Our mission at Harper Ellis Hair Co. is to support stylists in their quest for personal success. We elevate our hand-tied artists not only by providing them access to the highest quality hair extensions on the market but also in offering an unparalleled stylist support network and industry-leading hair education.
In this spotlight, we chat with Billings, Montana based stylist Alice Frank! We’re so excited to share Alice’s story with you and talk all about her plans for this year!
HI ALICE! CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF?
Hello! I am 30 years old and a mother to two beautiful kiddos, Silas and Elise who will be 4 and 1 in June. I have been married for 7 years to an incredible man who has supported me in achieving my wildest dreams as a business owner, stylist, and mother. I can't imagine doing this life without him! If I get a few minutes to myself after the kids go to bed, my husband and I like to share some vino and watch a movie or catch up on our favorite new show. One of my absolute favorite ways to show myself love is to go on vacation with my girlfriends or by myself! It allows me to reconnect and recharge so I can show up my best self!
WE WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT’S BROUGHT YOU TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW! TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER AS A HAIRSTYLIST — HOW YOU STARTED, ALL THAT FUN STUFF!
I trained at the Aveda Institute in Minneapolis nearly 11 years ago which sounds super crazy, and I wouldn't trade my educational experience for the world. I worked as a stylist in an hourly salon as my first job, and after 3 years, I started booth renting. My career was a little rocky at first, and I never dreamt that I would be capable of the life I have now. I have loved nearly every aspect of my journey, but my favorite part so far has been opening up my studio. I opened my studio during a global pandemic & quarantine while being 8 months pregnant and it was the absolute best decision I ever made for myself and my business! I have an incredible family of small business owners ranging from graphic designer, interior designer, videographer/photographer, and retailer that helped me create the most relaxing, luxurious, and chic salon experience in Billings. I wouldn't be here today without their support and encouragement!
I remember when I left my first job as a stylist, my boss told me I would never be able to make it on my own because I needed a team to support me. Well guess what? I proved them ALL wrong, and you can too! My team wasn't in a salon — my team consists of my family and friends who happen to be scattered across the globe!
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER STYLISTS AS WE ENTER A NEW YEAR?
I have a couple pieces of advice I'd love to share:
1. Get yourself a business coach who can help you understand the different parts of our career. We're not just hairstylists anymore! We're also the CEO, CFO, CMO, and COO!
2. Decide what you want to focus on and go all in. Continuing education is awesome, but when you get over inspired you can sometimes become overwhelmed. Choose a few classes to focus on and master those skills before moving on. It's all about equal amounts of input and output.
CAN YOU TELL US WHY YOU CHOOSE TO USE HAND-TIED EXTENSIONS AND WHY YOU USE HARPER ELLIS’S HAIR?
I choose hand-tied extensions because I saw so many of my wonderful clients become challenged with their fine hair. I had the same clients coming back to me with damaged hair because the stylist they previously saw was using extensions that weren't helping them. I wanted to offer something incredible to my clients that no one else was at the time. It was September 2019 at an extensions convention where I was introduced to Harper Ellis hair. I remember seeing Terra and her amazing copper colored hair and had to meet her and see what the company was all about. I immediately fell in love with the colors, quality, and customer service. I can say with all honesty that I believe in Harper Ellis Hair Co. because they stand behind their product, stylists, and education.
TELL US SOMETHING YOU’RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR!
Oh man, there are a few things I'm looking forward to this year! I look forward to mastering my craft & specializing in extensions, working towards becoming a six figure stylist, and taking vacation in Nashville with a few of my closest friends! Cheers to 2021!
Be sure to follow Alice on Instagram and check out some of her recent Harper Ellis transformations!
