The Beauty of Adaptation: Ashley Leoncini's Path to Success

## A Career Built on Connections and Adaptation Ashley Leoncini, a 17-year veteran of the beauty industry, has spent years perfecting her craft as a bridal beauty specialist. Based in Chandler, Arizona, Leoncini has built a reputation for delivering exceptional client experiences and has been named to the MODERN SALON 100 in 2021. Leoncini emphasizes the importance of investing in education, protecting one's reputation online, and staying flexible in an industry that is constantly evolving. Her approach to success is centered around building real-world relationships and making connections with clients, rather than solely focusing on social media numbers. ## The Key to Success Leoncini attributes her success to several key factors, including being driven, intentional, and resilient. She credits her mentor with teaching her the importance of making clients feel valued and prioritizing their needs during appointments. This approach has served her well throughout her career, and she encourages other beauty professionals to adopt a similar mindset. Leoncini also stresses the importance of being resourceful and adaptable in the face of challenges. She shares her own experiences of finding creative solutions to problems, such as mixing different hair colors or finding alternative techniques when faced with time constraints. ## The Importance of Reputation Leoncini warns against the dangers of bad-mouthing clients on social media, a common mistake she sees beauty professionals make repeatedly. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive online reputation and treating clients with respect and kindness, even in difficult situations. ## Investing in Education Leoncini has invested in expensive, in-person bridal classes, which she credits with improving her technique and closing the gaps in her knowledge. She encourages other beauty professionals to prioritize education and training, even if it requires a significant investment. ## The Future of the Industry Leoncini is inspired by the bridal industry's shift toward showcasing the behind-the-scenes process, rather than just the finished product. She believes that this approach will help to demystify the beauty industry and provide a more authentic representation of the work that goes into creating stunning looks. ## The Importance of Pivoting Leoncini emphasizes the need for beauty professionals to be able to pivot and adapt to change in the industry. She believes that this skill will be essential over the next five years, as the industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Ultimately, Leoncini's approach to success is centered around building strong relationships, being adaptable, and prioritizing education and training. Her advice to the MODERN SALON community is to focus on leaving a positive impact on clients and colleagues, rather than getting caught up in social media numbers and likes.