Rita Berian

“I think it's interesting that so many people go into hairdressing thinking, if I’m good at doing hair and I’m nice to be around, the clients will just keep coming. But that’s just not true. To be successful, you also have to focus on the business side of being a stylist, and that’s what the Super Stylist course helped me with.”

I’ve been a hairstylist for just over 30 years, and I wanted to do the Super Stylist course to educate myself in a different kind of way. It’s not a hair class. It’s about what it really takes to be successful behind the chair. I've done dozens of hair classes, but that alone isn’t enough to succeed.

What I liked about the Super Stylist course is that it showed me what I needed to get better at to reach the next level. I know that I’m good at what I do. And I know I’ve got good people skills. So what makes the difference is the business skills of being a stylist. That’s what sets you apart.

I’m a commission-based stylist, so I can literally see the numbers changing, and my paychecks are bigger. I’ve had a couple of amazing ones! I wouldn't say my last one was double, but it was maybe 30% better. I’m more confident now. Clients are rebooking, and they’re coming in more often.

I’ve actually gone through the course a couple of times, because it’s not just about learning, it’s about putting it into play.

The Super Stylist course made me focus on numbers, and I’ve never been a ‘numbers’ person. I never really tracked anything before, which sounds crazy, but it’s the truth. 

Now there’s a different kind of drive in me, and the conversations I’m having with clients are tied to the numbers. I’ll remind them to rebook in eight weeks, to use a certain product, or even to send their husbands to me. I remind them, remind them, remind them!

Now I’m learning to steer conversations in ways that benefit my business. Now I think to myself, What can I do to make this time, with this client, with this workday, the most profitable for me? And I didn't think like that before. 

Clients tell me all the time, “Rita, I get so many compliments on my hair!” So I say, “Send your friends to me, that’s the biggest compliment you can give.”

Something that was really important to me was improving my client retention. I want people to be loyal to me. If you want consistent results, you need to see the same stylist. If you know I like your hair, and you like seeing me, why go somewhere else? I try to build that connection so they remember Rita and not just another hairdresser.

People love that personal touch, and it’s the little things that are so important, so I always use their name because I know it’s important to be on your game, with every person, every time.

The course gave me more confidence, because when your numbers go up, your confidence goes up. And I know my numbers have gone up.

What I liked most is that even after 30 years, it opened my eyes to things I could be doing differently. I get motivated by learning, and this course inspired me. I was educating myself to be better.

One of the biggest takeaways for me was, “Don’t go on autopilot, because every client is an opportunity to make them a repeat client”.

I’ve rewatched the course twice, and some parts several times. Even on my days off, if I have time, I’ll watch a module again. It’s a nice refresher.

One quote from the course really stuck with me: “It’s not how good you are. It’s how busy you are.” So if someone’s busier than me, why is that? It’s because they’re focusing more on the business side, not just the creative side. Some people might be naturally wired that way, but for others, we’ve got to work at it.

For a long time, I believed if I just did beautiful hair, clients would come back. But that’s not how it works. You’ve got to make them come back. That part, the business side, is harder than doing the hair. The hair is easy. The business? That’s the challenge.

I’m not competitive with others, but I am competitive with myself. That’s what drives me.

I have two boys, one’s a freshman, one’s in sixth grade. They’re smart, straight-A kids. I’m so proud of them. And part of being a mom is showing them a good example. I want them to succeed in whatever they choose. And if I’m not living that way myself, then I’m not being true to what I want for them.

They’re watching everything I do. Kids learn more from what they see than what you say. So if I want them to work hard, I’ve got to show them what that looks like.

Many of my clients say that too, ‘model it'. Modelling is more powerful than talking. And I want my boys to see that.

I want to be busier. So what do I need to do? I need to keep my clients, and the Super Stylist course helped me focus on exactly that.

I’ve been a hairstylist for 30 years, but no one ever taught me this stuff before. I’ve worked in nice, high-end places, but nobody teaches you the business side of being a stylist.

Before I bought the course, I asked myself, Is this going to be a good investment? And the answer is yes! It absolutely has been, and I’ve already seen a return on my investment.

So, if you’re thinking about doing the course but you’re unsure about the cost, don’t overthink it. Just do it. Take the advice, and put it into action. Let your numbers do the talking.

You can’t just be a thinker who does nothing. You’ve got to be a doer.