Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Janelle Flatt. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Janelle thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

The journey from business owner to entrepreneur to published author has been anything but linear. One moment, you’re riding high on vision and momentum; the next, the ground shifts beneath you, and everything you’ve built threatens to crumble. I’ve lived that reality—multiple times.
As the owner of a salon, I poured my heart into creating more than just a place for cuts and color. I dreamed of a team that felt like family—a true tribe aligned in energy, values, and purpose. I imagined a space where collaboration thrived, where everyone lifted one another up, and where the collective vibe drew clients in like a magnet. But reality delivered a stark lesson: people don’t always share your vision. Some prioritize themselves above the whole. Egos clash, motivations diverge, and what you hoped would be harmony can turn into a daily battle of mismatched expectations.
These past few years tested me in ways I never anticipated. The hardest knocks came not just from business challenges—hiring, retention, cash flow—but from profound personal upheavals that shook me to my core. Loss, betrayal, exhaustion, the kind of life moments that force you to question everything. In the midst of it all, I found myself questioning whether the dream was worth the pain.
Yet out of that chaos came clarity. Late nights turned into voice memos capturing raw thoughts, frustrations, and hard-won insights. Scattered ideas became journal entries. Painful realizations became chapters. I poured it all onto the page—every high, every crash, every moment of doubt and rediscovery.
That process birthed my first book, now released into the world, and set the stage for the second, slated to follow in just a couple of months. Writing became my anchor: a way to process the wreckage, reclaim my voice, and transform setbacks into something meaningful. What started as a private catharsis evolved into a story I hope resonates with others walking similar paths—salon owners, entrepreneurs, dreamers who’ve watched their carefully built worlds teeter.
The truth is, entrepreneurship isn’t a straight climb to success. It’s a series of falls and recoveries, of building teams that sometimes disappoint, of holding onto hope even when hope feels foolish. But it’s also the space where resilience is forged, where vulnerability becomes strength, and where the act of sharing your story—unfiltered—can light the way for someone else.
If there’s one thing these years have taught me, it’s this: You can have it all and lose it all, and still rise with something even more valuable—wisdom, authenticity, and a voice that refuses to stay silent. The journey continues, book by book, lesson by lesson. And I’m no longer afraid to tell it exactly as it is.

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 never planned to become a hairstylist. Growing up, the industry was simply what I knew best, so when it came time to choose a path, I stepped into it thinking it would be temporary—just a familiar way to make a living while I figured out what I really wanted to do.
I was wrong in the best possible way.
What began as reluctant cuts and colors quickly turned into a true passion. I fell in love with the transformation—the way a client’s entire energy shifted the moment they saw their reflection, the quiet confidence that emerged with every finished look. Hair and makeup became more than services; they became my craft.
Over the years, I’ve honed my expertise in hair extensions and blonding—specializing in seamless, natural-looking integrations and luminous, high-fashion blondes that truly elevate every client’s look. With advanced training as a master colorist at the Wella Color Institute in New York, plus studies at the Aquage and Vidal Sassoon Academies, and over a decade as a National and International Educator for Babe Hair Extensions, I bring precision and artistry to everything from color and extensions to updos and bridal makeup. I’m truly humbled to have been named one of the Top 3 hairstylists in Houston by The Houston Chronicle this year.
I moved from behind the chair to the educator’s stage, training stylists for several major companies across the country. Teaching brought a new level of excitement: seeing others catch the same fire I had discovered.
The biggest leap came when I decided to build something of my own. I opened my salon with a clear vision—to create more than a business. I wanted a space with real heart, where talent was nurtured, collaboration thrived, and the energy felt like family—a true, authentic tribe.
The journey hasn’t been easy. I’ve watched carefully built teams fracture, learned the painful difference between hired hands and soul-aligned partners, and navigated life-altering losses that forced me to rebuild everything—business, identity, hope—from the ground up. Those seasons cracked me open in ways I never saw coming, but they also handed me something invaluable: a story that demanded to be told.
That story became my first book, now released into the world, and the second one (already in the final stages) will follow in the next couple of months. Both books were born from late-night voice memos, raw journal entries, and the unfiltered truth of what it really means to chase something meaningful—whether it’s a thriving salon, a loyal team, or a life worth living.
Today, my salon and my books serve the same quiet purpose: they speak to the entrepreneur who’s exhausted from carrying it all alone, the creative who feels invisible, the dreamer who’s been told her vision is unrealistic. I help them reclaim their voice, rebuild their confidence, and create spaces—and lives—that truly reflect who they are.
What sets me apart isn’t just the combination of stylist, educator, and author—it’s the refusal to polish over the hard parts. I’ve lived the highs and the devastating lows. I’ve hired, fired, lost it all, and risen anyway. And I talk about every bit of it openly.
I’m most proud of turning pain into pages and hard-earned lessons into lifelines for others. My brand isn’t about flawless highlights or curated perfection—it’s about real resilience. It’s proof that you can step into an industry almost by accident, fall deeply in love with it, face every kind of setback, and still build something entirely your own.
If you’re a salon owner, a creative, or a woman in the middle of transition who’s ever felt the weight of your dream might break you… You’re exactly who I wrote these books for. You’re exactly who I built this salon for. And you’re exactly who I’m still rooting for.
Because I’ve been there. And I’m still here—stronger, clearer, and more unapologetically myself than ever.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://janellealeissalon.com
• Instagram: houstonhairbabe and janelllealexissalon
• Facebook: Janelle Alexis
• Linkedin: Janelle Alexis Flatt – Kenagy
• Yelp: Janelle Alexis Salon
• Other: tiktok – Janellealexissalon and houstonhairbabe

Image Credits

Al Torres Photography