Cosmetology Student Success Story: Hayley Dralle

Our North Seattle campus awarded Ms. Hayley Dralle this past month for creating successful tools for building her business. Understanding the importance behind connecting with her clients, personally and digitally is setting Hayley apart from her peers!

About Hayley Dralle

Not everyone knows what they want out of life, career wise, but most can share what emotional hunger they want to feel, for Hayley it’s no different. “Before I moved to Seattle last June, I had graduated high school and was clueless on what I wanted to go to college for. I had always been passionate about makeup and hair, and art in general, but I never really gave much thought on how to make a profitable career using my artistic talent. I took a Certified Nursing Assistants course in high school, and thought that I was on the way to becoming a nurse, or possibly a doctor. I enrolled in community college to get the process started but shortly after I had a change of heart. It wasn’t the right path for me. I knew that I wanted to help people, and make people feel better about themselves, but I just never felt like the medical industry could offer me the ability to do that, in the way I was seeking. I took a few months to really think about the direction I wanted to pursue, and realized that it was the beauty industry that would be able to give me the fulfillment in a career that I desired. I was right, because every time I am able to provide a client with a wonderful service, and they smile and tell me how much they appreciate my hard work, I know that I made the right choice,” confides Hayley.

Hayley came into the Evergreen family by chance and shares why she chose to start her beauty industry journey with us. “I came by in the midst of the switch from Toni&Guy Hairdressing to Evergreen Beauty College. I had enrolled at Toni&Guy Hairdressing Academy but hadn’t started yet, and was told that there was going to be a switch! Blair; one of their admission counselors, was the first person to introduce me to Evergreen and she showed me all of the amazing things about this school including charity events that they do, and externship opportunities. This school seemed like they really cared a lot. On my second meeting with Blair, I met Joe; the president of EBC, and on my first day of school, he remembered my name and stopped to ask me how I was doing! Not many owners of companies care this much about employees/students. The warm familial atmosphere really drew me to Evergreen,” Hayley shared.

The Evergreen Experience

Since starting the cosmetology program with us Ms. Hayley has shared some of her highlights of what she has enjoyed, what has helped her so far and what sets her apart from other cosmetologist:

“One of the things I have enjoyed most about my program is the transformations I can create using color! I love foils, balayage, and any other color techniques. I also feel like I really get to know my clients during these more time consuming services, and these services produce such amazing results. One of my educators, Ms. Raffi used to go into advanced methods on how to cut hair and went in depth over color theory. She always had a plan, and every assignment she gave to us was constructive and purposeful,” shares Hayley.

“I think that I am finding that I am the best at everything that involves color and lightening services so at this point I would consider it my current strength, but I am still somewhat new to the program, and I am keeping an open mind and taking everyday as it comes. Learning and refining my skills with each client I see.”

“I have had a very artistic background my entire life. When you are able to master one field of art, you are able to make connections to other fields of art. I noticed that color theory came easily to me because of this. I think in images, so I have the ability to visualize end results before they have even happen. I can picture shapes and color, and use this to formulate what kind of haircut or hair color is best for the client.”

“I can also offer my clients the promise that I will give my 100% effort into their services. I care about every client as if it was me sitting in the salon chair getting my own hair done! I promise that I will always be improving my skills, and that I will be willing to have a thorough consultation and truly listen to your concerns.”

The Next Step

Although Hayley still has plenty of time before she completes her program, it doesn’t stop her for thinking ahead and making plans, “I would love to take an apprenticeship after I graduate. I have always loved learning new things, and I think that it would be useful to apprentice so that I have the ability to perfect my techniques in hair,” expressed Hayley.

“If I had to leave some advice for any prospective students looking to do hair, It would be to work hard while your in school, because you only have 14 months to get the most out of your education. Find what sets you apart, and really focus on that. But at the same time, be open minded to foreign techniques,” Hayley replied when we asked her if she had any advice for students looking to join the industry.

Ms. Hayley Dralle is set to graduate next March 2020 and what better way to support her other than to stop by our Renton campus! And if you are interested in continuing to follow Hayley throughout her cosmetology program, you can check her out on IG: @hayleylovesthelook . Congrats Ms. Hayley, we can not wait to see where you go and what you do in this industry!

If you are interested in pursuing a career in the beauty industry take the Beauty Biz Readiness Quiz, you can also check out our programs or contact us at one of our five locations: Everett, Renton, North Seattle, Yakima, and soon to be Mount Vernon as well.