Being a hairstylist is not just a job, it’s a craft. House of Blondes owner Christina Payton has paved a way for success for herself as an entrepreneur and master color specialist.
Meet Christina
A Chicago native, Christina knew from the young age of just 5 years old that she wanted to be a beauty industry professional. Growing up, she spent much of her time brushing and cutting her mother’s Barbie doll’s hair. It was a sign to her family and those around her of the big things to come.
Fast forward to her career as a hair stylist and 14 years into the industry, she took a leap of faith and moved to Naples, Florida.
Christina Payton – Owner of The House of Blondes
“I told myself that if I was going to leave my clients of 10 years, I needed to be put by a palm tree.” Christina says. “I opened my single salon suite three months after I moved here with no clientele. Three years later, I now have 3 salon suites and 10 chairs, and most importantly, my dream team!”
The House of Blondes is born
Going from no clientele to becoming one of the most successful suite owners at Salons by JC Naples has been a huge accomplishment for Christina.
Christina opened The House of Blondes in January 2018 with a double suite, two stylists, and two assistants all trained under her expertise. “Three weeks after our opening, I made the very scary decision to expand once again,” She shares. “I knew I was only as good as my team and if I were to expand, I didn’t want it to be about me anymore.”
The House of Blondes Open Salon Suites
Before establishing The House of Blondes name, Christina struggled with deciding what to name her new salon business. “After a day of doing nothing but beautiful blonde hair, I couldn’t decide which picture I wanted to post because they were all so pretty and I said to myself, ‘Sometimes I just want to do blonde hair all day! I just want a House of Blondes!’ I knew immediately that was the name we were going to use moving forward.”
The House of Blondes Team
Now that she’s established her own group of suites and has built a successful business, Christina has also begun educating other hairstylists on how to perfect the art of making their clients beautifully blonde through the Redken Artist program.
“I teach people from all over on how to perfect blonding,” Christina shares. “In the world of hair coloring and treatment, going blonde is the most skill intensive and the most frequent client request. I believe if you can do a good blonde you can do anything when it comes to hair color!”
With such a niche specialty, yet highly requested service, Christina decided to make her salon THE place to go for all things blonding.
The House of Blondes Has Many Satisfied Clients
“Our motto is ‘There’s a blonde for everyone!’”
Don’t be afraid to try
Christina reminds us to never let fear get in the way of your success. She started from the ground up as an entrepreneur and has had no regrets ever since.
“When I started my business, I had no clientele, I didn’t know anyone. I had $1000 to buy all of my color and equipment. Even my family thought I was crazy!” Christina says. “I knew in my heart as long as I gave it my all, I couldn’t be scared of whether I fail or succeed. It is making the choice to try. I still feel this way today.”
House of Blondes Logo
Social media has also been a huge platform for Christina to build her clientele list. With over 2,000 followers on Facebook, she is constantly posting pictures, videos, tips and tricks for the world to see.
“I also ask for our guests to please take time to leave us a review, which is what most people look for when searching for the right stylist. They have been a HUGE part of the success we have had by sharing that with others.”
Teamwork makes the dream work
Working with Salons by JC Naples has been an incredible partnership for Christina. “I can’t speak highly enough of the owner, Lisa Bayard and our concierge, Beatrice. They have been with me since day one and took a risk in renting to me without having clients. They are always so accommodating and go above and beyond. I have nothing but gratitude for them!”
Salons by JC Naples provides the ideal set-up for The House of Blondes. “I absolutely love the environment here as well. Everyone is here to help everyone out. It is not like your typical salon. We may be separate businesses but I can assure you, we always help each other whether its a formula, a shampoo, or loaning a color someone may not have.”
Christina hopes to continue to grow her team so that The House of Blondes is everywhere! She has her eye on the prize, as she’s already mapped out other locations to expand her business, while still keeping Salons by JC Naples the original location.
A Member of The House of Blondes Works on a Client
“I wouldn’t be who I am without my passion for this industry. There is no greater feeling than making someone feel instantly better about themselves. Hair is so important. It is the crown you never take off. We have the ability to transform someone just within a few hours, and the relationships we create with our guests are irreplaceable.”
“Saying it’s a passion is an understatement, I dream in color, and I make hair contact before I make eye contact. As I always say, ‘We don’t make people beautiful, we just get to enhance the beauty that they already have.’”
Congratulations on all of your accomplishments and hard work, Christina! You are amazing at what you do. You make Salons by JC so proud!
About Salons by JC: In 1997, Jack Griffey and Cecil Miller began their journey to transform the beauty industry one salon suite at a time. Like most young entrepreneurs, they started out with a big idea but had to learn how to start and run a business from scratch. After much perseverance and hard work, one year later, they opened Salons by JC in Dallas, TX in 1998, welcoming beauty and wellness specialists who were ready to break free from the traditional salon model. The company has since moved its headquarters from Dallas to San Antonio, where it continues to grow through franchising. Today, Salons by JC has over 90 locations in 26 states and Canada. For more information, visit salonsbyjc.com or salonsbyjc.com/franchise
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