Today we’d like to introduce you to Casey Brookshire, owner of MOD Hair Salon Vista, Ca.
Hi Casey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started out doing hair by experimenting on myself and willing friends. From cutting hair with hole punchers, to cheetah print mohawks, I’ve gotten to bring so many creations from vision to reality in my 20 years of doing hair. A little over a decade ago, I decided to take all of the knowledge from mentors that had taught me, and salons I worked in, and took the plunge to open my own salon. I did a lot of market research to see where would be a good location, price comparisons, forecasting my cost of goods, etc. I ended up at a Sola Salon suite in Carlsbad, about 15 mins away from the salon I had been working at in San Marcos. Thankfully, my excellent customer service and quality of service allowed me to retain most of my clientele, and MOD Hair Salon was born. I was able to stay in that location for about 4.5 years until I began to outgrow it and look for a place to put down some real roots. A little standalone cottage just on the outskirts of the soon to be remodeled downtown Vista was waiting for me on Craigslist, saw it and signed the lease immediately. A lot of work needed to be done on the salon, but we got it done in about a month and opened up as a booth-rent salon, which is where stylists rent a space out. The problem with that model, I quickly realized, is that there is no “family” or culture aspect when everyone was concerned about their own business. I wanted to create something that was collective, and like everyone felt like they had co-workers that would have each other’s backs and we would have a place where everyone felt welcomed and could grow bigger than we could alone. I knew in order for that to happen, though, that it had to start with my transformation. I came from some salons in the past, like most stylists, that had some less than ideal aspects about it. Toxic leadership, bad standards and procedures to name a few. I needed to unlearn so many of those practices and learn how to lead in the way that I would be guiding others along their paths, helping them to grow, and give them a place to belong. I underwent a lot of coaching to get me to a place where I felt comfortable bringing people into the space and we are finally there! We’ve hired two incredible stylists and are looking for more creative and passionate artists to join our team!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Right after we moved to Vista, the city broke ground on construction for the downtown revitalization project. While we knew that it was coming when we signed the lease, I was not prepared for how loud, messy and chaotic it ended up being. From no water and power some days to having to scream over the earth movers outside, we have some really amazing and incredibly loyal clients who stuck through those times with us. Just about as that was wrapping up, COVID hit and we were shut down for 9 months. That was a really pivotal time in my career and MOD’s history. We were not given a break on rent, so it was really challenging but we made it work. Again, we are very fortunate to have such a strong support base in San Diego and couldn’t have done it without everyone’s loyalty.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are an alternative salon in San Diego that does hair for everyone. We aim to shake up the old, boring, dated and give people the hair of their dreams. We are very strong in our consultations and find out exactly what our client’s lifestyles and personalities are in order to give them a look that works for them. We take into account face shape, eye color, undertones, maintenance, budget and create something uniquely for our client. We deliver styles from bold to demure and everything in between. I personally specialize in haircutting and am specifically fond of the straight razor to cut hair, and that is what I am most known for. I love it because it allows for your hairs natural texture to come out and give you more wash and wear days. I have clients that travel from all over to get their hair cut by me because I am also known for cuts that grow out really well. I see clients usually between 3-6 months for a cut because my razor cuts grow out so well.
As a salon, we are known for excellent customer service, relaxing scalp massages, a ton of plants and a positive environment in a cozy little sanctuary.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The fun thing about our industry is that it is ever evolving and changing. We are always pushing boundaries and getting inspired from others and nature. Right now, there are a lot of people in salon suites, like how I started out. I hope to see a return to the salon environment, but in a way better format this time. Lose the greedy, slimy salon owners that don’t have their teams best interest at heart, leave the gossip and bullying and make space for creativity and art and spaces for people to feel like they have a home away from home
