Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassie Perez.
Hi Cassie, 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?
Growing up in a small town in Missouri (Chillicothe) there was never a ton of exciting things to do with my friends. I quickly learned one of my favorite places to be was the hair salon. I remember my hometown stylist Melinda Kimmis. She was the owner of Sophisticuts salon in my hometown. I thought she was the absolute coolest person I had ever met! When I would go into the salon, I remember the feeling I would get. I always felt beautiful and inspired. She was always playing country music and all the stylists were laughing and having a good time. This might sound silly but I even remember the smell of the salon and I just loved it! As a middle school girl, I had my first dream of doing just that. Being just like Melinda!
Fast forward a few years to high school. Everyone around me was making plans to go to big universities and get big degrees as doctors and lawyers. My hopes of being a stylist started to feel too little. I was a straight-A student. Top of my class. I felt as if I should be doing the same and choosing bigger dreams for myself. In my senior year, I struggled with my decision hard. I remember almost going to K State for Architecture because it felt like I should be doing what everyone else was. Towards the end of the year, I decided to take a tour of Paul Mitchell Cosmetology School. I fell in LOVE. I decided at that moment I was going to give it everything I had and make my dreams something worth fighting for. I wasn’t going to settle; I was going to fight to live a life I loved in a career I loved. I thought everyone around me would be disappointed but I realized quickly that wasn’t the case! I applied for scholarships just like all my fellow students who were applying for these big universities. I was so humbled during the announcement assembly where they told the students who were receiving scholarships. I was given several thousands of dollars from strangers who were running these scholarship programs who believed in ME and my dream!
After graduating high school, I moved from my tiny comfortable hometown to what to me was the BIG city of Overland Park. I had to find an apartment and immediately become an adult. The night my parents moved me into my apartment and left I cried and cried because I was so scared. These were the first tears of many to come during this season! But they were all worth it in the end.
I started working at Hy-Vee during the day and going to school at night. I had to use my GPS to get everywhere because the city was so big for me! After about a month, I was so homesick and I wasn’t making enough to afford my bills! I kept my dreams in the front of my mind even when it was tempting to quit and go back home. Instead, I got a second job working at Red Lobster on the weekends! This job challenged me in ways I never knew existed and took away the only free time I had. Many more tears came when I would spend my weekends working hard, extremely tired, and missing home. I just kept pushing knowing my dreams were important and that I could do it!
And I did just that! I worked hard for a year and a half from age 18 to almost 20. During school, I was always a perfectionist and I put pressure on myself to be perfect! I was probably the slowest one in my class, but I always kept trying and wouldn’t stop until I perfected everything. Sometimes I would worry that I would never be good enough or would never get it, but I had great teachers and when I would fail, I would get up and try again! I graduated from cosmetology school on May 5th, 2016. I found a job at a local hair salon as a commission stylist. I realized quickly that it takes time and effort to build a clientele. So, I still worked two jobs at the beginning. I stayed at Hy-Vee 2 days a week and worked my salon job the other 5. Still no days off! After about 2 years I started hitting all my goals at the salon and was able to quit Hy-Vee! About 6 months later I ventured out to open my own salon suite. I was SO scared! When I signed the lease on my space I ran to the bathroom because I was freaking out! In hair school, I thought I would never be able to have my own salon suite, and here I was doing it! I stayed in my salon suite for 2 years starting to work hard on building a brand for my business. After COVID my business started booming even more. Everyone was ready to get their hair done so I committed to working hard every day to fight to not only keep my business alive but to thrive! I found a bigger location where I am currently and remodeled it into the salon of my dreams! Today, I am still working hard behind the chair and have officially hired my first employee Kristin.
I am SO thankful for all my clients. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Every day I create goals for myself
and my salon and will never stop working to achieve them!
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?
My first struggles were moving to such a big city and leaving my parents! Those struggles were accompanied by working all day Monday-Thursday usually about 7-4, then going to school all night Monday-Thursday 5-10, and working doubles at red lobster Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! I was so tired.
Struggles that came later were building confidence in myself when I was first starting behind the chair. It is easy during that time when you are so new to compare to other stylists and feel like I wasn’t good enough.
After that came the struggles of becoming a business owner! When I opened my single chair suite, I had no idea what I was doing! I had to learn how to pay myself and how to do taxes and inventory. It was a one-man show! That was definitely a struggle. I just kept focusing on learning and growth.
Then, opening my current salon I had those same struggles on a bigger scale. My dad passed away in 2019. He was a part of all my dreams up until the point of opening my new location. This was one of the biggest struggles of all, losing one of my biggest cheerleaders and doing it without him. I had to conquer my first build our experience. The space I got had to be completely gutted and redone. Everything from sheetrock, electrical outlets, lighting, flooring, the paint had to be done. This was stressful but also fun!
I have learned there will always be struggles along the way but at the end of the day that is what makes it so special and so worth it!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My salon is a space where each client feels special when they enter through the door! The number one priority at Color and Contour Studio is to create a unique and enjoyable experience for each guest. I value each and every person in my chair and work diligently to build long-lasting connections, as well as customized looks for each person. The relationships we build at Color and Contour are lifelong and so special. I get to be a part of clients’ biggest moments in their lives. Laugh and cry with them through the years.
Every service booked at Color and Contour Studio is customized to each individual to leave them feeling their best and most confident! Making people feel beautiful, happy, and relaxed is my number one priority.
I specialize in blonding and hand-painted lightening services, but my salon is a full-service salon offering men’s and women’s cutting, coloring, waxing, treatments, extensions, and basic pedicures and manicures!
We retail Kevin Murphy hair care products which I believe to be the best on the market!
I want my readers to know that Color and Contour is a brand that CARES!
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My best advice to those just starting out is to believe in yourself! You will mess up, you are learning a craft, mess-ups are going to happen! But when you mess up use it as a learning experience. Nobody starts off perfect, we aren’t born knowing how to seamlessly blend hair color and cut perfectly straight haircuts. Never give up! These things are all learnable and the more you practice practice practice you will perfect your skills!
Make sure your clients know more than anything that you care about them and that you are listening to their wants!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://color-and-contour-studio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colorandcontourxo/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/colorandcontourxo/?ref=bookmarks
