A lifelong resident of Hawaii, Mei says she was always a daddy’s girl. “I went everywhere with my dad,” Mei reminisces. “My favorite place was the barber shop. The barber let me play with the shaving creams, touch the powders, and smell the tonics. Those scents really take me back! They’re nostalgic.” 

As a 7-year-old, Mei told her dad she wanted to cut hair, just like the barber. Today, Mei manages a franchised Great Clips® salon in Hawaii. Looking back over her 40-year career, Mei’s journey is proof that when your passion and your priorities align, happiness and fulfillment follow.  

The Twists and Turns of Life 

Growing up in a community where cash for haircuts wasn’t always available, Mei started racking up practice as a barber in high school, offering free haircuts to the football players. After high school, she decided to make the pursuit of her dream official, and she enrolled in barbering school. Mei ultimately earned licenses in both cosmetology and barbering. 

Then Mei took a bit of a detour, and she spent 33 years as a teacher with the Department of Education, while still doing colors, perms, and highlights on the side. By the time she retired from teaching, she knew exactly what she wanted from her second act: to simplify, get back to her roots, and cut hair. 

Mei joined a Great Clips salon in 2024 as a stylist. Two months later, she was a salon manager. At many Great Clips salons, stylists walk in just wanting to do good work and often find that there's room to grow. 

Building Confidence Through Continuing Education  

Ask Mei what she loves most about working at her Great Clips salon, and she won't hesitate: Great Clips University (GCU). 

"I have worked at other salons before that offered ZERO education," Mei says. "We had to go pay out of our own pockets to get technical education and advance our skills. With Great Clips, GCU puts a lot at your fingertips. And it's free!" 

As a lifelong educator, Mei doesn't just appreciate GCU, she believes in the philosophy behind it. "I'm not above my stylists; I still have a lot I can learn," she says. "We learn from the courses we take, and we learn from each other." 

Learning is the difference between a “workplace” and true ohana, which translates to “family” in Hawaiian culture. When relationships are strong, growth flows in every direction. An experienced stylist and a stylist three months out of school both have something to teach and learn. 

Trends come back around, Mei points out. “Look at the shag!” she laughs. It’s a cut that's both exactly what it was decades ago and not quite, it’s tweaked just enough that you need real technique to nail it. GCU classes allow stylists to learn techniques like a 180-degree layer using mannequin heads on tripods, rather than practicing on a real customer. It’s a low stress way to learn with an extensive catalog of course offerings, because hairstyles never stop evolving.   

The Customers Come to You  

Three of Mei's four adult children are barbers or stylists. “That’s straight legacy!” Mei says, smiling. “My kids saw the hard work and my love for the career!”  

One of Mei’s sons rents a booth at a barber shop, and one has a commission-based job at a full-service salon. Both have built solid client lists but have also commented on the pressure to keep their appointment books filled day after day.   

Mei doesn't carry that weight. "Our Great Clips salon stays busy, with a steady flow of customers" she says. "We can give 100% of our attention to each customer, without stressing about marketing or managing a book." Mei’s daughter, who also works as a stylist at a Great Clips® salon, enjoys the same peace of mind. 

Work-Life Balance, Hawaii Style 

Built-in support.  Built-in training. Built-in marketing. When a salon has this kind of support in place, stylists get to focus on what they actually trained for: the craft. 

It's also why Mei is quick to share her perspective with cosmetology students when she visits schools.  In her experience, a steady paycheck and opportunities to learn early on can build a firm foundation for career success over the long-term. 

Mei remembers what it was like when she first started in the industry 40 years ago.  “I worked 12-hour days with a newborn at home and zero balance.” 

It's different now. "In Hawaii, ohana (family) is very important," she says. "The work-life balance at our Great Clips organization is huge. We work to balance everyone's needs. A happy stylist will produce great work."  

In Mei’s salon, a stylist who needs a weekend off can usually trade a shift. It’s a simple idea, but not every salon works that way. For Mei, doing meaningful work and having a life outside the salon is not a perk. It's the whole point. 

Are You Looking for a New Salon Family? 

If you're a stylist or barber looking for a salon that actively supports your growth through education, offers the ability to have a steady stream of customers, and values the support of a strong team, a franchised Great Clips salon might be exactly the ohana you've been looking for. Find available roles near you.  

Check out more #GreatClipsLife News & Stories!

All Great Clips® salons are independently owned and operated by third party franchisees. Franchisees, not Great Clips, Inc., are responsible for all hiring and personnel matters at their individual salons.