promote yourself. Put yourself out there. You can create as much success and you want to in as much time as you want to. Put yourself first and push yourself. There’s a misconception in the industry that you’ll sit around for a while for things to happen, but you don’t have to. Don’t wait!”
The Past, the Present, the Future and Beyond
Did Blake always want to be hairstylist?
“I was either gonna be a hairstylist or be in the FBI. Criminal Minds really sold me on that. But I wanted to be creative, and I wanted to have tattoos and you can’t have those in the FBI!”
We love that Blake decided that the world of hair and all things beautiful was for her, because we think she thrives! We asked her to share what she is doing now and what her goals for the future are.
The Present
“I work at a salon now, and we are a team. We always talk about how special our workplace is because we don’t deal with drama because we work in a service industry, and we hear that all the time. We shouldn’t do it to each other. I never thought I’d enjoy going to work and being with 16 girls, but I do!”
“My boss has really put together a great team. We’re all young because we get hired right out of school. This is the first salon I have worked at and the only one I interviewed at. There are horror stories out there, but we aren’t like that.”
“I have a lot of young clients, and they go into the other salons and feel self conscious. But I have so many girls come in and say, “I feel good here. You guys love each other.” That makes me feel amazing. That’s the best part about my job.”
The Future & Beyond
“Level 4a at the salon is where I want to be. That will give me the chance to hire an associate, and I want to do that this summer. That’s my next biggest move. It’s all about growth. When you grow, pull someone up behind you. No matter what you do, bring up others around you. It’s more fun and more successful.”
Thank You, Blake
We want to show our appreciation for Blake and her kind words, as well as her commitment to her community and our family. We hope that our current students are inspired by her, just like we are.
To check out Blake’s work, visit her on Instagram or Facebook.
Wanna Be Like Blake?
You can learn cosmetology, too! If you’re feeling inspired by Blake and all her success, contact Douglas J Institute.
