Education Empowers: Investing in Advanced Education as a Solo Artist

All stylists have moments in their careers when they feel creatively, financially and emotionally stuck. It happens when they feel like their work is not advancing, their business is not growing, and they begin to doubt whether hairdressing is right for them. Fortunately, there is a method to regain inspiration and motivation: advanced education.

Tammy Feltner, a chair renter at Michael Isaiah’s Salon in St. Louis, Missouri, had just transitioned from a position at a commission-based salon where she was unhappy to a new role as a chair renter, when she completely messed up a client’s color because, she said, she just didn’t know what she was doing. She went to the owner of the rental salon and told her she thought it was time to quit. The owner told her not to give up, but instead to try a TIGI class.

“After I took that one class of advanced education, it changed my whole outlook on my career,” Feltner says.
“If I hadn’t gotten that advanced education, I wouldn’t be doing hair today.”

After that, Feltner kept attending classes, and decided that she wanted to be a teacher herself, so she joined TIGI’s Ambassador program, now called the TIGI Collective, and has been with the brand for 23 years. Today she is a TIGI regional education director.

Feltner pointed out that teaching is often a logical progression for solo artists. Running an independent business requires solo artists to be self-driven and motivated, traits that make them seek out ways to grow professionally.
“Becoming an educator is a natural evolution because you are hungry for education and want to be around like-minded people,” Feltner says. “You become the environment that you work in, so make sure that you surround yourself with people that you aspire to be like. Without advanced education, you’ll feel stuck doing the same old thing. With it, you feel driven and inspired.”

When choosing a brand to work with as a solo artist, Feltner stresses the importance of finding a brand that is focused on education. “If you don’t have an educationally-based company, regardless of what they sell, the products won’t do anything for you. It’s the education that the company provides that will help you advance your technique.”

You’re Not Alone! Get more SOLO ARTIST at modernsalon.com/soloartist. SOLO ARTIST is presented by MODERN SALON in collaboration with CosmoProf and brand partners Farouk, Framesi, Joico, Kadus, Paul Mitchell, Sexy Hair and TIGI.