Hair stylist brings world-class services to Rugby

Jodie Kirchofner

Rugby salon owner Jodie Kirchofner is making a larger impact on the hair-styling industry than many people might think possible from a small North Dakota town.

Kirchofner is one of fewer than 100 certified trainers in North America for worldwide hairstyling brand Paul Mitchell. Through her work with the company, Kirchofner has the opportunity to travel to other salons and coach hairdressers who have requested continued education. The company also books Kirchofner for large hairdressing events, at which she cuts and styles hair onstage to teach up-to-date hairstyling techniques and methods. She also creates tutorial videos for the company’s official social media pages.

She said many hair stylists feel as if they have to be in a large city in order to succeed in the field. Kirchofner enjoys traveling to other towns for coaching jobs and sharing her small town pride.

“I just love that it’s working out for me to be living in a small town because I think it gives hope to so many people who think that they can’t do anything in a small town,” she said.

Kirchofner has owned Stylin’ You in Rugby for 19 years, expanding to include a coffee shop and boutique in the last 10 years.

Kirchofner said she went to hair school on a whim when a friend who needed a roommate enrolled. She said once she started working with hair, she fell in love with it.

“I love what I do everyday. It makes me so happy to service people. I can’t imagine doing anything else,” she said.

Originally from Dickinson, Kirchofner moved to Rugby in 2005 to be with her husband, Kevin Kirchofner. The couple has three children – Maddex, Mauvlyn and Malic.

She said she has loved raising her children in a small town because her children have the opportunity to form relationships in such a close-knit community and everybody looks out for each other.

However, moving her business to a small town came with challenges. In Bismarck, she worked at a fast-paced, high-paying salon. Switching gears to better fit Rugby’s needs came with a pay cut. To supplement her income and fuel her passion, Kirchofner has been an educator with Paul Mitchell for the last 17 years.

Outside of her work at her hair salon, boutique and coffee shop, Kirchofner sits on the Lyric movie theater board and volunteers at Little Flower Catholic Church as a Sunday school teacher.