Today we’d like to introduce you to Katrina Gessler.
Hi Katrina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Yes! I’ll start at the very beginning. I remember watching my hairstylist neighbor pass by our house, and telling my sister at 4 or 5 years old that I’d like to be a hairdresser one day. I’ve had a passionate love for beauty for as long as I can remember. The desire to become a hairdresser came and went through the years, but towards the end of high school it became much stronger. I was homeschooled, and started school a little early, so I had the privilege of being able to graduate at 16 years old. Leading up to graduation, however, I became very conflicted. My greatest desire was to go where God wanted me to be. As the youngest of 12 siblings, I looked up to my older siblings and often did what they were doing. Many of them had gone to a ministry school in atlanta, and I thought that maybe I was called there too- not realizing God had placed the desire to be a hairdresser in my heart for a reason. I surrendered my dream to God, and decided that I would go to ministry school when I graduated. Around this time, I was looking for a job to help me save money in order to be able to go. My sister in law’s mother gave me the name of her hairdresser who I was told needed a short term assistant. When I arrived at my interview, this woman told me that she was not only looking for part time help, she was hoping to train someone to learn Organic Color from her (organic colorist/non-toxic stylists are very rare) and take over her business within the next couple of years. She had been praying that someone capable would come along to help. The fact that she used organic color was perfect. I was health-conscious, and one reason I had stepped back from thinking about doing hair was because of all the chemicals that are involved, and can lead to cancer and all sorts of crazy issues. As I learned more, I wanted better for my clients as well.It was an amazing and wildly unexpected opportunity. I went home and prayed about it, and decided to accept the job! I trained with her for many years. Sweeping hair, learning formulation, customer service, and care. I couldn’t have imagined landing in a better situation. Through the process, I was able to meet many master stylists and incredible business people. I continued through cosmetology school. Cosmetology school was wild. Having been homeschooled for my entire life, it was definitely a rude awakening to seeing how sheltered I was. Haha. It was also shocking to work with the chemicals used in the color at the school. Having only used organic, the smell alone was overwhelming. That encouraged me even more so to stick with organic. I can’t imagine how people breathe that in every day. Covid hit right in the middle of my training, so what was supposed to be a 16 month program turned to 20 months, and had all sorts of twists and turns- learning hair online which is extremely difficult when you’re in the beginning stages. Lots of zoom meetings learning about chemistry. It was really hard for me as an extrovert as well to be away from people for so long. The rest of my cosmetology school experience was filled with hand sanitizer, and lots of masks. My work situation was a bit mixed up on the mess as well as Covid changed my boss’s plans somewhat. But finally, I graduated in may of 2021, I had some successful hairdressers in my life that encouraged me to keep assisting part time, and work at great clips for a short time right out of cosmetology school in order to quickly learn what all kinds of hair looks like, and how to work with different textures, growth patterns, etc. At this point, with my boss’s change of plans, I was unsure of whether I would be taking over her business or not. Nevertheless, in October of 2021 at 19 years old, I began renting a booth, and began my own business “Organics by Katrina”. My previous boss slowly started her retirement process and sent me her clients one by one. She hoped I’d take over her studio once she fully retired, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the rent where she was. I remember helping her pack up when she was leaving her space, and thinking to myself, “This is my dream salon. I hope I get to work here, maybe five years down the road or so.” A few months went by, and I got an unexpected call from a stylist at this salon. She informed me that as they were considering what to do with the empty space my boss left, everyone at the salon had agreed, (without any prompting from me) thought I would be a great fit for the space and salon. They offered to lower my rent for a time so that I would be able to be in the space, and offered to help me build my business in any way that I needed. So in February 2021, still at 19 years old, I begin renting a suite. This is almost unheard of. It was so surreal to come to work every day, and see, “Organics by Katrina” on the door. I was so thankful. It was such an exciting time. I learned to mark myself, continued learning so much about hair, and built my business over the next 4+ years. I learned so much about business, hair and life in that time. In March 2025, I went to an organic color systems class in Nashville. I was honestly extremely bored in the town where I lived as there were not many people, my age, and there wasn’t much to do. I had been to Nashville several times to visit a friend, but this time was different for some reason. Maybe it’s because I was exploring on my own, but I just felt this gentle nudge that this was where I belonged. The idea of it, was obviously a huge deal. Thinking about leaving my business that I had worked so hard on behind was difficult. But I also had a sense that it was time. I thought and prayed about it for several months. That July, I went on a girls trip to Florida with some friends. One of my friends had no idea that I had been thinking about this, and said, “Katrina, why don’t you move to Nashville? I feel like you’d love it there!” That encouraged me to think about it more seriously. By September, it was clear to me that that was where God was leading me. I decided to move. The hardest part of this decision, was telling my giant, tight knit family. I have 37 nieces and nephews, and I’m close with them. One of the hardest parts, has been leaving them. They were sad, but very supportive and encouraging throughout the process. I decided to move in December, and began the process of finding a job and a place to live. I looked all over the Internet for a place that used the color line that I love. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything, so I set up interviews with just whatever salons I could find. One night, I had a thought to look for someone who did organic color on Facebook. One quick search, and I found the woman that I am subletting from now. I have no idea how I didn’t see her page before. She did organic color, and so I messaged her. It is just so happened that we both worked with same extremely rare color line, Organic color systems. We talked on the phone the next day. She asked how I found her business, and I told her. She said, “that’s just so crazy because I was about to start looking for someone to sublet from me.” we met, and hit it off. It’s been such a wonderful situation. I moved here in January, and I’ve been building my business since. The move was crazy involving my housing falling through Wright before it was time to move, and selling my car and buying a lemon. My family and friends pulled together to fund raise and replace the money that I lost on the lemon. It was amazing! Every detail of me moving out here seemed like it fell apart at the last second. As someone who’s tendencies are naturally “type B”, I had done more preparation for this move then maybe anything I’ve done before. Haha. But still, everything fell apart just days before I was supposed to move. I had to leave my rental, so I had to just trust God and move anyway. Somehow, he provided everything I needed just in the nick of time. I’m so happy here, and so thankful for the job I have. I’m excited to meet more people in the area and grow my business! I’m sorry, I know this has sooo many details. I figured it’s probably better to have too many than not enough.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I guess I over answered the last question. Haha. But in summary,
Being in cosmetology school during covid.
Learning so much and having the responsibility of running a business at a young age.
The challenge of making sure all products stay clean and organic with so many hidden ingredients in products and inflation.
Moving hurtles.
Changes in plans.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Organics by Katrina?
I’m a non-toxic hairstylist and organic color specialist. I’m known for having care-filled quality services, and I use the best of non-toxic products. I make sure that I have the time that I need with each client in order to pay attention to detail, and create a look that’s unique to each individual. I’m most proud of my brand for its transparency, and uniqueness. I would love to offer your readers 15% off booking for the month this article is released.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
In general? It may sound cheesy, but the presence of God is the best thing in the world! It’s so peaceful and joy-filled. I love being with my family, picnics, crocheting, being outdoors and flowers. For obvious reasons.
As a business owner, it makes me so happy when I’m able to help someone who comes in feeling down on their hair, and frustrated with how it looks, and I’m able to turn it around to be something that they love. I love it when people smile at their hair. It just makes me feel good to know that I solved their problem, and that they’re happier because of it.
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