Today we’d like to introduce you to Rick Lesser
Hi Rick, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In the mid 70’s I was doing double duty going to college for business and fashion, while simultaneously attending beauty school. Change was everywhere. From music to fashion, to services that changed the grooming habits of men and women. The workforce was changing and growing like never before. Women were becoming more visible as they moved into professional jobs offering them more Independence and freedom.
This was the perfect time to make your mark on the beauty industry. Out with shampoos and sets (thank goodness because I couldn’t do one to save I life) in with haircuts that made a statement. It was the perfect time to become a hairdresser. I had taken all that knowledge, that creative energy, the years of experiment, the failures, and successes to build my brand. While still keeping a private clientele for hair, I have started to do micro-needling to restart hair growth. Coming up with a protocal and a cutom blend of essential oils I use while I am doing the treatment. I then give the client their first bottle and charge them for the product after that. Moving into the behind the scenes side of the beauty industry. Working with photographer’s, taent, and production companies, I have solidly established myself as the go-to hair and makeup guy for lifestyle. But don’t discount me for turning out over the top or finished hairstyles. Remember those shampoos and sets I couldn’t do? I’ve had years to practice. There have been magazine covers and pages. Awards such as a Carbonel award for maeup design of the main character in the play Ruthless which opened on Lincon Rd then moved to New york. The countless pagents I was a judge for. I chaired a few charity events for the local affiliate and one in 2000 for Center One an Aids organization in Broward County. I fell into doing the wigs for the production shows for Royal Caribbean. Juggling every 6 weeks on a ship somewhere working with the new cast during change over. Occasionally the musical directior will call me in to help an actor profect their characters look I went in to create a specific look for a period piece for a commercial within the storyline. I have been the production coordinator for more then a few gigs, wardrobe stylist, photo editing,I have written and had published articals in obscure publications for the beauty industry. In 2005 I started my blog “Living in delusion on the banks of denile” It ran for about 5 years. I was asked to help develop an app for the beauty industry 2 years ago which lead to me writing for Linkedin. The app lets you have AI write for you. When I started to edit what it had written that first time it shut and locked me out of my Google business account. I found it funny. I started to write aboiut AI and the problems it will create if we aren’t on top of it. The posts are call “Me myself and AI” (all written with humor) A half a dosen new versions of my website, Working with Migella Lawson for the Food and Wine Fest as her personal hairdresser a couple of movies an if you read my latest post on my Linkedin page I talk about how I got Casey Armstrong from the Howard Stern show to drop his pants as I told the photographer to take the shot as they fell to create a cash cow stream for him with his poster. Oh I forgot I was working at the strip clubs part time doing hair and makeup on the dancers and Vidal Sassoon during the day. in the late 70’s. There is a lot!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In the early days when I was living in Orlando I should have stayed put longer working at fewer salons. I could have built a stronger clientele making a better income. Not having a financial plan for the future. Saved money early on but somewhere along the way I stopped. Florida seems to be my Achilles heel when it comes to making money. When I lived in New york in the 80’s for about five years I made really good money. But it was more important to travel filling my passport then buy property or invest in my future. Turning down the hairdresser position on Good Morning America, and not partnering with my friend to buy a salon on the upper west side just before it exploded And we also had the chance to open a salon in the New Garden City hotel. on Long Island.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I use to say I made the world a better place to look at one person at a time. But now a days that isn’t good enough. You need IG and Tick Tock and a brand and everyone wants to help me with Facebook (which I don’t have, jokes on them) I must get 4 or 5 people a month telling me how they can help me build this, increase that. They are floored when I say I don’t care about social media. They want to help me streamline my business. People want to write for my website. When I ask “why?” They don’t respond. I’m proud of the fact I have great commuication skills. And a lot of common sense. Detailed when it matters. I understand what is important and what isn’t. And I can take your head off your shoulders and you wouldn’t know it until you looked up at your empty neck. I have longevity with clients and within the industry. Customer service is so important. You can’t streamline that. I specialize in the gift of gab. A great story teller. I remember little things that help me with building a strong bond with clients. I moved back to Florida in 1988. I still have two clients I see regularly from that first salon. Almost all my clients I have had for ten or more years. I have a nack for giving you what you wanted even though you didn’t know it at the time. I am a great problem solver. And I know when you think your smarter then me when it comes to BS and a scam. I question everything that doesn’t make scense. I am that dog with a bone. Clients said they admire me for it. because I draw my conclusions first. And I am always right. My clients are split almost 50 50 men and women. People like to tell me things making me the keeper of secrets. I’m proud of my hairdressing skills but I am even more proud that I can hold my own with anyone in the room.
love the fact I can do a lot. And I think I do most services well. I know I am great at creating a clean polished makeup. I can’t transform you into someone else. Color, haircuts, keratin, perms, Most times I have no plan it just happens when creating a finished updo. I have been told multiable times when someone is watching me create they were always suprised with the outcome. I am not a cookie cutter hairdresser. I will create something from nothing. Which goes a long way in production. So many times you have to pivot. I started offering Micropigmentation to my clients but moved to Micro-needling instead. You always want to be looking for new clients. New things. Stay fresh, My clients know I am not afraid to try new things. You have to stay relavent in this business. And hungry.
How do you define success?
It’s the ability to say you love what you do no matter what. Only answering to the person in the mirror.
Pricing:
- I have not raised my prices in years to my long time clients. They have become family. I want them to know they are appreciated
- new clients pay a bit more for services. I can afford to have lower prices because I have no overhead.
- I also do not skim on the quality of the products I use
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rick-hairnmakeup.chrone.work/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ricklesserhairandmakeup
Image Credits
Michael B LLoyd
Rick Lesser
