Industry Expert Feature | Nadine Seims
Advanced Master Hair Artist & Founder of Salon Society & The Beauty Collective
Follow Nadine on Instagram
Industry Expert Feature | Nadine Seims
Advanced Master Hair Artist & Founder of Salon Society & The Beauty Collective
Can you share a little background on your career in the industry?
Nadine Seims is one of Regina’s top stylists and the owner of Salon Society. She specializes in blondes, colour corrections and lived-in colour. Her extensive training and experience includes magazine publications, music videos and behind the scenes work at fashion shows all over Canada, including a position as Key Stylist at Saskatchewan Fashion Week in 2017 & 2019.
After moving to Vancouver from Moose Jaw, Nadine began her styling career at the prestigious Aveda Institute in Vancouver, developing her craft under the tutelage of some of Vancouver’s best stylists. Eventually, the prairies called her home, moving to Regina in 2014. Since then, she has honed her craft and provides precise results that protect hair integrity while providing a friendly and welcoming experience.
As the owner of Salon Society, Nadine’s vision is a salon with an unparalleled culture that breeds creativity; a space where her stylists act as a collective to provide an amazing salon experience for each and every client. Nadine is grateful to have realized her vision and can’t wait to share it with the city of Regina.
What made you choose this career?
Whenever I tell the story about how I got into the hair industry, I always start with how I tossed a coin. When I first moved to Vancouver, BC in 2007 I attended Blanche Macdonald Centre for Fashion Design. Shortly after I attended BCIT for Business and Marketing. I felt like I was leading myself in the right direction but I hadn’t quite found my passion. When I met my now husband I found myself surrounded by friends in the film, fashion and modelling industries, I was instantly attracted to a career on set. One day I flipped a coin to make the final decision on whether I would enroll in hair school or make-up artistry first. The universe decided hair school was first and the rest is history.
What’s the most valuable thing you have taken away from your education?
Learning that education is never really complete is the first step. Once I realized that I could take pieces of everything I’d learn from multiple stylists/mentors and make the sum of it all my own- I was hooked. My patterns, formulas and techniques are all things I’ve learned over the years, made my own and perfected to create “my ways”.
Who are some of your favourite artists to follow?
The following are Instagram handles of some of my favourite artists: @jayne_edosalon, @salonmusebykels, @lgibsoncolorist, @karlgbrown, @elizatrendiakhair, @nikkiatcapelli, @melanie.s.stylist, @phildoeshair, @salsalhair, @pameladoeshair, @laurentphilippon.
I follow over 2000 artists, I could go ON and ON.
What is the most important thing you want your students to take away?
Talent can be taught, education is always available. To be a great hairstylist, you have to have the drive, you should really love it.
What keeps you inspired /motivated?
A genuine love for the industry. Deep down I’m an absolute hair nerd, I think it’s an incredible career. But most importantly, when you push their finished look forward and remove the cape- the look on their faces, the glimmer in their eyes. It never gets old.
Who has been your biggest inspiration and why?
Melanie Stipdonk
@melanie.s.stylist
She re-ignited my passion for hair about three years ago and completely changed the trajectory of my career. Her cutting class elevated my skills to a place I never expected. It made long time clients say they’d never leave me, clients who hoped around a bit- stay and new clients pour in the door from word of mouth. She taught me razor cutting, hand styling and to raise my prices accordingly.
Chris Weber
@chrisweberhair
Always following Chris for a dose of hair colour endorphins. I love his aesthetic & obsessed with his styling.
Alicia Soulier
Mentor & CEO of Salon Scale
Working with Alicia for the first time at Fashion Week as a fellow lead was one of the best years of my career. We became instant friends, her talent and skills were mesmerizing and her pep talks were bar none. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her voice in my head and her friendship over all.
What are your favourite services or area of your career that you enjoy the most?
My absolute favourite thing ever is helping a client bring back the health of their hair or learn to grow their long BLONDE/COLOURED hair. It’s so satisfying. It’s a complete myth that you can’t have LONG & BLONDE hair- you just have to have a great stylist!
I really miss hair shows, retreats, Fashion Weeks, runways etc. it’s the very heart of our career and what keeps us inspired.
What is the one piece of advice you would share or that you received over the years?
There are enough clients for everyone. The only person you should be competing with is who you were yesterday.
Partnerships only work if both parties have the same priorities, standards and core values.
Some works by Nadine
Is there anything else you would like to share /add? LEVEL SYSTEM, TRACKING, KNOWING YOUR BUSINESS , SOCIAL MEDIA?
Social Media is a must have. It’s a non-negotiable, switch your mindset early in your career and you’ll do great! You MUST spend time on social media and marketing, no matter what type of salon you work at.
Salons with level systems are amazing, it’s the best way to track your progress, compete with yourself and bring your career to the next level.
Consider taking a photography class BEFORE you start working full time at a salon- it’ll give you a huge advantage.
Pre-booking, if you know, you know.
What Setbacks or discouragement have you experienced throughout your career? OR share an aha moment.
The hair industry is unfortunately very catty, the gossip is rampant and sometimes it can feel very lonely.
Did you have a mentor?
I have proper mentors and I have people that I look up to and watch that don’t know they are my mentors.
Early in my career Aaron Brousseau (@magicisthenewblonde) took me under his wing and taught me everything I know. He is my peer now, but I still ask him questions everyday.
When I first moved to Regina, Candyce Fiessel took a chance on me and gave me a job sight unseen. She shared her clientele with me and gave me a place to call home. Her determination and drive was always so inspiring to me. We don’t work together anymore but I still watch her from afar.
Tara Osipoffis my current business mentor- I HIGHLY recommend getting yourself a mentor at every stage in your career.
What Motivates you?
Everyone is motivated differently. I used to think I was motivated by money. Interestingly enough, that was my belief until a mentor told me that wasn’t my driving force at all. I’m motivated by a career that I love, achieving goals, being a part of a team that fuels my creativity and providing for my family both financially and with quality time spent.
Where do you see your career taking you in 5 years from now?
I’ve always been in a constant state of “what’s next”. Recently I’ve promised myself that I’m going to take the time to really enjoy my recent accomplishments and take some time before adding another major career goal to my list. Also, my next “thing” is top secret, so you’ll have to watch and see!
What has been one of your biggest accomplishments?
– Opening Salon Society, making it through a pandemic with little to no issues.
– Building a team I’m really proud of.
– Coming out of two failed partnerships with my head held high, my integrity at the forefront of everything I do and financially better than I ever have been. With the realization that I never needed a partnership to succeed.
What does it take in your opinion to succeed in this industry?
This opinion gets me into trouble often, or people view me as “strict” or too high of standards. However, it’s my opinion that to succeed in this industry, you really have to immerse yourself in it. You have to have drive, determination & the discipline to have a great work ethic. This industry is absolutely amazing, the perks are out of this world!
