When Vision Meets Reality
The book was done – but what comes next?
The book was written. The vision was clear.
But for it to become something more than just an idea – the next step was needed.
It was time to start building. Not just content – but direction, structure, and a complete framework.
And right then, as I was thinking about what my next chapter would be, the opportunity arrived.
An Unexpected Assignment
At the same time, I got a consulting assignment for a Swedish company – back then it was called Grazette of Sweden, now Lyko Professional.
It started with training their sales team, but ended up with me helping them develop their color system over the course of three years – into what it is today.
It was an exciting step: to be part of shaping the knowledge and the products that meet the hairdresser.
It was a fantastic time – fun, inspiring, and above all, incredibly educational.
And it confirmed something I had already begun to feel:
I'm good at what I do.
And my next step is to work even more with product development – and help more companies become better at color.
A Dream Come True – The Salon #rörstrand
On August 1st, 2019, my daughter and I opened our salon: #rörstrand.
We had dreamed of it ever since she was in hairdressing school.
We used to say: One day, we’ll have a salon together.
And now we stood there.
Two out of our three pillars were in place: education and salon.
That September, we took out our very first salary together.
It wasn’t the amount that mattered – it was the feeling.
I remember happily calling the tax office, asking for help with employer fees and taxes.
They probably thought I was a little crazy – but I just said:
“This is so exciting – I get to pay taxes!”
Maybe it’s not as fun anymore – but every time I do, it reminds me of something important:
We can make a living doing what we love.
This is real.
April 2020 – The Dream Becomes Reality
In April 2020, I launched my book: Become A Better Colorist.
The first hair color textbook since the early 1980s.
Product-neutral. Educational. Practical. And entirely mine.
My vision was – and still is – for the book to be a color bible in every salon’s color room.
A support. A guide. A tool.
If you imagine Wikipedia meets hair color – then you have my Colorpedia.
Looking back, I’m grateful that life got in the way so many times before the launch.
If the book had come earlier – it wouldn’t have become what it is today.
At first, I planned to write a book aimed at students.
But during the writing process, I changed direction – and I’m so glad I did.
Today, the book is written to suit everyone – whether you’re a student or a teacher, a beginner or experienced, a hairdresser, salesperson, or educator.
It became more than a book – it became a platform for understanding.
When the World Stopped – and I Said Yes Anyway
On March 9th, 2020, I was in Stockholm teaching a class.
The first confirmed COVID case had reached the city.
Two days later, on March 11th, my former boss called:
“Do you want to take over the Y.S.PARK agency in Sweden?”
The brand I had loved for two years.
Y.S.PARK – the Rolls Royce of hair tools.
And there I was.
In the middle of a book launch. All my savings invested. A pandemic about to break out.
In my head: No, this isn’t the right time.
But from my mouth came:
“That sounds exciting. Let me think about it.”
Two days later, the pandemic hit with full force.
All my assignments were canceled. Sweden was in crisis.
Now it definitely wasn’t the right time to take over anything.
But something inside told me I couldn’t let this chance go.
Would I let COVID decide what I dared – or didn’t dare – to do?
COVID would pass.
But this opportunity might never come again.
The next question was: How would I afford to buy Y.S.PARK?
My savings were gone. I had no wealthy parents. No man to lean on.
The bank will laugh at me, I thought.
But I booked a meeting anyway.
And the first thing they said was:
“If it had been anyone else – we would have said no.
But you… you’re not like everyone else.”
For the first time, not fitting in felt like an advantage.
And today, that’s my superpower – not being like everyone else.
What was the worst that could happen?
That I lost everything?
Sure. But I had done that before.
And I knew – I could build it all up again if I had to.
All Three Pillars Active
Today, we run the Y.S.PARK agency in Sweden, with a warehouse in Karlskrona.
We sell tools to hairdressers across the country.
All three pillars of the business are active: education, salon, and sales.
What was once a sketch on a kitchen table – is now a living system.
The Passion for Business
Somewhere along the way, something shifted.
What started as a business just to survive – turned into something I genuinely love.
To build. To develop. To see what’s possible.
I began to move from hairdresser to entrepreneur.
And in the midst of it all, my brand started to take shape.
What I once called a course – now became something bigger.
A concept. A platform. A language.
A Brand of My Own
In August 2021, Become A Better Colorist was registered as a trademark within the EU.
And it was a feeling I can hardly describe.
Me – the one who had always been asked “are you just a hairdresser?” – had created my own brand.
And I own it. Fully.
My vision?
That the book will be in every color room.
That everyone who works with hair color – no matter their role – will have taken a Become A Better Colorist course.
Because knowledge shouldn’t depend on what brand you use.
It should depend on your will to understand.
International Expansion
In 2022, we took the next step.
In July, we founded Color Me Perfect AB – to distribute Become A Better Colorist in the Nordics, Europe, and Australia.
And in November, we opened Color Me True Corp in the USA – to take the brand to North and South America.
It was huge. And it was scary.
But we did it.
Knowledge Has No Native Language
In November 2022, we launched the book in Danish, Norwegian, and Finnish.
In February 2023, we launched it in American English.
The next language will be Spanish – followed by German.
My dream?
That the book exists in every language.
For me, this isn’t about selling.
It’s about giving every hairdresser – no matter where they live – access to quality education in their own language.
Where We Are Today – and What’s Next
In July 2024, we made a big decision.
We sold the salon.
We realized we had to choose – either focus fully on the salon, or on the agency and the education.
And I’m so glad we chose the latter.
We sold the salon to our amazing employee – and it felt completely right.
We knew we were handing over something we had built with heart and care, to someone who truly understood it.
The next step was a new space.
A real education space.
The world’s first exclusive Y.S.PARK store.
A bigger warehouse, office, and conference space – which we can also rent out to other entrepreneurs.
We want to create a place where hairdressers can meet, get inspired, and connect.
Or as my daughter so aptly called it:
“A hangout – for hairdressers.”
And we’re already rolling.
We’ve hosted several trainings and events with great success.
And now we’re aiming for the next step:
To build an education center – and bring in more brands that help hairdressers become even better at what we do.
Why Success Now?
I used to listen to everyone else.
I did what they told me.
Because I didn’t really dare to believe in myself.
That I could. That I was good enough.
Today, I hear what others say – but I listen to myself.
To what I want. What I believe in.
And that has made all the difference.
Final Words
Today, I’m living my dream life.
But not because someone gave it to me.
Because I decided to create it.
If I can – then so can you.
We are the only ones who set the limits for what we can do.
Thank you for following along on my journey.
And maybe – just maybe – it sparked something in you too.
Trust yourself.
Break some rules.
Don’t be afraid to fail.
Ignore naysayers.
Work like hell.
And give something back.
/Camilla Rörstrand