Rising Stars: Meet Monroe Bostick

Today we’d like to introduce you to Monroe Bostick.  

Hi Monroe, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Born and raised in Portland, OR. I have always loved hair. I have been in the industry for 20 years. for half of that, I have been working as an independent contractor in Portland. I have always loved education; it is important to constantly be learning and keeping up with the trends. I specialized in color, more specifically blondes and hair extensions. But I do love all things hair! The last few years I had been feeling like there was something missing, or maybe I was approaching the next part of my career. Around the same time, I visited and then fell in love with Nashville. I wanted it to also be a part of my future somehow. Then the pandemic hit. There were so many negatives for me personally and in business that came from the pandemic. I lost my income for a good part of half the year, and even when opening back up I was maybe at 35% of what I was making before. With that, I decided to open a salon in Nashville. Here I am. I am currently working in Portland as well and still plan to do so once the salon is open. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There were quite a few struggles along the way. I worked two jobs in the beginning, just so I could have benefits for my son and myself and then do what I love on the side. I was a young single mom trying to make it in an industry before social media was a thing. I built my business solely on word of mouth and did a damn good job at it. The industry hasn’t always been smooth. As someone that struggles with anxiety, sometimes there are hard times. I believe myself to be an empath, so if my clients are going through something I tend to take on those feelings. Over the years I have learned to manage that better. It’s also a customer service industry, as you know, you can’t please everyone. Early on in my career I worked at a very known Portland salon and completed rigorous training. I appreciate the education and skills I obtained there, but it was the kind of place that did not embrace individuality. If you were different, you were ostracized or forced to conform. It was like a “Stepford Wived” moment. I eventually hit the ceiling there and left to start my own business as in independent contractor. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I do all things hair. Well mostly, I have moved away from bridal hair. I specialize in blondes, lived-in color, and hair extensions. I am certified with three extension brands, GreatLengths; EasiHair Pro, and Invisible Bead Extensions. I am also an expert when it comes to grey hair coverage. I love learning, you can usually find me watching an online course or searching for one to take that is hands-on. I am extremely proud of my ability to read someone’s hair, really understand the growth pattern and what the color, cut, or style will look like in a week or a month. I think that what sets me apart from others is my memory, and my ability to create genuine connections with my clients. 

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I think I have always played it pretty safe. I was never a risk-taker. When my friends started doing things that were more risky, with drugs or alcohol, I couldn’t. I was a mom. I had a child that depended on me. I turned into an adult that wanted to provide a safe stable environment for my son. I also think it has to do with control, I do not like to not be in control of things. I realized that I was going to have to take a huge risk so that I enable and encourage innovation within myself and my career. I knew that if I failed, that it would help to shape what was next. 

Contact Info:

• Email: www.rocandroesalon.com
• Website: www.monroestyyles.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monroestyyles_nashville https://www.instagram.com/rocandroestylebar/