On Top of the World

An old proverb claims, “Beauty is only skin deep.” But it’s very likely that Tiffany Trotter and her sister-in-law Kelly Farris do not put any stock in this cliché. These ladies know that beauty not only goes as deep as your roots but also penetrates deep in your gut and glutes and flows from the heart.Whether they are doing hand-stand push-ups (with one hand), glowing and running through the park, or clipping, coloring, and styling hair, these two ladies know beauty comes from healthy and happy living. And taking care of the outside is just as important as taking care of the inside.For them, beauty comes from a competitive and compassionate spirit along with regular cuts and color, which keeps them jumping, running, and smiling both at work and at play. And, they like it that way. Using a cliché it would be easy to say that these ladies “practice what they preach.”“Competition is good for girls,” said Trotter, co-owner of La Ti Da Salon in Jasper and an intense fitness fanatic. “And when there’s a challenge thrown in the mix, that can drive the spirit of a person to excel.”Both ladies work and workout, and their schedules push them to the limit. If workout time has to be at 5 am, then these two ladies are committed.The day I visited Trotter and Farris, they were chatting with clients, clipping away at dead ends and fluffing the hair along the way. They are both talented at what they do and their clients keep coming back.Trotter will quickly tell you that the talent she possesses doesn’t come from just sitting around doing nothing. “I work hard at what I do every day here in the shop,” she said. “I really push myself to be the very best master cosmetologist and I always challenge myself to do better. My work ethic keeps me working long, hard hours every day, but I am so thankful with all that God has blessed me with.”Farris, also a cosmetologist at La Ti Da, works hard and shares Trotter‘s philosophy for success. Many days Farris and Trotter will work through lunch and hope to grab a bite whenever they can. The flow of customers on a typical day can be a whirlwind.Trotter’s hard work and no-nonsense attitude have propelled her to the top in her career.“Before opening La Ti Da, I worked for Smart Style,” Trotter said. “The company had a competition every year and recognized the top three stylists in the world. My determination helped me win every year. I went to Disney World and I’ve been featured in Smart Style’s magazine because I always pushed myself to be the best in my profession.”Trotter said there is no room for insecurity if you want to accomplish your dreams. The support of her husband Michael as well as her drive and desire to be the best continued after Smart Style and carried over into her own business.La Ti Da, with rich earth-tone colors and posh interior, is warm and inviting the moment you walk through the door. Trotter and her partner Crystal Bevan own the business, but Trotter owns the building. She will tell you first thing that feeling inferior didn’t get her where she is—a competitive spirit did.“Girls need to be pushed, challenged, and given every opportunity to excel in sports when they are in school,” Trotter said. “Girls’ athletics in the young years are very important to begin building a strong self-esteem in girls that will carry over into adulthood. I want my daughter Abby to know she can do anything she works hard to do.”Trotter, who began working out the summer after eighth grade because of sports, attributes her competitive spirit and drive to succeed in her career not only to the early weight training program but also to her family.“I loved sports when I was in high school,” Trotter said. “And I had the chance to play ball in college right after high school graduation. However, I wanted to pursue cosmetology and chose that route instead of college and sports.” Trotter comes from a family of hairdressers, and she knew her career goal early in her life.Looking back Trotter is glad she chose the 10-month cosmetology program over going to college on an athletic scholarship. This master cosmetologist says she has the best of both worlds.“I’m happy with the choices I’ve made,” said Trotter, who still plays on various park and recreation sports teams and is an intense CrossFit athlete. “I still play volleyball and softball on independent and church teams, and we are very competitive. We like to win.”Growing up with her brother Jeremy who both challenged and encouraged her, Trotter is not afraid to take risks. She’s a go-getter. She knows what she wants and she lets nothing stand in her way.“When I was 24, I opened my own business La Ti Da with my partner,” she said. “And six years later, I bought my own building. In December La Ti Da will have been open eight years. I am so blessed for all the Lord has given me.”According to Farris, she too knew from a young age she wanted to do hair. “After high school I started beauty school at the same time Tiffany did,” she said. “I can’t believe it’s already been 13 years.”And Farris’s and Trotter’s days begin long before the shop doors open. Avid CrossFitters, both ladies can be found at CrossFit 205—across from Son’s—at 5 am, the first class of the day.“It’s hard to develop that routine of working out at 5 am,” Farris said. “You have to want to better yourself, and that takes dedication. I’m not a morning person so I had to make a commitment.”And commitment is what both Farris and Trotter posses. They are committed to their families, they are committed to their customers, they are committed to their healthy lifestyles, and they are committed to pushing their daughters to be the best the young girls can be.“My husband Jeremy and I believe in active living,” Farris said. “We encourage our daughter London to exercise and run and workout. These activities help so much with her muscles and coordination.”Farris’s daughter is a special needs child whose muscles wear out faster than other children, so encouraging exercise is beneficial. London, who has run in several races and also CrossFits, has gotten much stronger and improved her balance with regular exercise.“We want to build London up and make her feel good about what she does,” Farris said. “That is so important for all girls. Sometimes the little things that typical kids do is really tough for her. But if we want her to excel in life, we have to start teaching her healthy competitive ways to live. A little motivation goes a long with London.”Trotter said motivation is a driving factor in her personal and professional life, and like London, it started early and at home.“When I was little, my older brother made everything a competition,” Trotter said. “Even getting off the bus from school was a competition to see who could run to the house faster. I never wanted him to beat me then, and I don‘t want anyone to beat me now.”Both ladies believe that a competitive spirit builds confidence, which leads to happiness and success.Noticing changes in her body after a workout makes Farris feel accomplished. She believes anyone can have this feeling. “It’s like all the hard work starts really paying off” she said. “The process is long and hard, but if you stick to it, the workout gets addictive. Combining the inside results and the outside care makes you feel so much better.“Being happy does come from the inside,” Farris said. “When you express a positive attitude and compliment others, it makes people feel better. But, feeling good on the outside after a tough workout can also put you on top of the world.”