INA, Ill. (July 28, 2023) — RLC Paul Mitchell Alumni Joshua Allen Spangler receives The Six Figure Stylist Award.
At this year’s High Performance Salon Academy (HPSA) Awards Ceremony, Hollywood Hair Salon and Spa in Centralia celebrated many accomplishments, but one of particular note was received by Joshua Allen Spangler: The Six Figure Stylist Award. This was the first year stylists were recognized for their accomplishments in this way, making Spangler one of the first recipients of this award.
Joshua Allen Spangler is an alumni of Studio RLC Paul Mitchell School. He grew up in McLeansboro, Illinois surrounded by a predominantly large farming community. Growing up in a small town, he felt that almost everyone’s aspirations involved something along the lines of having the largest house or taking over the family business, but his dreams looked a bit different. He wanted to travel, see the world, and live in a big city.
When he was in high school, Spangler felt like he never quite fit in. He was always more artistically inclined and he expressed himself differently than the other kids in his grade. He found a place of acceptance at Deb’s Shear Happiness, a salon in McLeansboro. When he would go to get his hair done, he would always find himself lingering there long after his appointment was done, fascinated by the life of working at a salon.
The owner, Debbie Evans, noticed his budding interest in hair and fostered that by including him as a member of her team as an apprentice. “It was the first time someone had seen something in me and included me because of a passion I didn’t even know existed,” Spangler said.
That passion was further nurtured at RLC’s Paul Mitchell School, which provided a positive culture of creativity and professionalism for students like Spangler to learn and grow in. During his time in the program, he felt supported and a sense of belonging. It only confirmed that he wanted to continue to pursue a career in hair.
His goals after graduation were to find a salon to work for so he could continue doing what he was passionate about. He expressed that it was never about the money or the accolades, all he wanted was to be a hairdresser that everyone loved and wanted to come back to.
He has celebrated over 11 years at Hollywood Hair Salon and Spa, and during his time there he learned to appreciate just how important it is to be surrounded by others who are just as passionate about their craft as he is. Spangler describes himself as a trailblazer within the company. “I know what is, I know what’s happened, and I know what’s happening,” he said in regards to the hair industry. He said it is his responsibility to motivate and inspire his team to reach new heights, so people will take this industry of professionals more seriously.
Hollywood Hair joined HPHS Academy in 2020, an organization that teaches personal and professional development to hair salons, as well as how to expand upon one’s business and profit. Spangler later joined their Lead Program that taught him how to be a better mentor and a better stylist, which lead to him earning such a great income.
Spangler credits all of his accomplishments to his passion for hair styling and his strong work ethic. He also doesn’t believe he would be as far as he is now without all the support he’s received throughout his career, and the support he continues to receive from his team at Hollywood Hair.
Spangler, lastly, wanted to share words of inspiration to those who are interested in pursuing his career: “Don’t give up and don’t be afraid to fail, because that’s what’s going to make you stronger and that’s what’s going to make you succeed in the future.”
After receiving the Six Figure Stylist Award, Spangler’s next goal in his professional life involves continuing to bring in the same amount of income while minimizing the amount of time spent behind the chair. To do that, he wants to be able to provide more luxury services and experiences to his clients. With more time available in his personal life, Spangler hopes to continue travelling to other countries—he currently has his sights set on Europe.