Written by Sierra Ryan, Stylist at Frankie Salon
Growing up, I loved getting to know people and making friends. When social media became popular in junior and senior high school, connection felt constant. I was always talking to someone, sometimes people I had never even met in person. It almost felt like a competition: who had the most Facebook friends, the most Instagram followers, the most interactions. At the time, it felt normal. Looking back, it’s wild how socially overstimulated we all were without realizing it.
When I first started working in salons, my focus was completely on learning the craft. I wanted to grow, improve, and absorb as much knowledge as I could about hair. The social aspect of the job didn’t stand out to me right away. Over time, though, I realized that conversation, connection, and emotional presence make up almost half of what I do every single day.
As the years passed—and especially after COVID lockdowns and changes in my personal relationships, I began experiencing a lot of social anxiety. I struggled to talk to people outside of work without feeling like it was part of my job. At the same time, I felt pressure to perform socially at work: to speak a certain way, to be professional, warm, and trustworthy at all times. While being kind and making clients feel special is part of the job, I didn’t want to feel scripted or robotic. I wanted to be genuine.
As an overthinker, this became an ongoing internal battle. I felt like I didn’t know how to talk to anyone, anywhere—whether at work or in my personal life. The constant pressure to be “on” made social interaction feel exhausting instead of natural.
Over time, I began leaning into a more introverted lifestyle outside of work. I kept my circle smaller and closer, and I became more intentional with my energy. Something surprising happened because of that shift: my relationships with clients became more genuine and fulfilling.
Coming into work without the weight of complicated personal relationships or social overload from my downtime allowed me to be more present. Some days, my chair is where I get my social fill. Having beautiful, meaningful conversations with different people throughout the day. Other days, it’s a calm space where clients can sit quietly, decompress, and just exist. And both feel equally valuable.
Since becoming a stylist, I’ve realized that I truly love getting to know people—not in a loud or performative way, but in a real, human one. I’ve become very aware of the emotions people bring into my chair. If you want to talk, I can talk. If you want silence, peace, or a mental break, I’m completely comfortable with that too.
Being an introvert in an extroverted profession has taught me that connection doesn’t have to be constant or overwhelming to be meaningful. Sometimes, the best kind of connection is simply meeting people exactly where they are.
Because of all of this, the way I work is rooted in awareness and respect—for both my clients and myself. I don’t believe every appointment needs to be filled with constant conversation, and I don’t believe silence means discomfort. My chair is a space where you don’t have to perform. I pay attention to energy, body language, and emotional cues, and I let that guide the experience. Whether you come in wanting to talk, laugh, vent, sit quietly, or simply take a break from the world, I meet you where you are. Creating a calm, genuine, and safe environment allows real trust to form—and that’s when the best work happens.
Book an appointment with Sierra.
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