5 Questions with Lindsey Rae Howard Grubbs

You've been voted as the best hair stylist in our Readers' Choice awards for five years in a row. What do you differently than others?

Yes, so exciting! First and foremost, I take time to establish a relationship with all of my customers and make them feel like family in this community. If you don't have that closeness with your customer, they won't feel comfortable to tell you how they want to change their hairstyle.

I am a very honest hairstylist and knowing and having that open communication is key. In anything I do, whether it be a bride, or a chemical service, I make sure it's done to the best of my ability. Every client knows they have my undivided attention, and no service is rushed. I also make sure no style or up-do I do is ever repeated. I challenge myself daily, and anything that looks difficult to me, I master it. I have always had the gift of visualizing the final product before I even start. I create my own formal styles by my own creativity, verses trying to replicate someone's work.

Establishing a great relationship with my customers, providing top-notch service and perfecting the art of hair at the same time is hard to find. That is what sets me apart.

What's the trick to keeping your hair and skin at its healthiest?

What you put in your body is what comes out. Eating well is first and foremost. Keeping your face and scalp clean and free of debris and makeup is crucial. Establishing a morning and evening cleansing routine, followed by moisturizing your skin, keeps your skin well-balanced and healthy.

I highly recommend the Clarisonic for daily skin care regimen. Maintenance is key. Monthly trimming your hair, and applying a deep conditioner (Morocan Oil Hydrating Mask is my favorite) will make it look and appear healthier. A multivitamin is always good to add to your routine as well for strengthening your hair and nail beds, and reinforcing nutrients on top of good dieting.

You've recently had a baby after struggling with endometriosis. What's that experience been like?

Yes, it has been a very emotional, spiritual and physical roller coaster. I knew I had Stage 4 endometriosis, and as I got older, it got a lot worse. I could control it with birth control for years, but until we started trying on our own, it grew fast and ugly. We realized after a year of trying, and my pain only getting worse now throughout the month as well, something was wrong.

It was attacking all my major organs and muscles. I have had two major abdominal surgeries to remove it, and it continued to grow fast like kudzu in my body. We would aggressively try and get me pregnant immediately after surgery and nothing worked. Most every drug and shot we tried on the market. I didn't care if it jeopardized my health, or risks of triplets, we wanted a family. I wanted to be a mom. My husband and I are two loving people, and we wanted so badly children of our own. We couldn't wrap our head around why God hadn't made us parents thus far. It was very discouraging, because we would feel hopeful after each surgery.

No matter the odds, we knew God was in control. He is the ultimate doctor and healer, and we continued to trust in him and his timing in the good times and bad. After my first surgery, I had a miscarriage. It was bittersweet. I was devastated because I lost my child only two weeks after we found out, but then again I was hopeful I could get pregnant in the future. It was the first time I've ever seen the plus sign on a pregnancy test.

After my second surgery exactly a year later, I felt great. We went forward with aggressive fertility treatment and IUI's, and it all failed. I just knew every phone call from the doctors office with my pregnancy results were negative, and they were. I would cry every time the fertility office number would pop up.

We were told by three doctors our only chance of getting pregnant was thru Invitro Fertilization (IVF), and with that expensive option, it wasn't even 100 percent guaranteed. We didn't care at that point. We signed up for it three months in advance. They do it in quarters. In the meantime, while waiting for our round to start, I finally reached my mental and physical threshold. Sweating and thinking this couldn't work after the money we invested could be super devastating. I told my husband to take me away on a trip to Nashville, and let's enjoy these next few months and not think one time about having a baby before we started IVF. We have never prayed so hard in our entire life for God's will to be done.

Sure enough, against all odds, I found out I was pregnant the end of October -- the month before we started IVF. That was the best news for the both of us! It was nice because I got to surprise my husband like every woman gets to! It wasn't a lab result or phone call; it was sweet and special.

What's life been like as the daughter of legendary baseball coach Bobby Howard?

My life has been great as a coach's daughter! It has been so fun! Not just any coach, my dad is the BEST coach in my eyes. I have never seen someone so hard-working in my entire life, and I wanted to establish those same characteristics as he did. He wanted the kids to play and be the best they could be, and he made sure that happened. He could coach any sport, even gymnastics, and bring them to state.

That's just the coach he is. He strives to not only make each person a better athlete, but a better person on and off the playing field. He is old school, and that is my favorite quality about him. He reminds me so much of his dad. Anything he touched I felt turned to gold in my eyes. Growing up on the baseball field, seeing him stand on the third-base line, taking his team to state and winning, made me so proud. I was like "Wow! That's my dad!" It didn't matter if it was the state playoffs, he would find me in a crowd. He has been recognized on state and nation wide levels, and in my eyes he will always be my daddy, and I will always be his Pooh Bear.

What's the best-kept secret in the Chattahoochee Valley?

In Columbus, the best-kept secret to me is the obstetrician, reproductive fertility facility and hospitals we have in our very own backyard. They have been my saving grace these past three years. The entire staff at the Columbus Center for Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility was heaven-sent when we went through our fertility battle. Everyone thinks you have to drive to Atlanta or out of state for fertility treatment, and we have one of the best doctors in the country in our area. Dr Thiruppathi is one of the best surgeons and has one of the highest success rates of pregnancies in the country, and the entire office was loving and nurturing during that time for us.

We also have the most amazing hospitals and OBGYN care here in the area. Amanda McPherson and the entire office with St. Francis OBGYN Associates has been phenomenal before, during and after pregnancy. The St. Francis labor and delivery unit was breathtaking. You get a very intimate, private, comfortable experience delivering in their new facility.

As I was pregnant in my third trimester, I was encountering pre-term labor and complications. During that time, I fell in love with our Midtown Medical Center. If I would have delivered when I went into labor early in my pregnancy, Midtown Medical has a highly trained staff to handle emergency situations and the most advanced technology following delivery for your baby. I felt completely safe and taken care of at both hospitals. We have highly trained doctors and facilities right in our hometown, and to me and my family, this is the best-kept secret in our eyes.

VITAL STATS

Name: Lindsey Rae Howard Grubbs

Age: 28

Job: Professional hair and makeup artist (706-536-0036 for appointments)

Hometown: Columbus

Current home: Phenix City

Family: Bobby & Vicki Howard (parents), Will Howard (brother) John and Pat Grubbs (In-laws) Kevin Grubbs (husband), Quinley (daughter) and Kurt Grubbs (brother)

Education: Christian Heritage Academy (05), Columbus Technical College (07) double majoring business and cosmetology, Aveda cutting classes, TIGI cutting and styling certification (ATL), Redken color certification class (09), Roy Peters Color Certification and Academy (09), TIGI Makeup artist (2010), Sephora Makeup Bootcamp for Artists (2010), Rusk Color Certification (2012), Private video classes with Philip Wolff (celebrity hairstylist for Kim Kardashian) and Mac certification as a PRO artist since 2012. (3 years certified and trained for Mac cosmetics)

Favorite Book: The Bible (favorite books are Proverbs and James)

Favorite movie: "Step Brothers"

Favorite restaurant : Mabella's and The Loft

Favorite quote: "God never allows pain without a purpose"

Favorite song: "Clarity" by John Mayer

Best concert attended : Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan with surprise guest Ludacris

This story was originally published July 26, 2015 at 10:21 PM with the headline "5 Questions with Lindsey Rae Howard Grubbs."