Last week I had the pleasure of publishing areview of the weddinghair.com website. The
lady behind it all is Gretchen Maurer whom I also had the pleasure of interviewing over
the internet. The only thing that would have made it better was if we were sitting across
the table from each other sipping lattes while chatting about her passion. So for everyone else that wondered who was behind the site, here it goes.
1) Tell us a little about yourself. Happily married for 25 years to my high school sweetheart, with two grown daughters. I love design, fashion, photography and helping people
to be their best. I love the Lord.
2) What is your background? Licensed hairdresser since 1980, owned my own salon for
5 years, spent many years doing hair shows and teaching. I am trained in color analysis, photography and photoshop, skin care, make-up and people reading skills. I now
specialize in weddings and started weddinghair.com in 1998.
3) Tell us about your website. Brides; for the most part have never been a bride, they
need help choosing a look and weddinghair.com is designed to do just that. The hairstyles represent a broad spectrum of designs and hair lengths and textures. My articles
also provide useful information. I also personally make the hair ornaments I sell. It is
a one of it's kind website.
4) How does it work? A bride picks out a style and buys the hair kit. The hair kit is simply
the hairstyle photographed step by step with directions and many after shots. Some
brides do it themselves, some have a friend or family member do it and some take the
kit into their salons.
5) How did you come up with the idea for the website? Out of the box
thinking! As a teen I injured my shoulder, at 38 I tore my ACL and had
three screws put into my knee. Throughout my career I have always dealt
with back and neck pain. Seeing other stylists' age behind their chairs and
with my injuries I thought, how can I do a hairstyle once and sell it over and
over. I knew the market for bridal was huge and untapped because it was
so specialized and required strong interpersonal skills, organizational skills,
fashion, and design knowledge. I loved bridal work and had been teaching.
Video was big as a teaching tool in the hair industry but hard to follow along. My book
helped the hairstylist and now I wanted to help the bride herself. My father had been
in computers all my life and the Internet was booming. I purposely picked a simple
name and began to network myself everywhere I could.
6) What is your favorite part of what you do? I love all of it. Coming up with new hair
designs, researching trends, taking the pictures are some of my favorite parts.
7) What is your least favorite part of what you do? The business end for sure. I am an
artist and just want to create.
8) What is the most commonly asked question that you get from brides? How should I
wear my hair? From there I ask about the dress, the time of day the wedding will take
place, I look at her face shape, I take into considerations her ethnic heritage, personal
image, hair type and length and headpiece and then I create something perfect for her!
9) What is the IT style for prom and for weddings this season? Tough question!
Fashion is one world and real people are another. Prom kids are free to express themselves and have fashion fun. When I look back in my mom's 1955-year book fashion
was dictated and everyone looked the same! Today personal styles match personality.
Brides want to look like themselves but only better. I can't say there is one IT look
anymore. This season I did retro, wild and crazy, sleek and sophisticated and romantic!
10) What is one thing that all brides should know about their wedding day?
That the marriage is sacred and everything else is fluff including what I do! Plan, trust
your vendors and enjoy!
I hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I did. It really gives a lot of insight into
Gretchen's passion for her career. If only we could all have that fire inside of us for a job
that we love.
I think that I speak for all of the brides out there by saying, "Thank you for your site,
your book, your knowledge and your generosity in sharing it with those who need it
most!"
5) How did you come up with the idea for the website? Out of the box
thinking! As a teen I injured my shoulder, at 38 I tore my ACL and had
three screws put into my knee. Throughout my career I have always dealt
with back and neck pain. Seeing other stylists' age behind their chairs and
with my injuries I thought, how can I do a hairstyle once and sell it over and
over. I knew the market for bridal was huge and untapped because it was
so specialized and required strong interpersonal skills, organizational skills,
fashion, and design knowledge. I loved bridal work and had been teaching.
Video was big as a teaching tool in the hair industry but hard to follow along. My book
helped the hairstylist and now I wanted to help the bride herself. My father had been
in computers all my life and the Internet was booming. I purposely picked a simple
name and began to network myself everywhere I could.