What we’ve learned so far….
In the midst of the current coronavirus pandemic it can be tough to find the good in things, particularly as a fully service based small business that can’t work at all during this time. So, we thought we would share some insightful things we’ve learned so far.
WOW! We always knew that our licensed professional background was important in general, but as of current it is quite clear how imperative it is to psuh the truth that ALL hair and makeup artists are legally supposed to be licensed in order to do services on the gerneral public.
We are talking about the difference of people having the education and the truly necessary knowledge to help stop the transmission of virus and disease.
ALL ONLO ARTISTS ARE LICENSED.
This means specific amounts of time were spent at school (1250 hours for cosmetologists, 300 hours for estheticians) followed by a state board test which only once passed will allow you to practive services concerning hair, skin or nails on the public as a career. We learned haircuts and facials at school but we also spent weeks in class learning of disease, viruses and other pathogens we are susceptible to and could potentially spread if we do not do our jobs correctly and with proper sanitation. We are were then taught state board regulated sanitation rule. This is the main part of the practical test taken to be awared your license. This information is priceless!
So spoiler alert: there is no such thing as “self taught” or “certified” artists who are equally legal in working and doing hair and makeup services as a licensed professional.
PLEASE! For your safety, only hire licensed professionals!
When you create systems, contracts, plans and put ideas together for how a niche business should run, it’s always learning from the past and hoping for the best.
Every year we have a safeguard in place to hold off from booking too far in advance (we open our books for the next year mid way through the current year, purposefully) and urge clients to meet with us for their previews within 4 months of their event. We never ever in a million years would have guessed that we would be thanking our process for having our backs so solidly as we head through times of uncharted territory. Because of the way we do things, we were able to help get postponed dates get easily changed, make sure clients feel fully taken care of and have little disruption to our planning behind the scenes. We fully cancelled only ONE single client because of changes so far. This is huge and due in part because we don’t sway from our process for anything.
Check out an overview of our tried and true process here.
As news spread of how the coronavirus would affect us, emails immediately followed for asks about postponements and info about what to do next. We created a process for this (duh, we clearly love them) and got to it in changing plans for clients from mid-March through June. We were met with complete kindness, understanding, thoughtfulness and flexibility. Not just from our clients but also from our incredible artists. All artists are currently hanging tight until the time comes that we know we can safely do our jobs. As of now, our team will basically be doing 1 year of weddings, events and photo shoots in a 6 month period of time (given we can get back to it when expected!). We know having one another as we wade through a {daily} rollercoaster of emotions is something special and welcomed. We are grateful our clients are willing to make things work and trust in us to walk alongside them in this whole thing.
We can not forget a really big huge THANK YOU to ALL of our health care workers- you are the true heroes! Also, so much love and thanks to those working essential jobs that help everyone stay afloat at this time.
BE WELL + STAY SAFE,
Diana and the whole ONLO team <3