My name is Lotte, I am 34 years old and I live in the cozy Brabant, in Den Bosch, together with my husband Bas and our two dog children, Obi and Billi. Bas and I have been together for more than sixteen years now. We met at the preparatory course of the art academy. As the eldest of four children – a boy and three girls – I grew up in a dynamic family where something was always happening, but it was also always fun. Family means a lot to me. I am a real homebody. I love cozy moments and the homeliness, of nature, where I often seek out the silence to catch my breath. Creativity is indispensable to me; it gives me the space to express myself and to discover something new every time. Whether I am busy with my work as a hairdresser, illustrating, crocheting, painting, or even baking something delicious – as long as I am creating, I feel at my best. I am someone who is more introverted. People often see me as quiet and serious, but there is a rich inner world living inside me, full of dreams and ideas. My thoughts never stay still; I always think about everything, sometimes a bit too much. It often takes a while before people really get to know me. I had to learn to accept this. For a long time I thought I had to be extroverted to be successful and I almost considered my quiet nature a shortcoming. It sometimes seemed as if being 'quiet' or 'calm' was not enough, as if people saw that as a lack of enthusiasm, which sometimes also influenced their reactions. When I was at art school, I was in a phase in which I was still searching for myself. Although I was young, I felt insecure about my place in the creative world. People often said that I had to be 'more like that person', and that my work might be better appreciated if someone else presented it. Slowly I started to think that I was not good enough, certainly not for the profession in which I wanted to work so much. To meet those expectations, I adapted more and more, did what I thought others would want to see until I ended up as a version of myself that I no longer recognized. The joy of creating disappeared, and with that pressure I almost completely lost my love for art and my creativity. After a period of working on myself and finding what makes me happy, I decided, with the support of a good friend, Evelien, to enroll in the B Academy. Normally I never make hasty decisions, as I said, I (over)think a lot, but I decided to follow my gut. I looked at the website and enrolled immediately, without thinking about it too much. At the B Academy I discovered an environment in which I could finally be who I am. Instead of focusing on what was supposedly 'missing', I was encouraged to embrace my calm and serious nature and use it as a strength. That acceptance gave me a new kind of self-confidence and taught me that my calmness and depth are valuable qualities. That insight really changed my life and confirmed to me how important it is to focus your energy on who you are, instead of trying to change something that might be your own strength. In the hairdressing profession, I meet people with all kinds of backgrounds and stories every day. As an introvert who thinks a lot, the social aspect of hairdressing can sometimes be exciting. I am not a small-talker, it feels very fake to ask things just to ask. But I soon noticed that many people actually need peace. I learned that as a hairdresser I don’t have to talk all the time, that it is fine to be quiet and give people space. Sometimes that peace and quiet leads to an in-depth conversation, and then it turns out that my clients really appreciate that. It gave me the confirmation that my serious and calm attitude can actually make a valuable contribution. A client once said: “This was a healing conversation.” That moment made an impression on me, because it showed me that my role as a hairdresser is not just about creating beautiful hair, but also about the connection you make and the trust that people have in you. For me, that is one of the most beautiful aspects of the profession. These insights also influence how I look at hair and hair care. I am convinced that it is important to embrace your own hair structure and texture, to accept who you are and to stay true to it. Hair is part of who you are, and it should enhance your personality. In my work, I therefore consciously choose to encourage clients to appreciate their natural look and to get the most out of their own style. This is often easy to achieve with just a few products: a suitable shampoo, conditioner and leave-in protection as a base, supplemented with, for example, an anti-frizz cream, texture spray or volumizer. It does not always have to be everything at once; less can often be more. All these experiences and insights come together in where I am now in life. I recently exchanged my familiar workplace for a new adventure at Glow Hair Studio in Den Bosch. This means a new step outside my comfort zone and an opportunity to build a strong clientele again, but above all to continue to grow as a person and as a stylist. In the future I hope to combine my work as a hairstylist with my passion for illustration – a dream that will come true one day, if I keep believing in it. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith to blossom again.