How is your company/business pivoting to changes from the COVID-19 pandemic?

The pandemic changed the business environment and conditions for everyone. It’s a challenging time to conduct any business, much less launching a new one, such as HAiR HONOLULU. The pandemic provided me with the right opportunity, timing, and location to launch my own business. I saw a unique opportunity to be more customer-centric by creating an individual (one-on-one only), high- quality focused, and safe customer experience.

HAiR HONOLULU is by appointment only and conveniently located at Velocity Honolulu, inside Kristin Wood Lashes and next to Miki Ao Nail Bar. This personal setting provides a perfect combination and one-stop-shop for my customers’ beauty needs. Velocity’s layout inside the Symphony Honolulu building is also very spacious, modern, and clean. This allows my business and customers to comply with social distancing guidelines.

How do you maintain your own health/well-being?

I try to keep physically active with high-intensity cardio exercise, yoga, and jogging. I also enjoy traveling, performing arts, good food, the outdoors, and reading.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic positively affected your career/business?

In my case, it provided me with the right opportunity, timing, and location to launch my own business. We all can adapt, and we have to accept the fact that we are not always in control of what happens in our lives. We can only control how we respond to it.

Since June when I started my business, I have learned so many other things about running a business besides hair and coloring. This has really reshaped my respect for every business owner during these unprecedented times.

What are your daily habits?

Work-life balance is important to me. Before the pandemic and the start of my business in June, I enjoyed family life, going out, traveling, salsa dancing, and so on; then the pandemic changed all of this. At this time, most of my daily habits are dictated by business needs. I still try to maintain a work-life balance and spend as much time as possible with my family and friends. I am so fortunate and grateful to have strong family support to help me through challenges; but, I look forward to returning back to my normal routine from before the pandemic.

What have been the most exciting things about this job/business/industry?

Exceeding my customers’ expectations and receiving a referral of their family and friends is what motivates me. My loyal customer base is very supportive. They, as well as my family and friends, have encouraged me to take a leap of faith and open a new business during this time, despite the pandemic.

Did you always know you wanted to be in health and wellness, or is this something that happened over time?

As a fourth generation hairstylist, I had already started shampooing hair in the family salon when I came home from school. The expectation was for me to continue the family tradition, so I did. In Germany, I managed the family salon with six employees successfully, and I grew very comfortable with it and how it works.

When I relocated to the United States I had to start all over again. Being born and raised in Europe and not having a strong family support system in Hawai‘i was another challenge. Like in any business, you get out what you put in. Over time with continuous education and hard work, I managed to build a loyal customer base in Honolulu that is very supportive of me and my business. Thanks to them I can enjoy what I do and follow my passion.

Who is someone you look up to or model after? A mentor?

I have met many people from all over the world from whom I learned and who ultimately shaped me into the person I am today. I don’t really have what you would call a mentor, but I live by the philosophy: Don’t be afraid to try and make mistakes. Believe in yourself. The only limitations you have are the limitations you set for yourself.