Cosmetology Student Success Story: Jordynn McIlrath

 

About Jordynn McIlrath

Before Jordynn McIlrath entered the world of cosmetology, she had had a rough time with the traditional school setting. Finding herself in an arena where she lacked motivation and creativity, she saw comfort in the arts realm. Jordynn found her start working in a salon at the front desk, then onto being a makeup artist. “Through my years of growth, my passion for the Arts grew. Consistently indulging in makeup, hair design, painting, drawing, crafting, and fashion. Advancing in art and cosmetics, however, didn’t make grade school any easier.”

It was the owner of her salon that helped her get along the right path. “I was a senior at Cascade High School, while working part time at a local hair salon. I was asked to be an employee there by the owner herself. Knowing me as a kid, she had known me to be interested in the beauty community. Since working there, she has become my mentor; a great teacher of hair and business surrounding cosmetology.” Jordynn started to look into schooling options for her continuation into further education in her chosen industry. “I heard great opinions about the school and its education compared to others in the area. The location is great, I enjoy the color and products we carry, and the vibe is welcoming.”

Since Jordynn has started her time in the beauty industry, she has helped build confidence in herself, as well as others around her. “Being in the career field that introduces and ignites new levels of confidence within those who lack awareness of it on their own is sensational. I knew continuing my journey in the beauty industry would allow for many connections to be created by my guests and I, that I would cherish forever.”

The Evergreen Experience

Since her start in her program in September this year, Jordynn quickly found her footing due to previous industry experience. After starting to take clients on the clinic floor, she takes pride in giving her clients the full experience. “I can say taking clients and building relationships with my lovely guests has got to be the most rewarding thing in my program.” She also loves to learn about the new trends and new techniques that are coming into the industry every day. Jordynn already understands the importance of continuing education in the beauty industry, saying “It’s important to always stay current and learn more about color, color application, haircutting, and techniques. I love that about the beauty industry.”

When it comes to her strengths, what Jordynn has found herself the strongest in surprises her. “My strengths and specialties have come as a bit of a shock to me since starting my program. I wasn’t very comfortable with haircutting and foiling in the beginning, but now I genuinely love cutting and foiling hair, and I’m pretty good at it too!” She has a very strong foundation, and loves adding new tricks to her repertoire. “When it comes to haircutting, I LOVE to cut bangs. This allows me to bring variety among my clientele, and they gain trust in me and eventually some might let me take freedom in deciding their perfect hairstyle. I think that is very special and I hold that trust very dear to me as a future beauty professional.”

When there is downtime in her busy schedule, Jordynn loves to practice as much as she can. “I feel like the assignment that has been the most helpful to me is the transition sheet when we go from Phase 1 to Phase 2. The sheet is a log of different things we do in order to practice specific techniques and skills. It is especially helpful for the days you might find yourself without a client. You can be inspired to do something listed on this sheet, as well as get it signed off by an educator.”

The Next Steps

Jordynn is someone that has expressed her desired to be a master of many. She takes pride in being able to offer services to everyone. “My variety of skills includes but is not limited to bridal or special event makeup, updos, natural hair services, braiding, balayage, product knowledge, marketing and social media, as well as extensions.” Jordynn takes a lot of pride in her skill set, and consistently puts a lot of time and effort into them, and she has already seen herself progress a lot. “I can look upon my younger self, and tell her how far we’ve come, and that I’m so proud of us.”

Upon graduation, Jordynn has big dreams. “My career plans have always revolved around the same goal. I want to, and one day will own my own salon. Owning your own business, especially something with an expensive starting value, will take a while to save and prepare for.” In the meantime, she intends to stay at the same salon, and take any opportunities to grow from there.

Lastly, Jordynn had a few words to express to incoming cosmetology students. “Don’t be too hard on yourself – I cannot stress this enough. No one is harder on you than yourself, and you shouldn’t be. When it comes to cosmetology, marketing, communication, business, and all that. It will be hard, it will be stressful, and it will be overwhelming. You can’t always control that, but you can control your energy and self-reflection. The environment around you that you have created is a good indication of how you feel. A positive mindset is a positive result. Remember that you are learning, give yourself a break.”

Ms. Jordynn McIlrath is slated to graduate in November of 2022, and we are excited to see where she goes from here. If you’d like to follow her on her journey, please go follow her on Instagram: @beautyby.j.xxii!

If you are interested in pursuing a career in the beauty industry you can check out our different programs or Schedule a Virtual Tour, at one of our six locations: Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Everett, North Seattle, Renton, and Yakima.