We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Arriel Green a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Arriel, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

My business, ArrielElyse & Co., was born from a deep passion for the beauty industry and a lifelong desire to build something of my own.
I began working behind the chair in 2006, right after beauty school. Even then, I knew I wanted to own my own salon one day. My parents raised me to think independently and instilled in me the belief that I could build and run a successful business. That foundation stayed with me.
After spending six years in a corporate salon environment, I gained valuable insight into the business side of beauty. I paid close attention to the numbers and quickly realized I was generating significant revenue for the salon while only taking home a fraction of what I earned. That realization pushed me to explore independence.
In 2018, I made the transition to booth renting. For the next two years, I focused on mastering the operations of running my own business. I learned bookkeeping, financial management, expense tracking, and the importance of a seamless booking system. That period gave me the confidence and skills I needed to take the next big step.
In 2020, I opened my own salon suite. The process of securing my business license, forming my LLC, and setting up a dedicated business account was incredibly exciting. It marked the beginning of a new chapter.
Now, after six years as a suite owner, I’m ready for my biggest leap yet: launching an education-focused salon. I want to create a space where both clients and fellow stylists can come to deepen their knowledge about hair health, techniques, and industry best practices. This new chapter combines everything I’ve built — technical expertise, business experience, and a true passion for education.
I’m incredibly proud of the journey so far, and I’m even more excited about what’s ahead.

Arriel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Arriel (pronounced R.E.L), and I am the proud owner of ArrielElyse & Co.
With over 20 years as a licensed stylist and educator, I’ve built my career around one core belief: education is everything in beauty. In my salon, this means taking the time to truly teach my clients about their hair, their specific needs, and the importance of consistent, routine appointments to maintain long-term hair health.
While I offer a full range of services including custom color, precision cuts, and extensions, my true focus is healthy hair care. I’m known for my attention to detail and clear communication — working closely with each client to understand their goals and recommend the best service for them. My clients often tell me I stand apart from other stylists because I genuinely listen and care about results that last.
What I’m most proud of is my resilience. Through every challenge and storm, I’ve kept moving forward. I’m proud of the strong, independent woman and business owner I’ve become — and I’m deeply proud of my ability to create beautiful, healthy hair.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

I stay connected with my clients primarily through my booking app, where I send personalized email and text reminders for upcoming appointments, schedule changes, and new services. On occasion, I also send warm, appreciative messages just to let them know I’m thinking of them.
I also make it a priority to remember birthdays and special milestones. These small, thoughtful touches help my clients feel genuinely seen and valued — even outside of the salon. As a result, they develop strong loyalty to the brand and continue to trust me with their hair journey.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the most defining moments in my business and personal life came at the start of the pandemic when I relocated from Chicago to Texas. I had assured my Chicago clients that I would return monthly to continue caring for their hair. Then the world shut down.
Suddenly, I couldn’t service clients in either state. With no clear end in sight, I had to pivot quickly to stay afloat while still supporting my clients. My goal was to build a new clientele in Texas without losing the relationships I had worked so hard to create in Chicago.
I began sending personalized care packages to my color clients filled with the exact products they needed, along with detailed, step-by-step instructions for at-home applications. Each package included only two touch-ups, encouraging them to repurchase as needed. Because I had already built strong loyalty, my clients trusted me and were eager to continue supporting my business even during such a difficult time. Many expressed how much they appreciated that I was still thinking of them when the world felt so uncertain.
That challenging season taught me the true power of resilience. I firmly believe it’s one of the main reasons ArrielElyse & Co. is still thriving today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.arrielelyse.com
• Instagram: @arrielel7se
• Facebook: ArrielElyse
• Youtube: @arrielelyseco.3012

Image Credits

KBenson Studio