We were lucky to catch up with Brandi Maddox recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Brandi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Covid has brought about so many changes – has your business model changed?

Covid was without hesitation the most unpredictable time in my business. I- like so many others- questioned the future of my salon career and whether or not I’d be able to continue in this business- one that I worked so hard to build and dedicated my life to; It was truly scary and required me to lean solely on my faith. Week after week I witnessed salons closing their doors due to the uncertainty, lack and the unfortunate changes of covid.

After being temporarily closed for 3 months, I was fortunate enough to get plans in motion if I wanted to remain in business once the doors were reopened. However, I did not have to rely on those plans because once I began accepting clients again, I realized my books doubled! New clients were coming from everywhere and I had to move/expand my salon twice to accommodate the growth. I was and still am so very thankful.

What Covid taught me was that, business morals and ethics matter. I always strive to give an excellent experience for all of my guests and I believe that was returned to me during Covid. I deeply believe my business was “bulletproof” to the devastating effects of Covid- and although I could never provide a blueprint as to how, I can truthfully say that providing excellence will always set you apart in any industry and can definitely insure longevity regardless of unprecedented circumstances.

Brandi, 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?

I was around the age of 5 or 6 years old when I realized how much I loved hair. I spent a lot of my childhood with my grandmother and she had very long, thick jet black hair. When she would set her hair for bed, she did a few plaits and would put a cute little pink sponge roller on the ends and I looked forward to watching her do this whenever I was with her. One day I asked if she would teach me and I’ve been at it ever since!

By the time I was in 8th grade I had a full clientele, servicing my peers in school, neighborhood and even a few adults. My parents allowed me to use our kitchen to give my guests the best experience I could and I am so grateful for that. My passion only grew from then and it inspired me to begin my career much sooner, so instead of completing my entire four years of high school, I chose to be homeschooled my sophomore year and was able to graduate at sixteen which allowed me to begin cosmetology school and graduate my program at seventeen.

Fast forward thirteen years later I own a studio by the name of The Chateau Salon and it is truly the definition of a salon “home”. I service so many women of all backgrounds, college students, children and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. This line of work comes with many pressures because I am responsible for a person’s image and it’s something I simply can’t take lightly. People come to beauty professionals because they want to look in the mirror and see on the outside what they feel or at least wish to feel on the inside.

My goal is to be of service to anyone who schedules an appointment with me, provide a warm and intimate environment while designing one of a kind hair styles that make them feel their best- This includes textured hair care, hair color and designer hair cuts; all of which are my specialty.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Being kind to others and having a heart to serve has been the foundation of my business. With the rise of instant gratification and social media, people in the service industry tend to view clients/customers as transactions but this has proven to be quite ineffective if you desire longevity as a hairstylist. I believe that a solid reputation in the cosmetology field begins with treating your guests like people and not robots, being honest but kind, maintaining order and structure, having thorough systems in place and remembering that being in the service industry means you are there to serve and diligently while at it.

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

I had to unlearn being a jack of all trades, and being intentional about focusing on one thing. Being busy can sometimes be deceiving because it gives an illusion of being productive, however that simply isn’t true. Doing one great thing will always push you further than doing several mediocre things. I make myself smell the roses of my career everyday by taking time to reflect on my week, month etc and recognizing all the pros and cons that took place. This keeps me focused, grounded, humble and motivated to stay in my lane, reject comparisons and realize there’s always room for growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thechateausalon.com
• Instagram: @iambrandibeauty @thechateausalon1
• Linkedin: Brandi Maddox
• Youtube: Brandi Beauty TV

Image Credits
All photos are original hair designs by Brandi Maddox.