Empowered Ease
Welcome to Empowered Ease, hosted by Jenn Ohlinger—a holistic coach,
& founder of The Moonflower Collective. Join us each week as we delve into the transformative stories of healers, health practitioners, and everyday women like you, challenging the patriarchal framework through empowerment and holistic healing. Through engaging storytelling, our podcast highlights each woman's unique journey toward embracing their feminine gifts, trusting their body, and prioritizing their mind, body, and soul. Discover how by empowering ourselves, we can pave the way for stronger relationships and a more balanced world. Women heal in community come find yours.
Empowered Ease
Natalie Menk: When Silence Becomes Your Strength
Hi!! I would love to hear from you!
Hair appointments shouldn't be anxiety-inducing. Yet for many people, especially introverts, the social expectations of salon visits can feel overwhelming. Enter Natalie Menk, affectionately known as "The Introvert Stylist," who's revolutionizing the salon experience with a beautifully simple concept: silent appointments.
After nine years in the beauty industry, Natalie has transformed what she once perceived as a weakness into her greatest strength. Rather than forcing herself to be chatty, she embraced her natural quietude and created a service where clients don't feel pressured to make small talk. The response has been remarkable, with one client memorably saying after an appointment: "It was great not talking to you."
What happens during these silent sessions? Some clients bring laptops to work, others listen to podcasts or music, and some simply close their eyes for a much-needed rest. There's no script to follow—just an understanding that conversation isn't mandatory. Now working from a private salon suite, Natalie has noticed something fascinating: many clients who initially sought silent appointments now feel comfortable enough to engage in genuine conversation, highlighting how removing pressure often creates space for authentic connection.
Specializing in vibrant reds, lived-in blondes, bobs, shags, and layers, Natalie tailors each appointment to the individual with a focus on hair health and personal style. Her salon is especially affirming for women, LGBTQ+ clients, and anyone seeking a judgment-free, inclusive experience. In a world where anxiety continues to rise, she aims to provide an escape, even if just for an hour or two.
Natalie's approach reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful innovation isn't about adding more—it's about giving ourselves permission to want less. If you're curious about experiencing a truly pressure-free salon visit, you can find The Introvert Stylist on Instagram @the_introvert_stylist, with booking information available in her bio.
https://theintrovertstylist.glossgenius.com/
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Welcome back to Empowered Ease, the podcast, where we shine a light on women making a difference in the lives of others. So this week I'm thrilled to introduce our guest, Natalie Mink, affectionately known as the introvert stylist. With nearly nine years in the beauty industry, natalie has carved out a unique niche by offering silent appointments, creating a calm and focused environment where clients can truly unwind and be themselves. Natalie's passion for fostering a welcoming space extends beyond just her salon. Her salon is especially affirming for women, lgbtq plus clients and anyone who values a low pressure, inclusive experience. Natalie specializes in vibrant reds, lived in blondes, bobs, shags and layers, tailoring each appointment to the individual, with a focus on health and beautiful hair.
Speaker 1:As my cousin, natalie brings personal warmth and professional expertise to this podcast, and today she'll share her journey and insights. Whether you're interested in her transformative cuts or how she combines creativity with compassion, you're in for an engaging conversation. So settle in as we explore how Natalie is changing the salon experience for introverts and beyond. Welcome, natalie, I'm so happy you're here, so happy to be here, yay. So tell us a little bit about how, like, the introvert stylist idea came about and kind of what inspired you the introvert stylist idea came about and kind of what inspired you?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so, um, I've been in the industry for nine years as a hairstylist and um, you know, for a long time I've always struggled with the fact that I am more quiet and more introverted and like dealing with clients and um never felt like I could just um, you know, just like naturally talk and whatever. And um, it wasn't until like, uh, I actually my previous bosses at my previous salon, they were like, hey, why don't you use that as like your marketing tool, instead of it being something that you know? I thought I had to like change for um make it your strength instead of your thing to overcome.
Speaker 1:Yes, exactly.
Speaker 2:And so from there I just kind of started marketing myself as introverted stylist and um, really offering like silent appointments and things like that, and I have gotten a lot of clients from that. I think one of the first clients I had like after our appointments she was like yeah, it was great not talking to you, but yeah, that's kind of you know where it kind of came to be.
Speaker 1:I love that. I love that because, being your cousin and being older by like a lot, like since you were little, you've had like the quiet, introvert nature and I was actually surprised that you were willing to do the podcast because I was like man, this could be hard for her.
Speaker 2:Don't worry, I've been nervous, it's okay, but I'm like I trust you.
Speaker 1:So we've rescheduled a few times do so, and we've rescheduled a few times, I know, but I just think it's such a great idea and such a way to like think outside the box and really just already read yeah, you're a little flush, that's okay, I get a little flush too, but like it's such a great way to like think outside the box and do things and like meet people where they're at and I, even though it like sounds like a little thing, I just think it's such a powerful thing and I wonder how common it is that people really do avoid going to get their hair done because it is like a very like what the spotlight is on you when you're in that chair.
Speaker 2:You feel pressure to talk so what kind of things?
Speaker 1:do people do instead of talking to you?
Speaker 2:yeah, like, and it's like I it really is just like a vibe really I really try and pick up like I can usually tell, like, if someone wants to talk or not, um, and I just kind of let it flow, like I don't try to force small talk or anything like that. Like, if I can tell that they're just kind of wanting to like chill, I'll just kind of back off, um, and naturally I do that anyway, especially if I'm doing a more like in-depth color or like cut haircut, like I need to be quiet because otherwise, if I do start talking and get sidetracked, then I'm like wait where, what, where was I at in this process that I'm doing? So it really it really benefits more me. And then also like being able to provide that for people, um, and I think I'm losing my train of thought.
Speaker 1:No, you're good. I was wondering what. I think that's perfect, though, like, and so right on, like I know I've like went and got my hair done, like after I put one of my dogs to sleep one time, which sounded so weird, but like I was like not going to give up, give up my appointment, and like it felt like a good thing to do after that, like because it was such an emotional experience and I felt so bad for my because my hairstylist and Natalie are friends actually, but I felt so bad because I overwhelmed her with it.
Speaker 2:I was like shout out to Maddie for reintroducing us.
Speaker 1:I know if any of you I've had compliments on my hair all the time. By the way, it's Maddie just out. She's good too, but I think I overwhelmed her with it. But I remember like how good it felt, like you know to have that space and silence.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was going to say to get pampered and be silent.
Speaker 1:But one of the things I asked you was what are some of the things people do in your chair?
Speaker 2:Oh yes.
Speaker 1:Alternatives, Because I think it's kind of like for someone who's overwhelmed. They probably want a little sense of security. Also, can they mark that the appointment is silent beforehand so there's no pressure to that? You pick and that will tell me.
Speaker 2:And then, yeah, usually I've had people bring in their laptops and work. I've had people like listen to like some music or a podcast or whatever, or just like, just simply just close their eyes and just like just take a nap.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was, I could imagine myself reading or doing a podcast, for sure.
Speaker 2:Right, exactly, and, and honestly, sometimes even like I've um like now going into which I know we'll probably touch on this a little bit um going into a salon suite having more of a private, um uh, experience for clients. Now I find that a lot of my silent appointment clients are now like talking and like conversing with me, which has been like a really cool feeling to have, because it's like okay, now they're in a space where they're comfortable and we can like chat more and like get to know each other a little bit more. So I thought that was that's been a really cool.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's way cool. And so now I know before you were in kind of like an open space, so I haven't been to your new space. Is it also kind of more closed off and private feeling?
Speaker 2:yeah, so so it's, um, it's image studios in Webster and it's basically just like a bunch of little like rooms for each, either hairstylist, estheticians, um, they have um, yeah, all kinds of things and um, and yeah, so I just I rent it.
Speaker 2:Uh, rent a little space with, I share it with, um, this girl, tirza, who I just met along this journey and that's been freaking awesome to share it with somebody. But, yeah, um, so, yeah, we just there's a everything's very bright and big windows and stuff like that. Well, I don't have any like actual windows to see the outside, but like the doors itself have big windows, so you don't feel like you're just in this dark little room or anything. There's a lot of light still in there, yeah, and a lot of times when um like if it is getting kind of noisy in the hallways, all I gotta do is like shut the door and it's just like you can just, it's just peaceful and peaceful, exactly, and I can play my own music and um, sometimes I'll even ask if they want to listen to anything in particular. Um, but yeah, I don't know, I love that, yeah I think this is such a cool idea.
Speaker 1:I think I hope more people adopt this as like an option because I know, like you know, as the world's getting like more adaptive and there's, this is just one of those things I hadn't heard of before but it seems like such a simple thing that would probably. You know, I've had some of my clients have been. I think I've had like three hairstylists, funny enough, that were all introverts and one of the bigger things we talked about was like how difficult it can be sometimes to deal with like confrontation or unhappy clients in the chair. But it always surprised me so much that like um, that the three hairstylists I had I would have guessed that like it would be like an extrovert thing that people would be attracted to but it's that and it's like it's an artistic thing.
Speaker 2:So I think a lot of introverts are creative and artistic and so that makes sense yeah, I've been seeing more and more like um, just scrolling on tiktok and like more hairstylists like labeling themselves as like more introverted and stuff like that. So it feels cool to see that happening more and more and being more like more of a conversation because, like I do see, sometimes I will scroll through comments and, uh, people will be like you know I? That's the one reason why I won't go to this long, because I don't want to have these like small talk conversations. I just want to go in and get my hair done and leave.
Speaker 2:I'm like I got you, like it's all good we do not have to talk if we want to. I'm not saying like we don't have to talk, like I don't want to talk at all, but like I don't ever want to force it. I just want to let you know, let it be, let the you know there's no pressure to talk it's about you, it's about your experience.
Speaker 1:It's like you're like. The salon day has been my favorite day for a long, long years, years and years. You know I save up my money and budget that my hair gets done because it's more than just like. It's more than just like getting my hair done. You know, it's like it's more than just like getting my hair done. You know? Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:You're catching up with your hairstylist and like seeing you know everyone else is doing, and yeah, that's why it's kind of like why I got into the industry too is just like going to the hair salon as a kid. Like going to my hairstylist, like just sitting in the chair watching what she's doing, why she's doing it, and then just like like, the atmosphere is always fun.
Speaker 1:but yeah, yeah, I love that. I think it's so cool. Um so, um, what other? Is there anything else you wanted to kind of share about your salon and your services?
Speaker 2:yeah. So, like I said, um, yeah, I'm at a salon suite, I rent out a little room and, um, yeah, I pretty much I'm pretty open to whatever services people want to get. Like I I think, if anything I specialize more in like reds, lived in color and all that, but I'll do pretty much anything you know. Um, and yeah, just offering just like a low key environment, no pressure type of environment, just want to make people feel comfortable.
Speaker 1:I love that, especially in this world.
Speaker 2:Even you know, it's nice to be able to like converse in a more private room, so that way they feel more comfortable being like hey, I like this or I don't like that, and we can like collab together and get, so I can give them the best result yeah, because sometimes it's hard to speak up about what you want, especially like communicating is hard yeah exactly, and this world is just like I feel like anxiety is just increased, increased oh, absolutely 100, and I just want to be like that escape, yeah, for a little bit, even just an hour, two hours, so I love that.
Speaker 1:I love that. I would love to highlight more businesses and people doing stuff like this, because I think people like I think if you weren't my cousin, it would be hard to get you on here. Cousin, it would be hard to get you on here because it's like you know, it's a small thing that may be like yeah, it's not going to take up us as much time to talk about, but it's such a powerful little shift for people to be able to get a little bit of like self-care and a little bit of control and a little bit of like a good experience back. So I love that you're doing this. Um, one thing I ask everybody that comes on the show that I definitely want to ask you is what is your go to self care when, like, the world gets overwhelming?
Speaker 2:or diving into some TV show, whether it's like a drama or stupid trash reality TV, or I like playing just like little cozy video games on the switch. Nothing crazy, but something like that, something to just kind of like escape.
Speaker 1:I love that. I was wondering if you're going to say reading. That's the first thing, that pops in my head for you. But I also wondered if you were going to say like the I don't know what you call it, but like the comfort gaming, because um, yeah, what do they call that?
Speaker 2:isn't there a name for?
Speaker 1:that is it. Comfort gaming. It's like soothing, right like sensory, soothing gaming.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's just more like farming, kind of yeah, games and just like you're either farming or, um, like I've like stardew valley is like a big one that I played. It's just a bunch of different things, but I don't know, it's just kind of fun. I gonna go through moments sometimes where I like I'll be super into it and then right now I'm like back into my, like my reading game, like it's been a while.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, I do that too, I go on and off of reading so much like I'll read like three books and then I won't pick a book up for like nine months.
Speaker 2:I'll listen, sometimes on audible sometimes I will listen if I'm like, if I'm getting ready and I'll listen to an audiobook that I've already read, because I find it it's hard for me to listen to a book I haven't read.
Speaker 1:I don't know why, but yeah, oh, really, sometimes I'm very particular of the person reading it to the narrator like if it's not the author, I'm like well, and it doesn't have to be the author all the time, but their voice really like gets to me if it's sometimes the narrator is just like oh, I can't listen to this.
Speaker 2:Yeah totally or like as a narrator. I love um uh elizabeth evans, who does all like the sarah j mass books. She's amazing.
Speaker 1:I have not heard her, but that would be.
Speaker 2:I'm sure you've heard like A Court of Thorns and Roses. Oh yeah, I've heard of the books, but I just never.
Speaker 1:I wouldn't know her voice. Did she write those books, or she just?
Speaker 2:narrates, sarah J Maas is the author, and then Elizabeth Evans is the narrator for the books oh, I love that.
Speaker 1:I love that there's so many people with strong reading games of dolls I struggle with, um, uh, what is it nonfiction?
Speaker 2:oh no, I struggle with fiction yeah, I get those mixed up too.
Speaker 1:It's so stupid, right, but I do I struggle with fiction unless it's like very well done and I hate feeling judgy, but like if I can guess the end or something like that. Like I just don't enjoy the like. Some people like a real gentle fiction. I do not. I like I would rather read like um, like a philosophy book, which is stupid, and but it's like how my brain like gets soothed. But I love that you brought up gaming, because no one has said it yet and I know how many people gave me. Well, you know actually little ferns, the girls, I know you know that they might've said it, but most people don't say gaming. But I think gaming is huge for a lot of people and actually I don't play it all the time. I need to play it more. But one of my clients recommended this game Coral Island.
Speaker 2:I think I've seen that before.
Speaker 1:You clean up the beach and you can plant flowers and give your neighbor. You can do whatever you want, but I planted flowers and gave my neighbors bouquets and cleaned up the ocean.
Speaker 2:I love that stuff. I'll play the Animal Crossing and that stuff and that like same thing. You like gift people things. Yeah, it felt so good. It was like my perfect little happy world.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I love that. That's so cute. Well, is there anything else that you want to leave us with today, or any?
Speaker 2:I don't know. I I mean, if anyone wants to get their hair done, come hang out in our studio, we can chat. We don't have to chat. You can come in and read, or not, or you know. Yeah, just let me up, just I'll just do your hair, you know I love that.
Speaker 1:Yeah well, thank you so much for being bold and coming on here, even though I know it makes you uncomfortable to put yourself out there like this I think you're doing okay.
Speaker 2:You gotta, as my dad would say, feel the fear and do it anyway.
Speaker 1:So oh, I love that your dad most of the books I've read that I really loved came from her dad, by the way, who recommends the really great reads.
Speaker 1:I love his taste in books, yeah shout out to uncle Mike, um, but yeah, so I hope this inspires people to really like look at some of the things you may see yourself as a weakness and see how you can turn that into a strength, because I think that's what, natalie. Some people may look at themselves as being an introvert or social. I should say like so, struggling with social issues. They see that as a challenge and what you've done is find a way to reframe. That is not so much of a challenge, but, like that, you're not the only one out there, so you know you attract people that are like you.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, and it's more, I feel like that's right.
Speaker 1:There's enough of us that if we find our cups of teas, we'll all be just fine, because there's enough of us out there. We're not alone, and I hope this encourages other people who maybe are doing something like this, who you might think it's not enough to share a small thing, but it is a huge thing. So share. Please come on and share how you're doing something different, how you find found a way to make it work, because that is like a subtle way of challenging the patriarchy. The patriarchy is this linear have to forcefully get things done in the structured way and a simple way to challenge it is this right here to find a way to make it work with, with yourself and what works for you. So I love that. It's like embracing the feminine. So thank you so much, natalie. Yeah, thank you for having me. I loved it. So hopefully we'll and also another little spoiler if you'd like to know how we're all related.
Speaker 2:So, natalie, can I give all the? Can I send you a family tree, Okay?
Speaker 1:So Amy, who's on here, who's the herbalist of my herbalist journey? She is Natalie's stepmother, my uncle's wife, amazing person. I wish I knew the episode numbers so I could say I'm on here. I should have looked those up. And then um. Ladle of ferns is um. Katie is one of the founders. Katie is Natalie's sister-in-law, so we're all one big, happy family of women over here trying to do some good in the world so, yeah, little businesses, and we're trying to make people feel good right, that's right and support each other and all of that.
Speaker 1:So come join us. We love me, the other women doing the same and sharing and building each other up, because that's what we're all about over here. So, yeah, oh, can you want to say your website for people who may just be listening and don't want to look it up, which I will put links to all of her stuff in the show notes yeah, um, I think.
Speaker 2:It's like, if you just follow, find my Instagram, I think is yeah, say that one. Then uh, at the at and the introvert underscore stylist. There you go. Perfect, yeah, yeah, I think. Yeah, it's like gloss genius. But the link to my booking website is in my bio on my Instagram.
Speaker 1:So so Instagram at instagram, at the introvert underscore stylist yeah on instagram, perfect well, thank you so much. It was a blast talking to you. I'll see you later. All right, see you later, bye.
