We believe in our staff and we want you to, as well. Our monthly Staff Q&A helps you get to know us individually and who we are outside the salon. This month we have Senior Stylist, Rikki Heibert.
—
Besides earning more money and becoming even more profitable, what do you think the goals of designHouse Salon are?
To create a welcoming environment for guests and team members where they feel like part of a family. Also, to provide our guests with beautiful hairstyles while respecting the environment and each individual’s health, and to set an example in the beauty industry and our community to take further initiatives for healthy living and protecting our environment.
What do you contribute to the team that makes you stand out? What do/should clients come specifically to you for?
What makes me stand out are my communication skills and customer service. What I love about our industry is the relationship building and taking part in a guest’s hair journey and, sometimes, life journey. When my guests come to see me, I work hard to make sure they feel comfortable and free to express themselves however they need to while they’re here. I understand that a hair service is not just about beautifying the hair, but also about allowing for nourishment/relaxation of the mind, body and spirit.
What does Sustainable Beauty mean to you and why is it an important focus?
It means that, at a time when so many products are mass produced with toxic chemicals and an unnecessary amount of packaging, we can take actions that reject the norm and help to protect the environment and/or neutralize our carbon footprint while still doing fashionable hairstyles.
Why should people come to designHouse Salon over the TONS of other available options?
Firstly, because they will always feel taken care of by our team no matter what stylist they see. Secondly, they can feel good about their contribution to the environment by paying an eco fee with their hair service and supporting a business with environmental initiatives. Lastly, they can feel confident knowing that DH is always growing and improving to better accommodate their needs.
What about the beauty industry excites you and why?
I absolutely love working with people and the diversity of our industry. I appreciate getting to know a guest’s uniqueness in their personality and their hair and collaborating to design a hairstyle and salon experience just for them.
Tell us about your background. Where are you from? What have you accomplished?
I grew up in Nanoose Bay/Parksville. My upbringing was island life at its finest — lots of outdoors adventures, roadtrips, playing in the ocean. I knew at a young age that I wanted to do hair, it just made sense. Well, it was that or become a therapist, which would be a ton of school and I was never great at sitting in a classroom without getting distracted and goofing off. I moved to Victoria the day after I graduated from high school and soon after, attended cosmetology school. I totally nailed the exam 100% and by the end I was also the only person still in my class (last woman standing I suppose). I went on to work at Arq for the next 8 years where I honed my hair skills, worked on photo shoots and organized salon events. I worked for Redken for 5 years facilitating education as well as babe extensions doing education. I have also travelled to Vegas, Montreal and Mexico for hair events and also did hair in Toronto for 6 months.
When you aren’t working, what are you doing? Hobbies, interests, etc.
Fun activities and adventures! Surfing, hiking, swimming, boxing, yoga — basically anything active especially if it’s outside and my dog, Lizzie, can come along. I also looove good coffee and listening to music. My guilty pleasures at the moment are trampoline parks, waterslides and 90s hip-hop club bangers.
Do you prefer Cinnamon or Vanilla?
I can’t pick one… they belong together.
If you could grant a co-worker a superpower, who and what would it be?
A coworker? I would give Robin the power of multiplying herself so she can have extra Robins to assist her at work and in life. I would give Aaron a self-healing power like Wolverine so when he hurts himself at the trampoline park he won’t be limping around for weeks. 🙂
What’s your go-to midnight snack?
Trail mix. popcorn. Chips. Annie’s mac and cheese. Salty and crunchy things.
Name 2 things you want everyone to know about you?
- I love comedy… mostly stand up. Although that doesn’t mean I’m funny but I’ll try really hard to get a laugh anyways.
- I can’t lie. Not even a white lie. The truth always comes out.
And lastly, name 3 things on your bucket list.
- Learn to speak fluent Spanish
- Go To University
- Live in a Camper Van