Be a first-rate version of yourself, not a second-rate version of someone else • Judy Garland
Meet Jadie Herbst.
Passionate, ambitious, ridiculously talented and unapologetically herself.
Jadie is the stylist that has turned the Bloemfontein hairdressing scene on it’s head. Part of the Millennial generation of innovators and trendsetters, Jadie was one of the first local hairstylists to utilise her social media presence like an absolute pro.
She’s is a Wella Colour Master Expert, a GHD Brand Warrior and is considered to be one of the very best Blonde and Balayage specialists in the country.
In fact, Jadie is SO GOOD that Wella SA especially flew her around the country – Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth – to present the Wella Balayage Masterclass.
A Bloem girl teaching the ‘always-ahead-of-the-curve’ Jo-burgers and Capetonians??! You’ve got to love it!
Not afraid to stick to her guns or stand up and speak out for what she believes in. Jadie is an exceptionally gifted hairstylist who truly walks the talk.
Meet the Millennial Maven… with her beloved Toypoms Max and Leo… drinking coffee.
Name:
Jadie
Surname:
Herbst
Age:
28 years young.
Profession/Life’s work:
Passionate Hairstylist / Salon Owner.
So, what’s your story?
Where were you born?
I was born in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
Where did you go to school?
I went to School in KZN, JHB and the Free State.
Where and what did you study?
I studied Hairdressing and Make Up (LoL I know) at Motheo FET College in Bloemfontein and also have a Bio Sculpture Nail qualification.
What was your childhood dream?
Funnily enough, I don’t recall having a childhood dream other than wanting to be a grown up and have freedom. But I did want to be a mermaid at some stage. Really badly.
What was your first job?
My first unofficial job was a promo girl. First official job was an apprentice in a hair salon.
Advice that shaped your career?
In a nut shell – educate.
I once had a very special hairstylist (Jean Witte) tell me to educate – myself, and to share that education. It honestly changed my entire life.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
Mostly annoying dogs barking non stop. I’m just kidding, … but, I love what I do. So getting up to do hair everyday isn’t a chore.
I also believe as long as I breathe I have everything to be thankful for. So there will always be many reasons to get up and live my best life.
What motivates you?
Education motivates me. I feel like I can’t have a career in one lifetime long enough to achieve everything I want to achieve. There isn’t enough time to learn everything I want to learn and there’s SO MUCH to learn.
So, there’s no time to waste!
How do you spend your down time?
I don’t have a lot of down time unfortunately.
When I do, I either do absolutely nothing – because I am tired – or I spend time with my god daughter Aschelle. She’s 10 months old and she’s gorgeous.
What does success look like to you?
Materialistic success to me is being debt free and owning property. But success as a whole, is happiness.
What sets you apart as a influential stylist?
I think my straightforward approach to things – especially in my industry.
Speaking out on my social media platforms about industry and client issues, whilst at the same time fighting to elevate the industry. Demanding a standard of respect for the industry and from clients.
Since day one I have stayed authentic to who I am as a person.
I’ve had to face a lot of backlash and criticism for it, but I don’t regret it. To be influential you need to be authentic. You need to evoke change and people generally don’t like change. But it is necessary to grow.
What are the most valuable lessons you have learnt in your career thus far?
- NEVER let ANYONE determine your worth. Only YOU get to determine that.
- Education IS power. It WILL change your LIFE.
- Sharing is CARING. Seeing other salons and stylists as my peers, not my competition. I would rather help a fellow stylist than try and undermine them because of insecurities.
What makes a great stylist?
- Striving for perfection
- To listen
- Great communication
- Education
- Empathy
- Passion
- Taking risks
- Sacrifice
- Determination
- Confidence
- Handling criticism in a meaningful manner
- Self worth
Give me 3 words that describes you best?
- Loyal
- Straightforward
- Guarded
What are your 3 biggest accomplishments in your career thus far?
- Being a Balayage Masterclass educator for Wella SA and getting to travel through SA to present my classes.
- Being a specialist guest stylist for the GHD Oracle media launch and being asked by GHD South Africa to be a GHD Brand Warrior.
- My salon – my salon is in itself my biggest accomplishment of my career.
I wish I could tell my 22-year-old self:
You’re going to be ok.
You won’t live on 2 min noodles forever and you won’t have to walk everywhere forever. You won’t feel “unvalued” forever because you’re going to make it.
Your hidden talent:
Drag racing. LoL. Even if it’s just from Dan Pienaar to LHP to go visit my boyfriend.
What other stylists do you look up to?
I try not to look up to anyone. Just to be inspired.
To look up means they are above you. No one is above anyone.
- I get inspired by passionate stylists like Lisa Walker. She’s also very passionate about education so that gets me excited and inspired.
- I get inspired by hearing passionate stylists speak, like Jean Witte. She can do one hell of a presentation/seminar – one of them changed my life.
- Andrew Dunne – a Wella Global Ambassador and very successful salon owner, he inspires me.
- Theresa Gouws, my Wella Master Colour Expert educator, she has also changed my life.
What is one characteristic that you believe every entrepreneur should possess?
You gotta risk it to get the biscuit.
What advice would you give someone starting their career in the hair industry?
Just start at the bottom.
I had to sweep the floor, clean the salon bathroom, answer the phone. Hold and wash foils long before I could ever be on the floor.
Willingness to be humble will get you much further in life than thinking the world owes you anything. Life isn’t fair. The sooner you learn to deal with it the easier life becomes.
Learn to deal with criticism – it’s part of business. I am still learning this.
The higher you get the more the wind blows. At some point you have to do you, to the best of your ability, and let the rest slide on by.
Education, education, education. Never stop learning.
What role does Social Media play in your business?
Social media shaped, formed, molded, created and built my business in so many ways.
Social media plays a MAJOR role in my business. Without it I think I would feel like a chunk of my business has been lost. It’s so powerful and I honestly can’t understand why there are stylists out there not utilising it for their business. It’s 2019 …!
Favourites:
- Colour: Yellow
- Food: Indian
- Drink: Coffee
- Singer: currently Billie Eilish
- Brand: Wella – duh!
- Happy place: a bath
- Car: Bentley – which I don’t own.
- If you could meet anyone living or dead who would it be and why? Britney Spears – LOL because she got me through puberty.
- Quote: She believed she could, so she did.
- Book or Magazine: Iphone LOL
- Online inspiration: #jadieprofessionals LOL
Credits:
Concept:
- Meet the Millennial Maven by Jeani Meyer for Hello Smart Blog
Styling:
- Jadie Herbst for Hello Smart Blog
Photography:
- FJ Potgieter for Eye Poetry Photography
Location:
- Royal Roastery in LHP Bloemfontein (Jadie’s FAV!)
Special Thanks:
- THANK YOU to Royal Roastery for special permission to do our Hello Smart Blog Jadie photoshoot with Jadie’s two Toypoms Max and Leo. We ALL loved the coffee 🙂
