Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitney Fisher
Hi Whitney, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started my journey in beauty school at just 15 through a high school program. After graduating, I felt lost, bouncing between several chain salons, unsure of where I truly fit in. Seven years into my career, I took a leap of faith and went independent—and that changed everything. For the first time, I had the freedom to explore my creativity fully and carve out a career I never could have imagined. Now, 15 years later, I’m taking another huge step: opening my own salon. My goal is to not only help stylists refine their creative skills but also empower them to become fully independent—teaching them not just about artistry but also business and social media, so they can take control of their own success.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are always going to be bumps in the road—that’s just part of the journey. But the beauty of being independent is that you have full control over how you tackle those challenges. For me, the biggest hurdle was the fear of losing a steady paycheck. That fear held me back for so long. But once I pushed past it, I truly felt unstoppable.
It’s so common for stylists to wonder if we’re really in the right place, and I’m not immune to that. This industry is deeply emotional, and there will always be moments of doubt, creative blocks, difficult clients, or financial struggles. The key is learning how to navigate those hurdles without losing sight of your passion.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an award-winning hair colorist specializing in vivid colors, alternative hair, and hair tattoos. My work isn’t about fitting into a mold—I create original, one-of-a-kind looks for my clients. I’m a creative, not a cookie-cutter stylist. I don’t cater to the average Utah woman; I work with the alternative, the weird, the fiery, the ones who want to stand out and shake things up.
I’m constantly pushing myself to grow, attending classes and hair shows year-round to stay at the top of my game. My dedication has paid off—I’ve won multiple awards, including the Moody Vivid award at the Rainbow Hair Convention, back-to-back wins for vivid color at the SLC Beauty & Barber Expo, and I’ve been a global competition finalist multiple times, landing in the Top 25 across several categories for three years in a row—out of tens of thousands of entries.
Now, I’m taking that experience and channeling it into my own salon. But I’m not opening a salon expecting stylists to stay with me until retirement—that’s not how you build longevity in this industry. You have to innovate. My goal is to create a space where stylists can grow, learn, and eventually step out on their own, fully independent. I want to empower them with not just technical skills but also the business knowledge and confidence to create something for themselves—whether that’s thriving independently or opening their own salon one day.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
There’s no way to be successful in this industry without a whole tribe. Stylists don’t come out of beauty school ready—they need an understanding mentor, a supportive family, and clients who respect and believe in them. I’ve been incredibly lucky to have had all of that throughout my journey. My family, my partner, my mentors, and even my clients have played a huge role in my success.
But I really have to give credit to my OG clients from my chain salon days. At a time when I was most afraid—afraid to charge more, afraid to move somewhere that matched my skills—they were the ones pushing me forward. They told me I was worth more. They promised they’d follow me—and they did. Some of them still sit in my chair today, almost 10 years later.
Without those clients believing in me, and without an understanding partner who encouraged me to take the risk, I honestly think I would have burned out at the chain salons and quit hair long ago. I’ll forever be grateful to every mentor I’ve had, but to the clients who stood by me in that moment—I will never forget. You changed my career, and I wouldn’t be here without you.
Pricing:
- Haircut: $100
- Vivid color: Hourly
- Transformation color: Hourly
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Whitstodyefor.com
- Instagram: Whitstodyefor
- Other: Tik tok: @whitstodyefor
