Kathy Bymers
Meet Kathy Bymers
I’ve been doing hair since 1983, and for the past 25 years, I’ve had the privilege of owning Salon Retro. What started as a dream I wasn’t even sure I could make happen has become a career I truly love.
In fact, I have my husband to thank for getting me started. When he asked me what I wanted to be in life, I told him I didn’t think I could become a hairstylist. He encouraged me, believed in me, and actually made the appointment for me to go to beauty school. The rest, as they say, is history.
One of my favorite parts of being a stylist is education. I love learning, and I love teaching. I’ve taken countless color classes, attended hair shows, and continue to invest in my own education through business coaching and fitness coaching. I believe there is always something new to learn, and I love sharing that knowledge with both my stylists and my clients.
I also believe the consultation is one of the most important parts of the salon experience. I want my clients to feel heard. I love listening to their stories, understanding what they really want, and creating a plan together. To me, great hair starts with taking the time to truly listen.
One of the things I’m most proud of about Salon Retro is watching stylists grow. Our hybrid salon model allows stylists to begin as apprentice commission stylists and eventually grow into booth renters. Watching their confidence develop, seeing them find their own style, and watching them become successful stylists makes me feel like a proud mom. Their growth is one of the most rewarding parts of being a salon owner.
I would describe myself as a happy person and definitely a perfectionist. I love what I do, I love the people I get to do it with, and after all these years, I still get excited about hair.
Outside of the salon, I’m a wife, a mom, a dog lover, a traveler, and someone who absolutely loves her family. I’ve also walked through my own journey as a breast cancer survivor, which has given me an even deeper sense of empathy and understanding for what people may be going through.
After more than 40 years in this industry, the thing I want most is pretty simple: I want my clients to know that I genuinely love what I do. I want them to feel comfortable in my chair, listened to, educated, and confident when they walk out the door.