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

Alison , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Taking risks has always been a part of my journey, but one of the biggest risks I ever took was packing up my life in Portland, Oregon—where I had lived all my life—and moving to Naples, Florida. I’ve been a hairstylist for 20 years, and over time, I’d built a loyal and amazing clientele in Portland. But deep down, I always had this dream: to live by the beach, doing what I love. One day, that dream practically fell into my lap.

I met another hairstylist who mentioned, almost casually, that he was moving to Naples. Without hesitation, I blurted out, “I wanna go too.” He looked at me like I was crazy. But during a visit to Portland, a snowstorm hit, and we were snowed in together for five days. We started talking seriously about what it would mean to move to Florida together. I was intrigued, energized even. Why not? So, we started looking at condos online, and one day, we had a virtual tour of a beautiful place. Palm trees, a saltwater pool, sunshine, and the ocean—it was everything I imagined my beach town life would be.

At the end of the Zoom tour, the leasing manager asked if we liked it. My friend said, “Yeah, it’s nice,” with a casual shrug, but I took it one step further. “We’ll take it,” I said. He stared at me in shock, asking if I was really serious. “I’ve never been to Florida, never seen this place in person,” I said. “But why not take a risk?”

The only condition I had was that I had to fly back every month to do my clients’ hair in Portland. A month later, we made the move to Naples. For four years, I lived between two cities—flying back and forth from Portland to Naples every couple of weeks. Flying became second nature to me, almost like driving a car. I never thought I could manage something like that, but I did, and I loved it. Living in two completely different worlds allowed me to grow in ways I never imagined.

Those four years were a wild ride. I built a great clientele in Naples, formed incredible friendships, and experienced things I never thought possible. I traveled to places like the Bahamas, Cancun, and all across Florida and the East Coast. I even drove across the country four times in my last two years in Florida. That leap of faith, that risk, opened up my world in ways I could never have predicted.

Now, I’m back in Portland full-time, but I carry with me everything I learned from that chapter of my life. One thing I’ll always hold onto: never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Always follow your heart and your goals, because you can do anything you put your mind to. Never say never.

Alison , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

As a hairstylist with over 21 years of experience, I’ve found that it’s not just about the hair—it’s about the connections you build and the impact you make. I absolutely love being creative, whether it’s transforming a client’s look or helping them discover a whole new style. One of the best parts is seeing the reaction when they first catch a glimpse of themselves after the transformation. That look of confidence in their eyes is priceless.

What many people don’t realize is that being a hairstylist often goes beyond the artistry of hair. Over time, you build lasting relationships with your clients, and sometimes, you even become like a therapist. There’s an openness that happens in the salon chair where people share their lives with you, and in turn, you share a bit of yours. That bond is something special, and it’s one of the most rewarding aspects of what I do.

I feel incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with so many people over the years. Every head of hair I’ve touched has given me a chance to create, to connect, and to grow—not just as a hairstylist, but as a person. People as me if I ever get bord of doing hair. I tell them “ No it’s my passion “. I always told myself I wanna have a career that I love.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

When I started out as a hairstylist 21 years ago, building a clientele was all about passing out business cards and relying on word of mouth. That was the era I came up in. But over the past two decades, things have drastically changed, especially with the rise of social media. It eventually reached a point in my career where I realized I had to adapt and join platforms like Instagram if I wanted to stay relevant. So many hairstylists were already marketing on social media—Facebook, Instagram, you name it. I knew how to take great photos of my work, but things like hashtags and captions were a whole new world for me.

When COVID hit and salons were closed for months, I suddenly had a lot of time on my hands to learn the ropes of social media marketing. Once salons reopened, I dove in headfirst. A few months later, when I moved to Naples, Florida, I realized that social media was going to be key to growing my business in a new city. I took the time to research the most popular hashtags and joined 20-30 local Facebook groups, particularly ones geared toward Naples. I started posting consistently—using hashtags, engaging with posts, and sharing photos of my work. Within four months, my clientele exploded. It was wild to see how quickly I grew in Naples through social media alone.

My partner at the time, who was also a hairstylist, noticed how busy I was and asked, “How are you getting all these clients?” He was an excellent stylist but wasn’t familiar with the world of social media marketing, just like I hadn’t been at first. I taught him everything I had learned, from hashtag strategies to joining local Facebook groups, and within a year, his income skyrocketed from $2,000 a month to $10-12K. Seeing him grow that fast, and knowing I helped him achieve that, was one of the most satisfying experiences of my career. There’s nothing more rewarding than helping others grow.

I always emphasized teamwork and paying it forward. For example, when I was out of town and clients were searching for a hairstylist in the “Moms of Naples” groups, I’d tag him or refer clients to him. It was about supporting each other, sharing opportunities, and helping one another succeed. I initially thought it would take me three years to build a solid clientele in Naples, but through hard work and research, it took just four months. When you put in the effort, the results speak for themselves.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I feel as a hairstylist you must give back. I will say if you refer 2 people you get a complimentary Haircut. Sometimes I will give out free products to my clients or little gift bags to say “ thanks for being a loyal client and supporting me through out the years”. Clients love when they get something little from you. It’s the little things that count .

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @iamjustahairdresser
• Facebook: Aly Lynn
• Other: [email protected]
  Business contact (503)740-0000

Image Credits

All photos are taken by me Alison Denney.