It’s her definitive style and the true nature of her characteristics that make her a genuine artisan and sets her apart from the rest as not only a human being…but as a celebrated hairstylist. For some, passion for one’s craft is something that is developed over time…for Heather Kerley…her passion for the art of hair design is her lifestyle and is now her truest form of creative release. On the verge of becoming Knoxville’s top stylist, I decided to connect with Heather Kerley and discuss the ins and outs of her creative mind, the background of her relationship with Joico/ISO, and what’s around the bend for this creative rock goddess of hair from the very heart of this great city.
Inspire us…tell us about yourself?
Well, I would say that I’m a little bit quirky, a little bit rock n’ roll, and a whole lotta fun!! No, seriously, I am a Stylist at Fringes Studio Salon and Spa. I have been a stylist for almost 6 years and I am also an educator for Joico/ISO. I have been with them for almost 3 years. I absolutely love what I am doing with Joico. Basically I travel the country teaching other stylists and soon to be stylists about Joico and ISO’s products, their color and cutting. I also have the honor of being taught by some of the most talented stylists in the industry in some pretty amazing places, I might add. Actually at the end of January I will be in Hollywood, CA for training! Man I love this job!
What is your background? Training, Schooling, etc.
I graduated from Gibbs High School. I did not take Cosmetology classes then, however I did really want to. My mother is a musician and she did not want Cosmetology to take place of my Chorus class (which, due to my rebellious side, I ended up failing anyway!) After high school I lost sight of my dream and did what everybody thinks you are supposed to do…go to college. So I went to Pellissippi for one semester and realized very quickly that it was not the place for me. I spent the next two years or so searching for myself. I did finally enroll in beauty school at Tennessee School of Beauty.
The story actually gets pretty good…due to some medical issues (I was diagnosed with a chronic issue…) I felt it would be in my best interest to get a corporate job, climb the ladder, and I would have the benefits I needed to help with medical expenses. Basically I became a Beauty School Drop Out .(song from Grease begins…) After working in the banking industry for about a year or so I started feeling trapped. It was so monotonous, boring and un-creative. I needed to spread my wings so I quit the bank and went back to beauty school. That was the best decision I ever made! I graduated and began working immediately and never looked back! From there I found Joico/ISO, joined their team and the rest is history!
How would you describe your style?
My style depends on my mood. I like to think that I am what you would get if Carrie Bradshaw and Kat Von D had a baby…kind of a hodge-podge and everything in between!
Did you always long to be a stylist, or did you stumble upon your talent by chance?
I think I was always creative, I just didn’t know what I wanted to do with that creativity to make a living. I’ve always been a writer (wrote a lot of poetry). I have always loved the performing arts (wanted to pursue a life in NY and be the starving theater kid) and I had issues with authority. I knew I walked to the beat of my own drum, so I had to do something where I could be creative and be my own boss. With those powers combined…Hair Styling! I’m not sure if that’s the natural direction you take with all of those dreams and desires, but this is where it has led me!
Who or what inspired you to become a hair stylist?
I always loved getting my hair colored! Coming up with new and different styles for my own hair really helped drive me to create for other people! I remember I came up with this color placement, a couple of years before everybody started doing the blond on top and dark underneath. It was kind of a flip flop of that color: Red on the top half of the head and platinum blond under everything else. Like I said it was before two toned like that was cool, so I got a ton of weird looks. My mom even made me change it!
What is your favorite or most exciting aspect about your art form?
I absolutely love coming up with new techniques! Either a new color or a new hair cut! I have to be honest…I don’t do it as much as I would like. (Not everybody wants their color placed in the pattern of a diagonal Mohawk!) It gets tough when you do a lot of the same techniques day in and day out. But I do still get to be creative.
I also absolutely love the people! There is nothing better than finishing a new color and style on a client and seeing them smile from ear to ear and saying they love it! I always say “I love to hear the word Love”! Sometimes just being able to do something for someone and making them feel really good about themselves is so rewarding!
Describe your innovative approach to hair and the art of making it an everyday look?
Like I was saying earlier, not everybody wants their color placement in a diagonal Mohawk pattern, but when I do it with more subtle colors it actually is wearable for every day! You always have to take into consideration a person’s career, lifestyle, hobbies etc. I’m not going to do the Mohawk pattern with a black base and green placement on someone who works in a bank. But if I make that a warm brown with the Mohawk the same tone, just a couple of shades lighter, it turns out very nice, subtle, yet still with an edge! Something different!
What individual products and brands are you “addicted” to at the moment and what do you use on a daily basis?
I use everything Joico/ISO!! And not just because they sign my pay checks!! Ha-ha Seriously, I loved those products way before I even started working with the company! I loved them and believed in them so much that I would gave all Color clients FREE Joico Shampoo and Conditioner to make sure they were using good products!! That’s how much I believed in them! I still do that to this day!
Probably some of my favorite products are as follows:
1. Joico Design Collection Texture Spray-Works great for giving hair that surfer girl, just got back from the beach, waves!
2. ISO Tamer Gel or Foam-Awesome for getting that Jennifer Anniston silky smooth look!
3. Either Joico or ISO’s heat protecting sprays. I love both of them equally! They are used on dry hair before you use any hot tools such as a flat iron or curling iron. It helps to protect your hair from damage of the heat, locks in shine, combats humidity, and helps to maintain your style all day long!
Have you had an extreme, crazy or bad experience with a client’s hairstyle? If so, what happened?
Let’s just call them “learning” experiences, and yes I have!! I have a client that I took from almost black to platinum blonde! It was a total trial and error experience. We did it in steps, and it took me a couple of times before I got her tone just right, but I definitely feel that I have perfected the art of platinum blond! I am so thankful that she was so patient with me during the whole experience. It was funny because I started getting to the point where I loathed the word “platinum”, and it seemed that everywhere I turned I was creating that color!( I had 3 clients during one time frame wanting Platinum Blonde!) I got a lot of practice and now my clients get compliments on how amazing their color is, not just from anybody, but from other stylists. That is a true compliment!
What’s the one hair care tool you simply can’t live without?
I would have to say my round brush! I absolutely love a round brush! I can use it to make the curliest hair smooth, or I can put body into the finest, limpest hair! If my curling irons and flat iron were to blow up tomorrow I could still work it!
What do you think are best/worst trends in the hair industry right now?
I do hate the Kate Gosselin!! I honestly don’t believe there’s a bad hair style, for the most part. I accept all styles as art. Even the most extreme styles I can appreciate either the design, the technique, something! But Kate Gosselin’s hair actually kept me awake one night! (I take this job pretty seriously)! I just kept thinking that it looked like a basset hound ear just hanging on the side of her head! I wanted her stylist to texturize it or something!
How do you make your clients feel relaxed on the verge of a major hairstyle change?
This is kind of funny. If a client comes to me and says they want an extreme change, I usually will have them wait a couple of weeks. A lot of times those are “emotional” (aka-menstrual) decisions! If they come back in a few weeks and decide they still want the extreme change we go through with it! If they are still wanting it they are very eager and they are not nervous about it one bit! More like anxious and excited! I will never do a major change unless I know they are sure and are ready for it!
Locally, we’re constantly competing with the trends of bigger cities and trying to find our own identity. What have you done to contribute to the changing culture?
I think my contribution is keeping an opened mind! I am always down for anything new! I think as a stylist people look to me to see what is “cool” or “in” or whatever the youngsters are calling it these days. (Ha! Joke!) But seriously, I always try to be trendy myself and ever changing! Just over the past year I went from long brown hair, to a blond Victoria Beckham bob, to very red and straight with straight across bangs, back to dark. I am actually going to do an even darker base and navy somewhere! (If you want to know what it will look like then you will just have to make an appointment and come in to see me!)
As an artist to artist…I see that online marketing has become a major tool to your success. How has being online changed or added to your clientele?
Oh my goodness!! This has been the best thing ever!!! I have to give a shout out to my online marketing mentors for this one! Brad and David Hensley are so knowledgeable about Social Media. They came to me and said “Heather, this is what you need to do, and this is how you need to do it!” They helped me to brand myself! Social Media is free and you have access to millions of people who will get a chance to see your work and learn what you are all about!! I average at least 4 new clients a month from my Facebook Fan Page alone!! Not to mention my personal Facebook page, and Twitter! I also have an awesome website that I am so proud of! You can look at my portfolio, check out my contact info, read a little bio, and submit a request for an appointment! Yet another thing I owe Brad and David thanks! You can check it out at www.heatherkerley.com. You can become a Fan of my Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/knoxvillestylist.
One person…One hairstyle….Who?….What style and why?
I always plan my styles out in stages. Currently I would love to grow my hair out really long and dread it! I love dreads! And then I want to cut it off short like Rihanna’s. Shaved sides and all! I think it’s such a hot style!
What do you do when you’re not in the salon/studio?
Well, I’m a pretty big homebody! I just love being at my house. I enjoy reading-currently reading The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx. (Pretty intense, not for the faint of heart) I also just discovered that I love snowboarding! I’m not very good at it, but I love it! I have tons of bumps, bruises and sore muscles from my last trip, but it was worth every bump and bruise!
Which five words would your friends use to describe you?
Legend in my spare time!
What is your current hairstyle?
It’s actually quite simple right now. It is just long and dark brown with short layers and a long side fringe.
What kind of music do you listen to?
Again, that is something that depends on my mood. My favorite band is Red Hot Chili Peppers! If I could see them live it would be a dream come true! I like everything from Classical to Metal and everything in between!
What’s next for you?
I am not really sure about that yet. I am pretty happy where I am right now. I am just sitting in it and enjoying this moment. I do think I would like to see where I could go with Joico/ISO. Maybe move up and become a Platform Artist…who knows!
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HEATHER KERLEY GO TO:
www.heatherkerley.com
www.facebook.com/knoxvillestylist
