Local StoriesDecember 10, 2021

Community Highlights: Meet Skylah Ballard of Marigold Studio

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Skylah Ballard.

Hi Skylah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Really, I started at a pretty young age. My grandma had a salon in her basement and I loved being down there watching what she was doing. I had actually planned on going to college and quickly realized that was not the path for me. Paul Mitchell The School opened in Overland Park, Kansas right when I had decided to go to cosmetology school in 2009. I was able to attend a huge Future Professional hair convention in Las Vegas while in school. I met John Paul DeJoria and so many other talented artists.

The day after I graduated, I was hired on the spot at a well-known salon on the Kansas side. A few years later, the salon moved to Westport. There, I attended hair conventions again in Vegas, some in Chicago, St. Louis, etc. and learned some amazing skills from amazing artists. After seven total years in that salon, myself and two other talented ladies decided to move to another friend and former coworkers new booth rent salon. Five years of working for myself, I decided to make the big step to owning my own business and partnered with friend, Stephanie Gaumè. So, here I am… just being a boss babe back in the 913.

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?

The beauty industry is so competitive. Luckily, I have met some amazing people in the industry that actually cheer you on, help you and support you. I worked in a very toxic environment for a long time, making it not such a smooth road to build my career on. Fortunately, because I had so many great people around me, the transition from a commission salon to booth rent was smoother than I expected.

Becoming a business owner has been tough though, I won’t lie. I’ve hit a lot of walls in the road and I’m sure I’ll hit more.

“Don’t sit around and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them” – Madam CJ Walker

“Success doesn’t come to you.. you go to it” – Marva Collins

I am very much a go getter and live to these quotes. You have to put in the work to become successful and I’m going to do that. I’ve set high dreams for myself even before i started cosmetology school, and I’m going to make those happen. So I’m not going to let any challenges keep me from doing what I love to do.

As long as you have the right people around you, anything can be a smooth road. Sometimes you just have to slow down, take a deep breath and remember that everything will work out how it’s supposed to.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are a new salon in Westwood, Kansas. I know, I had no idea where Westwood was at first either. We are just minutes from Westport, KU Med and Mission. I personally specialize in men’s grooming. I have not yet gotten my crossover barbering license but it will happen.

As much as I absolutely love doing my men’s haircuts, I’ve actually started to switch gears and focus on color techniques. I am loving it and working toward becoming a balayage color specialist!

I am very proud of our brand – Marigold Studio. I have worked my butt off to get where I’m at today, and this is just the start. I’m big on Support Small – Support Local, so I have partnered up with SO many local businesses for seriously everything you could think of. I have participated in small business giveaways, sponsored my kids school and sports teams, sponsored animals in shelters to help get adopted, I’ve worked multiple vendor booths selling products and trying to get my name out. I’m working HARD and trying to get the salon name as well as my own name out to everyone in Kansas City. If I can sponsor it, I will. If I can help and support other small businesses, I will – it’s a win, win. In the short amount of time we have been open, I’m happy to know “Skylah Ballard from Marigold Studio” is becoming more known in our area.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Stay positive. Set realistic goals. Work hard. Network. Never give up.

I wish I knew just how hard some things were actually going to be. I also wish I knew to not stress so much about those difficult situations and try to just focus on the present. Take everything step by step.

Pricing:

Men’s haircuts – $35+
Ladies haircuts – $45+
All over colors – $80+
Highlights / ombré / balayage – $115+
Formal updos – $60+

Contact Info:

Email: [email protected]
Website: https://marigoldstudiokc.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marigoldstudiokc/?hl=en
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/marigoldstudiokc/
Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/marigold-studio-westwood

Image Credits
Rewritten Photography

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