Mish Jolie: "Do It Even If You're Scared"

For Mish Jolie, success isn't measured by how busy you are, it's measured by how fulfilled you feel. The Connecticut-based stylist, educator and MODERN SALON 100 honoree has built a career around balayage, lived-in brunettes and razor cutting, while encouraging beauty professionals to embrace self-care, trust their intuition and create careers that align with who they are.

After 18 years behind the chair, Jolie says the biggest opportunities have come from putting her authentic self into the world even when it felt scary.

Artist Snapshot

Name:Mish Jolie

Salon: Rock + Soul Hair Co.

Location: Newington, Connecticut

Years in the Industry: 18

Specialties: Balayage, Brunettes, Razor Cuts, Melting, Shags

Instagram:@meltedbymish

MODERN SALON 100: 2018

Q&A

Three words that describe you?

Creative. Passionate. Intuitive.

What's the best career advice you've ever received?

Do it even if you're scared.

Opportunities come from putting your authentic self out into the world. The people who need your light will see it—and they'll find you.

What's something you wish every beauty professional knew earlier?

Self-care is essential in this industry.

We give and give, especially early in our careers, and we don't always have the best boundaries. This profession is hard on both our bodies and our minds, so I'd tell every new stylist to really take care of both and make self-care part of their routine.

What's one habit that's contributed most to your success?

Mindset.

Working on myself and developing a growth mindset gave me the confidence to put myself out there. Because of that, I've been able to teach at salons and events across the country and say yes to opportunities I never imagined.

What's one mistake you see beauty professionals make repeatedly?

Too many people buy into hustle culture.

I see beauty professionals undercharging and overworking themselves, and it almost always leads to burnout and unhappiness. Another mistake is stopping your education and becoming stagnant.

What's one investment that paid off more than you expected?

Continuing education.

It doesn't always have to be hair-related, either. Some of the classes I've taken outside of our industry have had the biggest impact on my business. One example is self-love and empowerment coaching.

What's something you've changed your mind about during your career?

What success means.

I used to think success meant staying busier, making more money and working with more brands.

Now I think success is found in the small moments and spending time with the people I love, being creative and getting out into nature.

What's inspiring you right now?

Micro fringe!

Let's goooo.

What should our industry be talking about more?

Protecting ourselves from the chemicals we work with behind the chair. I think that conversation deserves a lot more attention.

What skill will matter most over the next five years?

Creating an exceptional client experience.

Every time I ask a new client what made them book with me, they tell me they liked the vibe of the salon. That's part of the experience, creating a beautiful, comfortable space where clients enjoy spending their time.

Karaoke song?

"You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette. ✌

One last piece of advice for the MODERN SALON community?

Listen to your intuition. Choose the services you genuinely love, become exceptional at them, don't be afraid to be yourself and let the world see your shine.