We were lucky to catch up with Meg Conkling recently and have shared our conversation below.

Meg, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you ever seen (or implemented) a really awesome way to show a client you appreciate them

For me, making clients feel appreciated isn’t just part of my job, it’s the soul of what I do. Working with women who have naturally curly hair, I see every day how personal our connection to our hair really is. It’s the first thing people notice, and too often, society teaches us to see it as something that needs to be “fixed.”
When someone sits in my chair, my focus is on more than their curls, it’s on how they feel. I listen, care, and create space for them to feel truly seen and understood. Because when a woman feels understood in her natural beauty, she stands taller, shines brighter, and reconnects with her authentic self. That’s the kind of confidence I want every client to leave with.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m the founder of Curly Hair Alchemist, a space built from both passion and purpose. My journey began with my own relationship to curly hair; the frustration, the trial and error, the deep desire to feel seen in a world that often celebrates everything but what grows naturally from our heads. That experience became my calling: to help others reconnect with their natural texture, not as something to control, but something to celebrate.
At Curly Hair Alchemist, I specialize in holistic curly hair care; customized cutting, education, and styling designed to honor each client’s unique curl pattern and lifestyle. My focus goes far beyond technique; it’s about transformation from the inside out. I teach clients how to understand and love their hair, giving them the tools and confidence to care for it long after they leave my chair.
What sets my work apart is the experience itself. Every appointment is a collaboration, rooted in empathy and care. My clients aren’t just getting a haircut, they’re being heard, seen, and valued in a deeply personal way. I’m proud that so many of them leave not just with beautiful curls, but with a renewed sense of confidence and self-acceptance.
At its heart, Curly Hair Alchemist is about reclaiming the beauty of authenticity. My mission is simple: to help people fall back in love with what’s already theirs.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A big lesson I had to unlearn was the obsession with perfection. The idea that beautiful curls come from having the “right” combination of products or the most flawless routine. Early in my career, working at Devachan in New York, the first curly hair salon in the country, I was surrounded by innovation, but also by an unspoken pressure for perfection. I thought my success was measured by how “defined” or “photo-ready” my clients’ curls looked when they left my chair.
But when I went out on my own, especially after moving my business from New York to Florida, I realized something deeper. The women here wanted simplicity. They valued time, family, and freedom. They weren’t chasing perfect curls—they just wanted healthy, effortless ones that fit into real life.
That shift grounded me. I had to unlearn consumerism and perfectionism, and instead embrace what I now call functional beauty, hair that moves, breathes, and exists naturally, just like the women who wear it. These days, I celebrate curls that are soft, frizzy, free, and full of southern sunshine. Because that’s where the real beauty lives.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I like to keep connection personal and genuine. I’m a millennial, so I keep it pretty analog, but on the digital side. After each appointment, I send personalized text messages to check in and see how my clients are feeling about their experience and their curls.
It’s simple, but it means a lot. I’m always touched by how many clients respond with gratitude or excitement, saying they’ve never had a stylist reach out just to care. Those moments remind me why I do what I do, because real connection builds real loyalty. It’s not about marketing; it’s about relationships.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.megconkling.com
• Instagram: @curlyhairalchemist

Image Credits

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