The Audacity To Be Myself - Daniel Stoffel

Hosts Lala and Brian welcome Daniel Stoffel, a beloved family member, successful young businessman, and owner of West Oak Salon. Daniel shares his lifelong passion for the beauty industry—from styling Barbie heads to opening his own salon—and the profound impact his LGBTQIA+ identity had on building his business with the very "audacity to be me." He discusses the unique challenges and immense rewards of running a family business and offers insights on mentorship and leadership. Finally, Daniel addresses the current economic volatility affecting beauty supplies and his commitment to uncompromised quality and customer experience in the face of rising costs and societal challenges.

West Oak Salon

Instagram

Facebook

 30-second promo ad highlighting LBB Edutainment services and offerings. 

Transcript

Everything's Not Black & White

The Audacity To Be Myself - Daniel Stoffel

Episode Transcript

Intro Announcement: Welcome to Everything's Not Black and White with your hosts, Lala and Brian.

Lala: Hello everybody, welcome to today's episode. We are so, so, so excited to have someone who is very near and dear to our hearts. He's a part of our family, and he has made our oldest son very happy. We love that, but he's also a young man with a purpose who has built a beautiful beauty business and loves to mentor and teach.

We're going to talk to him a little bit about what that entails in his everyday life. So we want to welcome to the ENBW Podcast, Daniel Stoffel. Did I say that right?

Daniel: Yes, you did! I feel like a lot of people have a hard time with my last name, but you got it right!

Lala: Is it German in origin?

Daniel: I think so, yeah.

Lala: I took two years of German in high school, which was 35 years ago! So that's all I got!

We're excited to have you on the show, darling. I'm excited to be watching you grow your career and grow yourself, and it's going to be fun to introduce our audience to you.

To kick things off, can you tell us a little bit about your background and what got you into the beauty industry in the first place?

Daniel: When people ask me what originally sparked it, I tell them that ever since I can remember, I've wanted to be involved in some way in the beauty industry. At one point I thought it was going to be fashion, or interior design. I didn't know exactly what it was, but I knew it was going to be creative and about putting art out there.

From a young age, I gravitated toward hair. Ever since I was little, it was Barbies, and specifically those styling heads. Those were everything to me! That's where it started, and then in elementary school, I'd do my friends' hair. By junior high, I was doing my own hair, and then in high school, I went to beauty school. It's just been history ever since. There's been this pull inside of me for as long as I've had autonomy.

Lala: I love that! I remember those Barbie styling dolls very well. When did you have your first actual professional moment where you got paid to do hair?

Daniel: The first moment where a lightbulb went off was when I was in beauty school in high school. My main cosmetology teacher asked me to present to our entire class how to do a one-length haircut. I was so serious about my work, and I remember sitting up there thinking, "I was chosen out of 30 students to do this." That was a lightbulb moment where I knew I wanted to make my mark in this industry.

My first paid gig was when a friend from high school asked me specifically to do her hair for a major work presentation. I was like, "Me? You're choosing me?" She paid me, and I thought, "Of course I'll do this!"

Lala: What an honor! You get so passionate about what you're doing that people are drawn to it. She saw that you were serious about your craft.

Now, you are part of a family business, which is so interesting because our production company, LBB Edutainment, is also a family business! What are some of the unique rewards and challenges that come with working in a family business?

Daniel: The rewards greatly outweigh the challenges. The greatest part is working with people who are blood. No matter what goes on or what disagreements happen, there's something tightly holding you together. There's so much accountability, and it's personal without being too personal.

Specifically with my sister, who is also a hairdresser, we've really been able to hold each other up, support each other, teach each other, and have each other's backs. Not everyone in the beauty industry has someone that tightly knit with them to support their growth.

As for challenges, when there's a creative difference or disagreement, it can be delicate because you want to get your point across without stepping on toes. From an outside perspective, I also never want non-family team members to feel excluded, so I work hard to make sure our salon environment is open, safe, and inclusive for everyone.

Lala: Who makes up the family team at your business?

Daniel: My sister, my brother-in-law, and me. My sister and I are both hairdressers and focus on the creative vision and the trade. My brother-in-law handles the business numbers. It's a great balance.

Brian: That sounds like a great structure—two hairdressers and a business lead.

Lala: We have a similar setup! I make the decisions, and I tell Brian what numbers to put in!

Brian: Hey, no comment!

Lala: He has just as much input—he's the behind-the-scenes guy keeping things running while I'm out front. You need people with different skill sets so you don't burn out.

How has your identity as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community shaped how you do hair, run your business, and live your life out loud?

Daniel: Can I get really personal?

Growing up, I realized pretty early on that I had different interests than other kids around me. I was a bit more feminine and interested in standard feminine things. When I became a teenager, I really started understanding who I was. I came out at 16, having known I was a gay man for a couple of years prior.

At 16, I made a conscious decision: "I am going to be me. If people like it or dislike it, that's on them." Coming from a sheltered and religious background, there wasn't a lot of support for me in those traditional groups. I decided to find people who would support me for who I am.

I learned very quickly that I had to be unapologetically myself and parent myself through it. From age 16 on, I decided I was going to have the audacity to be me and have the audacity to follow my life's calling.

That audacity carried me through beauty school, working behind the chair, opening my own business, and hiring employees. Being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community gave me the audacity to believe in myself and the drive to help other people believe in themselves.

Lala: I love that so much! That resonates so deeply with me. Being Black, Southern, and fat—and I use F-A-T and P-H-A-T (Pretty, Hot, And Tempting!)—I know what it feels like to operate outside traditional circles of privilege. That's why I left corporate to start my own business, because I realized I am enough just as I am.

Daniel: Absolutely! When I mentor stylists coming into the industry, I remind them: "You have to do this your way. If you try to emulate me or anyone else, it's not going to work." People smell inauthenticity quickly. You have to be authentically yourself.

Lala: Who were some of the mentors that helped guide you along the way?

Daniel: Honestly, I don't know if I've ever had a formal mentor in the classic sense. I kind of had to be my own mentor and learn through self-determination. But that's the exact reason why I love being a mentor for others now! If I can guide people through challenges I had to figure out on my own, it helps heal that part of my journey and saves them from unnecessary disappointment.

Lala: You have immense self-motivation and self-determination. Do you have a mantra or affirmation you give yourself when things get tough?

Daniel: When I look in the mirror, I remind myself: "You are doing the work. You are running a business, employing people, providing products, leading a team, and putting your art out there."

If anyone has something negative to say about that, I want to see them try doing it! People who are doing more than you won't tear you down; it's usually people projecting their own inner fears and insecurities onto you. So I just keep pushing forward.

Lala: Keep that noise away from you!

Now, let's talk about the business environment today. Between inflation, supply costs, and rising tariffs on imported goods, how are you navigating those challenges as a business owner?

Daniel: Beauty products and supplies are very expensive right now. As human beings, we've always been infatuated with beauty throughout history, and supply companies know that. Most beauty products and human hair extensions are not manufactured in America—my main color line comes from France, and my hair extension line is sourced from Asia.

With tariffs—like the 20% tariff on imports from China—our overhead costs have skyrocketed. In 2020, a tube of hair color cost around $6.75; today it costs around $15 to $17.

To keep our business sustainable and profit margins honest, we recently had to adjust our service prices. I hate that prices have to go up, but to compensate, we focus on delivering exceptional value. I don't double-book clients or run a "cattle call" salon. I practice 1-on-1, dedicated, high-quality care where I give my clients my undivided time and attention.

My dad always taught me: "If you are going to spend your time doing something, do it well." When you respect people's time and deliver quality, they respect yours.

Lala: That's fantastic advice. You're building a solid foundation for long-term customer relationships rather than cutting corners.

Looking ahead to 2026, what are you most excited about or manifesting for the future?

Daniel: Growth. Both personally and professionally.

I'm constantly looking at my weak spots to figure out how to make them stronger. Lately, I've been working on trusting my team more, taking feedback from my staff and clients, and delegating. For 2026, I want to expand West Oak Salon, hire more team members, mentor more stylists, and grow our West Oak Salon Hair Extensions line. I'm turning 30 next year, so I'm already building my 10-year vision for 40!

Lala: You are well ahead of the curve! Being self-aware and actively working on growth is the biggest step any leader can take.

Daniel, please plug your salon and tell our listeners where they can find you!

Daniel: My salon is West Oak Salon, located on Waterloo Street in downtown Canal Winchester (just southeast of Columbus, Ohio). We've been in business for eight years, and we also run West Oak Salon Hair Extensions.

You can find us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook at @westoaksalon!

Lala: Wonderful! Thank you so much, Daniel, for joining us today, sharing your heart, and bringing your passion to our listeners. We love and appreciate you!

Daniel: Thank you so much for having me!

Brian: You can email us at embwpodcast@gmail.com, or follow and like us on Facebook and Instagram!

Lala: Thank you all for listening to Everything's Not Black & White. We'll see you next time!

Brian: See ya! Bye!