Gregory Patterson Returns to His Roots at Empire Beauty School
Gregory Patterson, Celebrity Stylist & Empire Beauty School Graduate, returns to his roots by visiting Empire Beauty School at Lehigh Valley in Whitehall, PA to share his success stories as well as his challenges with current students. In his way of paying it forward, Patterson utilizes his talent and experience to share with those of similar creative minds. Each time he revisits a school, the spark in him reignites his love of everything beauty.
During Gregory’s Visit to Lehigh Valley
Patterson held a discussion that was student-focused on understanding their needs and how he could best be of help during his visit. The students asked him questions about the steps he took that allowed him to achieve his dreams of traveling the world as a celebrity stylist. Patterson took the time to stress the importance of networking and connections as you will never know who will be in your salon chair next and how that could benefit your career.
The students loved seeing how someone who was once in their spot and has taken their education to the next level, eager to learn more about his successes. The advice provided by Patterson would forever have an impact on the students’ lives.
Being an Empire Beauty School graduate, Patterson credits his education with being the foundation of his success in the beauty industry.
“The knowledge and foundation that I have been gifted here allowed me to walk in and step into every single one of my dreams that I had on my vision board on day one of theory at Empire Beauty School.”
Success Stories & Hardships
While he shared many success stories with the students about his travels around the world, television work, and achieving his dreams; he also shared his hardships along the way. In a form of reassurance, Patterson mentions that his educators’ support pushed him to learn from his mistakes and continue toward his goals.
“One of the most important lessons that I learned while attending beauty school was that mistakes are going to happen. I was so afraid of not making a mistake. It’s interesting because now in my career I let go of the word mistakes and they turned into discoveries for me. It excites me more when I look forward to more discoveries than I used to with mistakes. My motivation to continue doing what I love is kind of one of my philosophies as a hairdresser. That is, to give away everything that I’ve learned today here at Empire Beauty School. It refreshes my soul and kind of reignites that hairdresser magic I have to come in and share my journey with human beings that are in the chair that I used to be in”
During these challenging times, it is important to remember your roots and the reason why you are here. Patterson reflects on what is rewarding for him and pushes him to continue what he loves each day.
“For me, one of the most rewarding aspects of working in the beauty industry is the incredible hairdresser community. I cannot tell you how unique and how very special we are and when you get to go to hair shows, conventions, going to salons, or taking educational classes again it shows. There is just this magic that happens within this community that I think sets us so far apart from a lot of other industries and that’s why I have to stay in this one.”
With an ever-changing industry, Patterson discusses what he hopes to see in the future.
“The beauty industry is heading to a more inclusive and diverse atmosphere. I think it’s been far too long for it to move this way. It takes some brave courageous pioneers much like yourself and myself to move that needle forward. I’m hoping that that is part of the trend. I’m hoping that we continue to celebrate all hair types and textures and welcome every single soul into our salon chairs.”
For current students who are currently following their passion or future students looking into the beauty industry, Patterson shares his wisdom.
“My advice to students or dreamers that may be thinking about going to school is to sign already, just sign across the line. One of the best decisions you’re gonna make is coming to beauty school. If you want a career that is so diverse, allows you, and afford you many opportunities to do what you’ve dreamed of, and also speaking from the truth, opportunities that I never even imagined would be possible then you have to be a hairdresser. If you already signed up to come to beauty school, congratulations you made the best decision of your life I promise you that. If you did that here at empire beauty school then you made the best decision of them all.”