This week’s Mentor Spotlight is all about one of our most experienced Educators, Miss Elaine. Elaine not only has decades of experience in the salon industry, but she is truly born to do exactly what she’s doing at ABP – coaching students to success. A natural leader on the floor and in the performance area, Elaine has a very special talent for working with the students. Her philosophy is to encourage hands-on learning as early as possible, and to guide the students through services as a coach on the sidelines, rather than doing the services for them. And I must say – it really works! Read on to find out more about Miss Elaine and what inspires her!
Q: How long have you worked for the Academy of Beauty Professionals?
Elaine: I have been with the Academy of Beauty Professionals for 1 year and 3 months.
Q: Where did you get your Beauty Education?
Elaine: I went to Southwest Technical College.
Q: How did you get interested in Beauty?
Elaine: I have been interested since I was a young girl. My mother did my grandmother’s hair in the home I grew up in many years ago. My mom has not worked professionally in the beauty industry – she just took care of my grandmother. She permed and cut her beautiful white hair, and it always fascinated me how the hair could be straight when Grandma came in and curly when she left! This is what inspired me to go into Beauty as a career path.
Q: What is the best part of your job as an ABP Educator?
Elaine: I like all parts of my job, but the best part is watching the student perform the service and understanding why they are doing what they’re doing. The beauty of it is that it happens at different times with different students. I also enjoy graduating the students. This is the day they receive their wings to fly, and is a very gratifying day for me!
Q: What is your favorite service to perform, and why?
Elaine: Probably hair coloring. Hair cutting would be right up at the top, too. Hair color can change an entire look for a guest, and so can a good cut. But making hair color dimensional is so much fun! Incorporating that service with a great haircut is really fun for me not only to watch a student perform, but also to help coach them through it.
Q: What is your favorite movie?
Elaine: This is a hard one for me… I have to say, I have a lot of them! I can enjoy everything from Cinderella to The Green Mile to National Lampoon’s!
Q: If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Elaine: First I’ll choose someone who is still alive – that would have to be Adam Levine! He would be nice to look at across a table for one thing, but best of all is the kindness he shows to the people he coaches on The Voice. He is so encouraging and positive and I love that about him! Now, dinner with someone who has passed would have to be Patsy Cline. For those who don’t know, this lady sang country music and paved the way for so many as she stood her ground for being treated fairly and equally. She sang songs such as “Crazy,” “Walking After Midnight,” “She’s Got You,” and “I Fall to Pieces.” She had an amazing voice – no question about it!
Q: Tell us something else we don’t know about you!
Elaine: I grew up on a farm and I am one of 10 children. The farm was organic, even before it was the new thing to do! And now I have 11 precious grandchildren who call me “Mimi.”
Stay tuned for more Mentor Spotlights!