Meet Paige Godschalk | Redken Certified Hairstylist & Mental Health Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Paige Godschalk and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Paige, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Over the past 20 years with Randolph’s Salon Copmany, I have created a safe environment within my chair to allow my guests to be vulnerable, share what they need to let go of and leave looking into the reflection of themselves feeling beautiful and lighter than when they arrived.

I also use my platform within the salon and in our community to speak on mental health. I was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 in March of 2020. Since then I have been sharing my journey, in hopes it makes one person feel less alone while navigating their mental health. Standing behind the chair has allowed me awareness and embrace a different perspective; showing me that everyone is affected by mental health in various degrees. It has been a gift to me to share my time in the salon with so many, to help to break the mental health stigma. Simply said being a stylist, means so much more to me than just hair. It’s a honor to hold space for vulnerability, inner and outer beauty & belief.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The most amazing part of the beauty insdustry is, it is truly limitless. There are so many chances to explore, evolve, specialize and create a career based on your desires. After cosmology school, it takes discipline and consistency as you build a clientele. At the beginning of my time behind the chair, I wanted to attract families. I went from Saturday morning walk-in children’s haircuts, to earning the trust of the parents for their hair, to those children growing up & it turning into wedding hair. There were times where I sat in the back room with no clients and in those times, that’s where I learned what would make the difference between myself and others. Instead of complaining about having no one, I would take business cards and walk around to other businesses handing them out. I asked the guests that sat in my chair for the ultimate gift, a referral. And with the support of our salon company, I have had many opportunities to learn business tools & fundamentals to keep my career momentum going. Over that time my brand has evolved. It began with watching families transform to now it’s become dedicated to transforming all things life and beauty.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I do not think a week is long enough to spend traveling the mitten!

We would have to do a road trip for sure. Either in the summer or fall. Beginning in the city, we stay the night at Shinola and explore the city by day and dine by night. Choosing the restaurants would be the most difficult part, so many unique & new spots to try. Moving north we’d stop in my home town Clarkston & spend time with its charm, while boating on the lake I grew up on. After, we would continue north until we got to Indian RIver and Mullet lake, find a little airbnb and have dinner at Hack-Ma-Tack, arriving by boat of course. Then we would have to at least take a day trip to Mackinaw Island, it has been on my list for 36years! That would be a must! Next, we are on our way to the UP & those spots are sacred and secret to me but I am happy to show them off. After coming back across the bridge we would make our way down the west side & see where the wind blows us. Once we make it to Grand Haven, we would be on our way to Lake Michigan, sun on the beach & walk the pier, with the required ice cream cone. On our way back across the state, we could stop at a few local dive bars, for a good burger & keno, while making plans for all the things we have to see on our next Michigan go around.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
MY FAMILY!

I am without a doubt where I am today because of my family. Both of my parents are creatives. My dad is an entrepreneur and custom motorcycle builder. My mom is a brilliant artist. My parents were always supportive of me in all areas of my life. In high school I had an opportunity to enroll into cosmetology school. My junior and senior year consisted of half days of cosmetology and the other half at high school. During that time I began to work with a salon company. And guess what, I am still there today! In 20 years I have built a stable and rewarding career within the hair industry. Throughout this time I have heard many people say, that our job is not a “real job” or that I should have went to college over cosmetology school. Each time I hear that I think about how grateful I am to have a fully supportive family without limiting beliefs. Because college isn’t for everyone, and I am able to express my artistic & creative craft every day while bringing a smile to every client. Which brings me joy.

When I received my diagnosis of Bipolar One four years ago, I lived (witness, felt) a completely different level of support from my family. It has been a long and highly emotional rollercoaster for all of us. Over these past few years it is very reassuring to know that I am able to be open and honest with my family about my mental illness. They want the stigma of mental illness broken just as much as I do. And everyday that inspires me to share my story in and out of the salon, in hopes that it will make one person feel less alone who may be struggling with metal health.

Website: https://www.xohairbyp.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hair_by_p/

Other: Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Emma Putnam Moriah Bonner Mallory Godschalk Chapin White