Where Are They Now: Meet Kiera Doyle:
Tedx Talk presenter, podcast host, social justice advocate and a leader in the field of Human Design . . . 2013 Vidal Sassoon Professional Beauty Education scholarship personifies success. Kiera took a moment to speak with Beauty Changes Lives about how beauty has changed her life . . . and how giving a good shampoo is the secret to being golden in every aspect of life!
How has your career evolved since winning the Vidal Sassoon Professional Beauty Basic scholarship in 2013?
Things have changed so much! In the past 7 years, I went from a cosmetology student to the Director of Digital Education for Matrix, Human Design reader and podcast host. And a lot happened in between!
Above all, working as a colorist assistant after graduating was the most challenging part of my career to date. Apart from learning everything I know about color, my experience taught me what I value in a working environment. For me that was the culture and education. This led me to an education management role at L’Oreal.
L’Oreal yielded me the opportunity to give a TEDx Talk in 2017 and facilitate many Matrix events including Destination 2018 and 2020 – speaking to audiences of 2000. These opportunities were expansive and I fell more and more in love with the community of hairdressers that we served.
While traveling and meeting hundreds of hairdressers I noticed one common thread: we were great at caring for others but for most of us, myself included, our own self-care was not on the priority list.
This manifested in my body as an array of health issues from physical injuries to hormone imbalances, which traveling only exasperated. Turns out, my approach to working on the corporate side of the industry was the same as it was working behind the chair: “pop an Advil, drink some coffee and get over it.”
After stepping off the stage at Matrix Destination 2018, I came crashing down from the high into a deep state of depression. Apart from my career (which I had built from long hours, saying “yes” to everything and pushing myself beyond measure) everything else in my life was falling apart. I was completely burnt out. This crash was the beginning of my self-love journey. I found tools to help me slowly put the pieces of my life back together and even in the infancy of my healing process, I knew I wanted to share them with others! Thus, the birth of Beauty Therapy Podcast, a podcast for beauty pros and creatives.
Your podcast episodes focus on a lot of topics – including beauty – showing your curiosity. How do beauty careers help professionals stay curious?
There’s no questions that those who choose a career in beauty are artists. It’s important for beauty pros to stay curious about their inner artist and the many ways that they’re constantly transforming. It can be so easy to stay in what we know- but from someone who has lived a very non-linear career, I can attest that the magic comes from getting curious about whatever it is that sparks joy in your heart. Even if it seems unrelated to the industry and doesn’t make sense—follow it! When we operate from that high-frequency, joyous place, it spills over into all aspects of our work and our lives.
How are you using this moment in history as an opportunity to engage your curiosity?
Oh, this moment in history! 2020 has been a year of discovery.
Being home from work has given me the opportunity to get really curious and intentional about where I’ve been spending my time and energy. We get to decide what we want to reincorporate when the world is “on” again. Personally, there are a lot of habits and former obligations that will not making the cut when the world opens again!
More specifically, this time in history has been an immense unveiling of the problems in our justice system. I’ve gotten really curious about my participation in white supremacy and all the ways that I have, unknowingly, benefited from it. For so many of us, there has been a fair share of misplaced guilt that’s been paralyzing. The point is not to stop at that feeling of guilt and shrink back— but rather to continue learning and listening. This is our time for education, reflection, conversation and aligned action. This our time to commit to do better.
Through all of this, it’s been essential to up our level of self-care. For me, that looks like journaling daily, long walks, learning new recipes, listening to podcasts, being in sunshine, and having video calls with family and friends. I just adopted a puppy two weeks ago and stop my heart, he is my everything. Just taking time to be truly present in moments with him and my fiancé has been so special.
Have you had any aha moments related to the pandemic and the changes its brought to day to day life?
All answered above
What advice do you have for new Beauty Changes Lives scholarship winners just beginning their career?
When I graduated cosmetology school, I thought I was supposed to know how to do everything perfectly. I was afraid to ask for help and I was afraid to fail. That often meant playing it safe and not leaving my comfort zone. What I wish I would have known is that all growth is on the other side of your comfort zone. My advice would be: Ask for help. You’re going to fail sometimes- that’s how we learn. Just fail faster!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given – or heard – in a salon?
“If you want to get a good tip, it’s all in the shampoo.”
Although I’m not behind the chair anymore, I find this advice applies to everything I do. Shampoo is a point of connection. The shampoo bowl is often where you do what you do differently and it’s a chance to show your heart! Approach every aspect of your work like you’re giving a GOOD shampoo and you’ll be golden!
What are some goals you’ve set for your career looking ahead to the next year – next 5 years?
One of the greatest tools I discovered on my self-love journey is a system called Human Design. It’s basically an astrology chart on steroids! Rather than the 12 signs that we are familiar with in astrology, Human Design is all about energy. We each have a specific way we are meant to interact with the world. There are 5 different energy types. Understanding how to use my energy properly was life changing for me. And I discovered I have a gift for reading charts.
Because Human Design is still relatively new, it’s not widely known. My goal is to create more Human Design resources tailored to the beauty industry and just more Human Design resources in general. Oh, and more podcasting + events + retreats for hairdressers + creatives!
