Meet Tennley Doyle | Educator & Hair Stylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tennley Doyle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tennley, what’s your definition for success?
Success to me is about being rich in life rather than being rich financially. Everyone may define it differently, like through money or materialistic things, but to me it just means genuine happiness and contentment. Like having your dream job, living comfortably, keeping those family traditions alive or having loved ones and a strong support system around you. When I first started cutting hair in 2015 after graduating high school, I was barely making any money. I was going to college full-time for my business administration degree, while also working forty hours a week but lacking that clientele due to being new. I was fortunate enough to live at home with my mother during this time and will always be immensely grateful for that. During this time, I thought success meant making a lot of money while I was comparing myself to others. “Comparison is the thief of joy“ was true. Once I started getting the hang of things, like building a steady clientele, becoming comfortable behind the chair and finding confidence within myself, I decided to follow my mother to Colorado in December 2019. Then COVID happened, which made rebuilding a clientele extremely difficult. Was living paycheck to paycheck until things became stable, and then once again found the spark I had. Being a stylist for now eleven years, and an educator for a little over a year, I have changed my perspective on what success means to me. Especially education. Teaching is one of the most rewarding experiences, as my students teach me just as much every day. I’m fulfilled by the work I do and whoever I get to impact, and to me that is successful.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I remember when I first started working at Paul Mitchell.
Petrified of teaching, I began in admissions. At the time I was 26 and almost nine years into my cosmetology license, but I literally had stage fright, thinking to myself “what if the students don’t take me seriously”, so on and so forth. I started getting a good rapport within the school, found myself in the classes once in a while just to say hi, or even teach a quick ‘mini-class’, and eventually started chipping away at the ice and becoming more comfortable. That’s when I began doing it full time and I enjoy every second of it. It wasn’t the easiest, having so many people watch you at once either teaching hands-on experiences, or theory work, it was scary. Felt like a hot spotlight beaming down on me twenty four seven. Quickly realized public speaking is definitely an acquired skill, and just like hair, I had to practice. I built confidence eventually, and fell in love with it. Being an educator taught me more patience, not only within others but myself. Helping to guide and inspire others like I once was in school is the most rewarding and fulfilling thing, and just having a new sense of humility and empathy from being with so many different students.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My problem, but not so problem, is I’m such a foodie, and always looking for a good excuse for an espresso, and maybe a lil’ trinket.

First stop would definitely be Dunkin Donuts. Hate me, whatever, it’s a taste of East Coast to me. I’m from New York and we had one on every single corner, not joking. They were some that were 24 hours, too. In Denver, they truly are a hidden gem, at least to me, because there’s far and few. But if we’re looking for something more local, I would go to the Jelly Cafe. Their lattes are to die for, especially their donuts.

Truong An Gifts next, for sure. Cute shopping center as so many things, too. Boba, little markets, beauty stores, and then that lovely little trinket place that I have to give myself a budget before I walk in. It is truly one of my favorite places to just shop around, I never walk out empty handed.

Detour, The Stanley Hotel. Who doesn’t love spooky things, I mean c’mon. I remember when I was lucky enough to get a room for pretty cheap back in 2020 with a friend, and we stayed the night. All I have to say is, that place is spooky but I love a good scare. Not only that, but who doesn’t love The Shining? Then Monkey Bar for a fun game of pool, friends, and fun times.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My sister, Jordan Doyle.

Jordan is the most intelligent, thoughtful, determined and funniest person I know. Not just ‘cause she’s my sister, but because she is. Jordan is naturally and effortlessly good at everything she does, and I will always admire her for that. The best big sister any little sister could look up to.

Thank you for always supporting me, and being my best friend.

Instagram: Tenjdoy

Image Credits
Lilli Newhouse