The Colorist

NOV-DEC 2012

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icons When JPMS off ered Stephanie Kocielski the position of Vice President of Education last year, she jumped at the chance to motivate other hairdressers the way Paul Mitchell motivated her when she was right out of beauty school. "I went to see Paul in 1983, and I just fell in love," Kocielski says. "He was with Jeanne Braa, and they needed someone to shampoo. I made my way backstage with a big smile on my face, and I've been with Paul Mitchell ever since." Her new gig has kept Kocielski very busy. "Sometimes it feels like I'm in a constant Richard Simmons aerobic class," she says, "but I love what I do." Kocielski remembers something Mitchell told her almost 30 years ago: "Be the best at what you do." She took his words to heart and moved quickly through the ranks. "I grew up in what we called the PM Associate Program, which helped hairdressers become successful through education," says Kocielski, who not only loves jumping on an airplane and fl ying to another country to share what she knows but also loves working with hairdressers one-on-one in salons across the country. "You have to remember that my company is 34 years old now, which can seem like being the last stale cookie in the jar. My job is to energize hairdressers so they can put something new in that jar." Kocielski works incessantly, though she does allow herself to the class for the record È favorite destination "I love cities that have character," Kocielski says. "I went to Barcelona on vacation once, and Robert made me take another hairdresser, just a kid, along because he wasn't sure I'd come home otherwise." È favorite memory "John Paul DeJoria introduced me as the 'bubbles in his champagne' at a show one time. When your boss calls you the bubbles in his champagne or his lucky charm, you know you're in the right place." head of Stephanie Kocielski says she fell in love with Paul Mitchell at "hello." We checked in with the hair color icon recently to see how she's handling her new position with JPMS. take the day off on her birthday, which is December 23. Aside from her platform work and other responsibilities, Kocielski still works at Robert Cromeans' fl agship salon in San Diego where she is artistic director. "Robert and I live in a kind of creative chaos," says Kocielski, who swims as much as possible to "clear my head." While on a press junket in New York City recently, she stole away to use the pool at Chelsea Piers. "I got to be Michael Phelps for an hour before meeting with the editors of all the major fashion magazines." Kocielski also retreats to her home outside of La Jolla, California, when she needs to recharge. "I live in funky little house that's about 50 years old," she says. "It looks like something you'd see in Palm Springs. T e whole house is done in white with a few red accents." Not surprisingly, there's a lap pool in the backyard, which she describes as her sanctuary. Kocielski loves to cook and has made dinner for up to 75 people in her enormous kitchen. Serving others, she says, is a role she's comfortable with. "I've been a maid and a waitress. I even sold shoes for a living. Now I'm a hairdresser." 20 The Colorist | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 | thecoloristmag.com PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF JOHN PAUL MITCHELL SYSTEMS.

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