Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Fancher.
Hi Ashley, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Oh man, where do I start. Well, I started my interest in hair at a young age. My aunt, Kathy was also a hairstylist in Kansas City. When I was 13, she moved to Hawaii and trained me how to do the family’s hair (because obviously, they didn’t go to anyone but her, so she taught me). It then turned into highlighting my friend’s hair in high school which turned into me doing people’s hair for homecoming and prom.
I never had time for my own hair so it was usually just straight or curled a little. I also worked as a receptionist for a couple of years and instantly fell involved with the atmosphere, and knew it was what I wanted to do. Once I graduated high school, I went straight to cosmetology school and graduated in ten months. Never missing a day.
I often would help my peers with some of the harder tasks to learn, because I’ve been doing them for a few years. After leaving cosmetology school, I went straight to booth rental at Envogue Salon and Spa. I already had a large clientele, so I figured that was the right move for me. Still, 17 years later, I’m still loving what I do.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It took some time to get where I am. I had kids pretty young, which was most of my career struggles. I had my oldest at the age of 22, my now husband and my kids’ father were still in college. When we’re about 35 weeks along, I was told I had to be on bed rest. This isn’t the greatest thing to tell your, clients, not only do you have to stop immediately, but you also have six weeks of maternity leave after that.
So, I lost almost all my clients, so I had to take a two-year break (well, I did hair on the side at people’s houses.) I couldn’t afford high rent, no clients, add a baby. So, I went to work at my parent’s restaurant, Jess and Jim’s Steakhouse, after things get a little easier, I went back. Built my clientele up again… then BAM pregnant with baby two. This time, I was put on bed rest at 30 weeks… clientele has gone again. But after my son, I did return right back to hair and ground as I have never had before. That was around. The time in started to do weddings. And completely fell in love with it. Especially with the fact, I could make great money and it’s more like a one-and-done thing.
I didn’t have to worry about getting clients in every six weeks and worrying what may happen if I had to cancel my day or had another baby because obviously bed rest would happen again… and it DID. Five years later, third baby, bed rest. So needless to say, 15 of my 17 years of doing hair was a LOT of grinding and a lot of freaking hard work. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I love what I do.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a hairstylist, I specialize in color (mainly blondes) and balayage, I’m certified in IBE extensions (invisible beaded hand tie extensions), and one of the proudest things I say I do is, I get brides and their bridal party ready for their big day.
I started out by just assisting another hair stylist for weddings that they were hired to do, to basically creating my own business, specializing in bridal styles, I’ve had my styles in multiple publications including two covers for WEDKC magazine.
I proudly have won “BEST OF WEDDINGS” for Theknot.com in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 (on track for 2022) and won “BEST OF WEDDINGS HALL OF FAME” for Theknot.com in 2020. I get the privilege of meeting and doing over 40 brides’ hair in 2021 and on average 9 0f their best gals’ hair too for each of those weddings. I honestly have the best job in the world.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Oh my gosh. I was just talking about this the other day. You have to surround yourself with people who uplift you, help you get better. and have an Amazing girl gang behind you! And that’s one thing about the wedding industry and even in cosmetology, every person I have worked with within the studio or at weddings is always uplifting you and making you better.
No one is really competing or worried someone might take business away from you. A few people I would say uplift me, and or people I love to work with who help me be better at what I do (this list is long) are my partner/makeup artist – April Rudy. Other artists, Stacey Vizcarra, Hillary Rehm, Maddy Jennings these girls always send me referrals. My cheerleaders and fellow stylist/mentors, I literally can’t live without them, their friendship. and input. Jackie Wilkes, Shayla Klinger, Tisha Desmarteau, Sierra Mcguire, and all of my co-works at Sola Town Center. I literally love sitting in the break room talking about hair.
My parents, obviously always say I’m pretty great at what I do, they are pretty bias. AND most importantly my husband, Scott. we have been with each other since we were 16, he’s always pushed me to do what I love and sacrifices a lot as well to hold down the fort (or as he said it “daddling it hard”) on the weekends since I’m usually gone. I couldn’t do life at all without him and his support.
Pricing:
- Bridal hair $125
- Maids $95
- Color services are $150 and up
- Extensions are based upon consultation
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: alfancherhair
- Facebook: Ashley Vannoy Fancher
