Iles Formula Hair Talk with Abigail Lacey of Elle Society

Abigail Lacey

Abigail Lacey is the stylist and founder of Elle Society, located in Troutdale, Oregon.

Her career completely changed when she discovered the art of Hand Tied Extensions in 2015. Now with over 7 years of experience with hair extensions, multiple certifications and training, Abigail is renowned for her expertise in Color and NBR Extensions, especially for creating natural looking color and incorporating it with an extension method to give clients the instant transformations that they have been seeking while preserving the integrity and health of their hair.

We share a warm welcome to Abigail to our Iles Formula family.

To learn more about Abigail, visit her website. You can also follow her on Instagram @abigaillaceystyling.

1. Tell us what you think is the biggest challenge in hairdressing today other than Covid-19?

The biggest challenge in hairdressing today is keeping up with marketing/social media!

2. What’s the most enjoyable part of your job?

I love how creative my job allows me to be on a daily basis.

Hair by Abigail Lacey

3. Why did you choose the path of hairdressing, and was it easy to fall into this work?

I grew up in the salon world. I knew at a young age that I wanted to do hair!

4. If you had not made the decision to be a hairdresser, what would you have been?

If I wasn’t doing hair, I think I would have found myself in interior design!

Hair by Abigail Lacey

5. What is your greatest strength

My greatest strength is communication! I try hard to be real and transparent with my clients. This helps us build trust and ensure we are always on the same page with their goals!

6. Your favorite hairdressing tools?

Currently obsessed with my Ibiza “airwave shower brush” in the salon. Detangles and color melts like a dream!

7. Tell us about your relationship with ILES FORMULA. How did you discover us and which formula is your favorite?

I discovered Iles while at a class is Dana Point, CA. I just knew I had to have it for my clients! I was so excited to bring these amazing products to Oregon!

8. What was the most challenging job you ever had?

I focus on hair extensions, which is always gives a bit of a challenge. (Ensuring a blend in color, texture, and length) There’s been times we prep all of the clients hair, just to find we need to make adjustments! Working with assistants has been a major game changer with extension installs!

9. What was your worst hair moment and why….privately or on set/stage or in the salon?

I had just started doing hair, and had a client who wanted a “mint green” fashion color. With zero fashion color experience, I turned her hair a bright and shocking EMERALD green. From that day on I decided that fashion colors were just too high stress for me!

10. If you could style anyone’s hair, who would it be and why?

Jennifer Aniston—for obvious reasons!

Hair by Abigail Lacey

11. Where do you pull all hair inspiration from?

I find my inspiration through Johnny Ramirez, Val Plunk and Daniel M.

12. Who is your icon?

I’m going to circle back to Jennifer Aniston!

13. Your advice to young hairdressers starting out?

Keep up with your marketing! Figure out what is it you LOVE doing and share it every chance you get.

Hair by Abigail Lacey

14. How has Covid-19 changed your vision of the hair industry today?

Covid-19 has showed me just how valued our industry actually is.