INA, Ill. - For four years, Natalie Burke styled celebrities for the Las Vegas red carpet and her talents now give locals a one-of-a-kind experience at her salon, Natalie Joseph's in McLeansboro. 海角视频 put the scissors in her hand.
Burke attended RLC芒鈧劉s art program from 2005-07, and then chose to continue her education at Studio RLC - at the time a Paul Mitchell Partner School - where she graduated in 2008. The McLeansboro native said she chose to return to Studio RLC because of its reputation.
芒鈧揜end Lake was close to home, but I chose Studio RLC because it was a Paul Mitchell School, and I always loved Paul Mitchell products,芒鈧� said Burke. 芒鈧揑 learned my professionalism at Studio RLC because it芒鈧劉s a high-end school where education is very important. I also learned about the culture, not just about hair, and I芒鈧劉ve carried those lessons with me my whole career.芒鈧�
Burke added she keeps those same skills in mind while running the day-to-day operations of her own salon.
芒鈧揑 still carry the professionalism I learned at Studio RLC with me in my career,芒鈧� said Burke. 芒鈧揈ven the simple things, like a dress code and how to act around customers. I still recommend it to everyone. I芒鈧劉ve only hired people to work at Natalie Joseph芒鈧劉s who have come from that school because I do know how they act and what they know.芒鈧�
Even while she attended Studio RLC, Burke said it was her dream to move west. In addition to the education, she said the instructors, specifically Studio RLC Director Daphne Mitchell, helped guide her in the right direction.
芒鈧揑 love Daphne. She always encouraged me with my dream of getting out of school and going to the west coast. She never told me I couldn芒鈧劉t do it,芒鈧� said Burke. 芒鈧揘ow that I芒鈧劉ve returned home, I have been a guest speaker at Studio RLC and the staff there is wonderful.芒鈧�
In Las Vegas, Burke owned the Natalie Burke Salon where she worked in her salon by herself during the week and as a freelance cosmetologist on the weekends, focusing on events and celebrities. After four years, Burke decided to move home and brought the ideas and skills she learned in Nevada with her to Natalie Joseph芒鈧劉s.
芒鈧揜ight now we have 10 employees and our first day was May 3, 2014, so we芒鈧劉re just over a year old,芒鈧� said Burke. 芒鈧揑 moved back here and started using the knowledge from traveling to create an atmosphere that I love. I lived in Las Vegas for four years, and it芒鈧劉s completely different there.芒鈧�
Some of the differences from a typical Southern Illinois salon are subtle, but others can be noticed when first walking through the doors at Natalie Joseph芒鈧劉s.
芒鈧揥e focus on customer service, starting with when the customer comes into the salon,芒鈧� said Burke. 芒鈧揥e start with wine or fruit-infused water in our robe room, and then we have a shampooing room with dim light and soft music, and we have a team who works with massages and blow-drying hair to help our clients feel relaxed and comfortable. It芒鈧劉s the only salon like it in Southern Illinois.芒鈧�
Once Burke and her employees iron out logistics for the current salon, she said she芒鈧劉s looking forward to staying in the area and expanding.
芒鈧揗y future plans are to stay here, because I love Southern Illinois, and I want to open up more salons in the area,芒鈧� said Burke. 芒鈧揑 think it芒鈧劉s cool for people around here to experience the salon I芒鈧劉ve created, because it芒鈧劉s about the whole experience. Some of our clients travel for four hours to get here. I probably have 500 clients, but my other employees have between 300 and 400 each. We芒鈧劉re always swamped, but we work hard to make sure every customer leaves happy.芒鈧�
Outside of typical salon services, Burke also works with permanent make-up tattoos, such as eyeliner and eyebrows; techniques she learned from continuing her education in Florida. Overall, Burke said her salon is focused on customer service and providing a unique experience to everyone in Southern Illinois and beyond.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s not about hair at Natalie Joseph芒鈧劉s, it芒鈧劉s about the attention to detail, every single day; it芒鈧劉s everything, it芒鈧劉s customer service,芒鈧� said Burke. 芒鈧揥e want to make our customers feel good.芒鈧�
To learn more about Natalie Joseph芒鈧劉s, contact Burke at 618-308-7112 or visit the salon, located at 408 West Randolph Street in McLeansboro. Natalie Joseph芒鈧劉s also has a . For more information about Studio RLC, contact Mitchell at 618-437-5321, Ext. 2031.