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Beauty Beyond the Chair | Schrene Davis’ Educational Adventure

What does it take to build something you never planned for? Schrene Davis didn’t set out to own three cosmetology schools — she was just trying to find a way out of a small town in Western Kansas. From a cheerleading scholarship and a cosmetology license she almost let expire, to becoming one of the early franchisees of Paul Mitchell Schools when there were fewer than five in existence, her journey is a masterclass in staying open to where life leads you.

We talk about what it was really like building a school from the ground up, why the Springfield, Missouri model didn’t translate to Wichita the way she expected, and how the industry — and the students walking through her doors — have fundamentally changed. We also get honest about the challenge of staying relevant as you get older in an industry that moves fast, and what it means to lead a school full of 18-year-olds who have a very different relationship with work than we did.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Schrene describes her path as “accidental leadership” — no long-term vision, just a series of open doors she walked through
  • Growing up in Holcomb, Kansas (graduating class of 39), she had no roadmap for college — until a boyfriend’s football career took her to Missouri State
  • She worked at a chain salon and booth rent while finishing her general education, and credits older mentors in those salons for her early growth
  • Before Instagram, building clientele meant beating the streets and handing out business cards — and there’s something to be said for that
  • She became a Paul Mitchell sales rep and discovered the school concept at a national gathering — and was immediately convinced it was what the industry needed
  • With only ~5 schools open at the time, she partnered with friends, secured a family investor, and opened in Springfield in 2005
  • Springfield became their most successful school — profitable from day one — but replicating that success in Wichita proved much harder
  • The perception challenge in Wichita: Eric Fisher had already set a high bar, so the Paul Mitchell school wasn’t the surprise it had been in Springfield
  • The shift in how families view cosmetology school: student loan debt has changed everything — now parents are more likely to celebrate a one-year skilled trade path
  • “If you want it, it’s there” — she’s direct with prospective students that success requires cultivating relationships, not waiting for clients to appear
  • Gen Z students have reshaped how she thinks about fun, flexibility, and what motivates people to show up
  • Student-run teams (student council, “Be Nice or Else” community team) give students a voice and keep them invested
  • The aesthetics program is in year two and finding its groove after a messy year one of “discoveries”
  • The emotional rollercoaster of being a service provider — riding the waves of a client’s best and worst days — is something not everyone is built for, and she prepares students for that

CHAPTERS

0:43 — Meet Schrene Davis

1:00 — Small Town Beginnings

2:12 — Choosing Cosmetology

3:10 — Early Lessons in School

4:03 — College and Moving

5:15 — Salon Life and Mentors

7:02 — Before Instagram Hustle

9:13 — From Stylist to Rep

10:46 — Discovering Paul Mitchell Schools

14:21 — Launching the First School

17:16 — Springfield Success Model

18:59 — Wichita Market Reality

21:13 — Cosmetology Culture Shift

22:34 — What It Takes to Succeed

24:00 — Fast Track Licensing

25:00 — Career Paths Beyond Cutting

26:30 — Spotting Student Potential

28:06 — Old School Cosmo Rules

29:26 — Teaching Color Confidence

31:04 — Staying Relevant Over Time

31:50 — Gen Z Work Life Shift

33:45 — Student-Led School Culture

37:11 — Launching Aesthetics Program

40:50 — Rollercoaster Behind the Chair

42:18 — How to Apply and Connect

43:22 — Final Thanks and Wrap

RESOURCES MENTIONED

  • Paul Mitchell The School Wichita — paulimitchelltheschoolwichita.edu (find them on Instagram and TikTok @paulmitchelltheschoolwichita)
  • FAFSA — Federal financial aid application mentioned as a resource many prospective students are unaware of

To learn more about Utopia Modern Salon Suites, visit our website at https://utopiamodernsalon.com/ or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn!

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