Today we’d like to introduce you to Peyton Walker.
Hi Peyton, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I always thought hair styling would be a rewarding profession, but I grew up in a small town where cosmetology was viewed as the next step after dropping out of college, and my parents were adamant that I get a college degree. I originally pursued a degree in Nursing, but after a series of unfortunate events, I was forced to reexamine my life plan. Without any sense of direction, I leveraged my coursework into a Bachelor’s degree in General Studies and began trying to figure out what I was going to do moving forward. I had done the Disney College Program in 2013 and had an incredible time there, so I started looking for any entry-level jobs in Orlando I could take that didn’t require a specialized degree. One position that caught my eye was for a cosmetologist who washes and restyles the wigs after the performers are done with their shift for the day. I immediately knew that was the job I wanted and I was going to make it happen. I moved to Austin and completed the cosmetology program at the Aveda Institute in 2016. During my time at Aveda, I began working as a salon assistant for a local luxury salon. As I worked my way up through the apprentice program and into a stylist position, I found my true passion for doing hair and making my clients feel beautiful.
Eventually, I was forced to take a sabbatical when Covid-19 quarantine measures were first instated and devastated most of the beauty industry. I actually welcomed lockdown with open arms. I was feeling burnt out, and the time away from the salon made me realize that my passion for hairstyling was being stifled by the bureaucratic and client-facing barriers that arise when working for a commission-based salon. As the lockdowns began expiring, I knew I still wanted to pursue hair but re-approach it in a way where I had complete autonomy in helping my clients realize their internal visions of beauty.
I spent the following year working at the same luxury salon while planning out a business model and researching the hair product lines that would work the best for me. It was only two months ago when I finally took the leap of faith and opened the salon suite of my dreams. Each and every detail reflects my own style, from the social media profiles I’ve curated to show off my capabilities to the décor of the salon itself and all the way down to the drinks and snacks stocked in the mini-fridge. I am in 100% control of the atmosphere, aesthetics, and hairstyling techniques that define my salon, and I couldn’t be any happier.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been an absolute challenge, and there are constant highs and lows. I lost more clients than I predicted in my transition to an independent salon, but I’ve also been gaining new clients more frequently than anticipated. One day I’ll finish my feeling like a bad bitch on the top of the world, and the next day, the imposter syndrome will nag at me; “Did that client actually love her hair or was she just being polite?” “Am I charging too much?” “Do I actually know what I’m doing or am I just really good at faking it until I make it?” However, even on my challenging days, I can always remind myself that I now have the ability to take only the services that I want to do and build my clientele the way I want. It’s always enough to keep me looking forward to the next month of my business.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have clients of every age who come to me with requests ranging from bobs to hand-tied hair extensions and everything in between, but I specialize in anything blonde. My most frequent services include blonde highlights, balayage, and fashion coloring. I have a special fondness for traditional foil highlights. I love the meticulousness of it and just get into a zone, foil my heart out, and – next thing I know, there’s 80-100 foils in my client’s hair. I’ve also started offering Great Lengths strand-by-strand extensions, and while I can potentially spend 8-10 hours on an application, the end result is beyond worth the time. These extensions are very quickly becoming my new favorite service!
I believe my meticulousness is what sets me apart from other stylists. The little details matter and clients always notice. I remember the first time a client told me that no other stylist had detailed her hairline with the same attention to detail. The hairline is the first thing a client will notice; of course I’m going to spend some extra time there! My biggest pride is definitely my attention to detail.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I can’t pinpoint a specific memory, but my family did go to Disney World almost every year for spring break and I look back on those trips fondly, especially because my love for Disney World is what ultimately led me to where I am today.
Pricing:
- Hair cut and color services are now a flat $100 per hour with gratuity included
Contact Info:
- Email: thedirtyblondeatx@gmail.com
- Instagram: @thedirtyblondeatx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedirtyblondeatx
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-dirty-blonde-atx-austin?osq=the+dirty+blonde
