Stacey Ludford
"The Stylist Behind The Chair"
Hmmm, where do I start? I was born a poor white girl... just kidding. ;-) I won't go back THAT far. Although I should tell you a little bit about my childhood, because that is where it all began. I was practically born in a hair salon or "beauty shop" as we called it back then. My mom owned her own hair business in Greenville, TX. She started doing hair when she was 14. Two of my aunts owned their own salon, and I have an uncle who was a barber. I tell people that I have hair in my blood! I spent many, many afternoons in the salon. I really loved it there. I got a lot of attention and occasionally I would find some willing participant who would let me do their nails or something.
When I was 11 I did my first haircut on my friend Shwn, pronounced Sue. She was a kind Korean girl who moved in the house across the street from me and we were in the same grade. Her sister Julie usually cut her hair, but made a mistake that she didn't know how to correct so Shwn called me that day, I hesitated until she told me her sister had always cut it before. I thought I could surely do a better job than her, after all, I had hair in my blood. She went from a shoulder length bob with a booboo by her ear that made the decision to cut it into a cute little "Dorothy Hammel" wedge. It was right before the school year began and her friends at school loved her new cut and that is where it all began! I started cutting friend's hair, styling their hair, giving them perms, doing their makeup, you name it. I loved it. I messed up from time to time, but they didn't seem to mind, they kept coming back for more. After all, it was free. :-D
I wanted to go to Beauty College right after High School, but mom and dad wouldn't let me. I guess mom didn't want me to follow in her footsteps. So while I was in college I cut hair on the side and made a lot of extra money. After I quit college, I enrolled in Beauty College in Greenville. I spent most of my time out on the floor. They always pulled me out of class to work. I would even be the one to go around and check everyone's haircuts. I got a little nervous near graduation and was afraid I would fail my boards, because I was always on the floor and not in class, so I quit. I met a guy and got married too. He didn't want me to do hair, he was the jealous type, needless to say that did not work out. After our marriage failed a year later I decided to go back and graduate from Beauty College, but this time I went to a different school. I went to The Academy in Tyler, TX. It was a good school. They had a board class every week to practice. They valued my class time and didn't pull me out of class, even when I wished they would. It was good. I had a 100% average and needless to say I passed my boards. That was over 20 years ago.
I worked at a salon in Greenville my first year and a half, then I moved to Tyler and lived and worked there for 12 years. I moved to 4 different salons in that time frame, and each move was a step up. I have 6 years experience with imaging, I have worked Glamour Shots on Sundays doing hair and make-up, and with Dillard's doing make-up for special promotions. I have worked behind the scenes with plays, bridal shows and pageants. I worked for six years with the Tyler Rose Festival doing Up Do's for the ladies of the court and would be happy to get back into that someday. I have even worked with a couple of country bands, Tim McGraw and the Sons of the Pioneers. They both have played in Tyler, and I was called to meet their hair needs. No, I did not cut Tim's hair, but I bleached and cut his drummer's hair and I cut his road manager's hair, and I did get back stage passes and free tickets to his concert. I met Tim McGraw, he's really sweet and he really puts on a great concert! I also have cut the hair of all but one member of the Sons of the Pioneers. They are really sweet, and funny young men.
I lived in Dallas from May 2003- January 2006. There I studied and learned hair extensions, eyelash extensions, and eyelash perming. I invested in continuing education and enjoyed learning new techniques. I have always worked with wigs and hairpieces and have experience in several types of extensions such as weaving and bonding although now I only do the strand by strand fusion method. I am a Licensed Hair Extension Specialist. Certified by Hairdreams in '04. I also have my masters in color and was certified in '06 as a Schwarzkopf Technical Advisor (educator) which means I can teach classes on color for CE credits and on how to use the Schwarzkopf line. I only taught a few classes, to be quite honest. My schedule at work keeps me too busy to do that on the side. It's really a career all of it's own and I'm not ready to give up my spot behind this chair just yet. I also enjoy being at home on my days off with my family now. But I am so happy for the education I gained!
I moved back to Tyler in January of 2006 and since then have been able to build a business I'm proud of. I work by appointment only and stay booked out for weeks. I am talented and I have 20 years experience. I'm very creative and artistic. I have won awards for my artwork in the past. I even created this website myself with no prior experience. I am organized and have been called a perfectionist, but I am not anal, just particular. Clients can sense these things when they are in your hands. And my hands are very competent. I have many clients that refer to my fingers as "magic fingers". I do things a certain way and have many techniques to use and I can't say that I can please everyone, because Lord knows I CAN'T! But I take a lot of pride in my work and I care about the condition of my clients hair and I care what my clients think.
The simple fact is, this job just comes natural to me. It is as much a part of me as my own skin. I love my job. I love the people. I love the salon. I love what I do and I do what I love. How many people can say that?
- Stacey Ludford, PHD "Professional Hair Designer"
When I was 11 I did my first haircut on my friend Shwn, pronounced Sue. She was a kind Korean girl who moved in the house across the street from me and we were in the same grade. Her sister Julie usually cut her hair, but made a mistake that she didn't know how to correct so Shwn called me that day, I hesitated until she told me her sister had always cut it before. I thought I could surely do a better job than her, after all, I had hair in my blood. She went from a shoulder length bob with a booboo by her ear that made the decision to cut it into a cute little "Dorothy Hammel" wedge. It was right before the school year began and her friends at school loved her new cut and that is where it all began! I started cutting friend's hair, styling their hair, giving them perms, doing their makeup, you name it. I loved it. I messed up from time to time, but they didn't seem to mind, they kept coming back for more. After all, it was free. :-D
I wanted to go to Beauty College right after High School, but mom and dad wouldn't let me. I guess mom didn't want me to follow in her footsteps. So while I was in college I cut hair on the side and made a lot of extra money. After I quit college, I enrolled in Beauty College in Greenville. I spent most of my time out on the floor. They always pulled me out of class to work. I would even be the one to go around and check everyone's haircuts. I got a little nervous near graduation and was afraid I would fail my boards, because I was always on the floor and not in class, so I quit. I met a guy and got married too. He didn't want me to do hair, he was the jealous type, needless to say that did not work out. After our marriage failed a year later I decided to go back and graduate from Beauty College, but this time I went to a different school. I went to The Academy in Tyler, TX. It was a good school. They had a board class every week to practice. They valued my class time and didn't pull me out of class, even when I wished they would. It was good. I had a 100% average and needless to say I passed my boards. That was over 20 years ago.
I worked at a salon in Greenville my first year and a half, then I moved to Tyler and lived and worked there for 12 years. I moved to 4 different salons in that time frame, and each move was a step up. I have 6 years experience with imaging, I have worked Glamour Shots on Sundays doing hair and make-up, and with Dillard's doing make-up for special promotions. I have worked behind the scenes with plays, bridal shows and pageants. I worked for six years with the Tyler Rose Festival doing Up Do's for the ladies of the court and would be happy to get back into that someday. I have even worked with a couple of country bands, Tim McGraw and the Sons of the Pioneers. They both have played in Tyler, and I was called to meet their hair needs. No, I did not cut Tim's hair, but I bleached and cut his drummer's hair and I cut his road manager's hair, and I did get back stage passes and free tickets to his concert. I met Tim McGraw, he's really sweet and he really puts on a great concert! I also have cut the hair of all but one member of the Sons of the Pioneers. They are really sweet, and funny young men.
I lived in Dallas from May 2003- January 2006. There I studied and learned hair extensions, eyelash extensions, and eyelash perming. I invested in continuing education and enjoyed learning new techniques. I have always worked with wigs and hairpieces and have experience in several types of extensions such as weaving and bonding although now I only do the strand by strand fusion method. I am a Licensed Hair Extension Specialist. Certified by Hairdreams in '04. I also have my masters in color and was certified in '06 as a Schwarzkopf Technical Advisor (educator) which means I can teach classes on color for CE credits and on how to use the Schwarzkopf line. I only taught a few classes, to be quite honest. My schedule at work keeps me too busy to do that on the side. It's really a career all of it's own and I'm not ready to give up my spot behind this chair just yet. I also enjoy being at home on my days off with my family now. But I am so happy for the education I gained!
I moved back to Tyler in January of 2006 and since then have been able to build a business I'm proud of. I work by appointment only and stay booked out for weeks. I am talented and I have 20 years experience. I'm very creative and artistic. I have won awards for my artwork in the past. I even created this website myself with no prior experience. I am organized and have been called a perfectionist, but I am not anal, just particular. Clients can sense these things when they are in your hands. And my hands are very competent. I have many clients that refer to my fingers as "magic fingers". I do things a certain way and have many techniques to use and I can't say that I can please everyone, because Lord knows I CAN'T! But I take a lot of pride in my work and I care about the condition of my clients hair and I care what my clients think.
The simple fact is, this job just comes natural to me. It is as much a part of me as my own skin. I love my job. I love the people. I love the salon. I love what I do and I do what I love. How many people can say that?
- Stacey Ludford, PHD "Professional Hair Designer"
With my mom being a hairdresser, I sported all the latest trends. Here are a few of them growing up.
Tim McGraw's road manager