We recently connected with Celia Cox and have shared our conversation below.

Celia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I was 26 years old, about 8 years into the industry and the owner of the salon I worked at told me she was selling it and I had 4 days to decide if I wanted to buy it. Needless to say I didn’t purchase it. I found a space to rent around the corner. Not because there was a for rent sign in the window but because I was determined to get that space. My dreams have always been big. After pulling some strings I got in contact with the owners of the building we signed a lease 2 days later I was on a plane to Atlanta to look at a showroom floor and then we opened our doors 2 weeks later. July 1st will be 10 years since Celia’s Hair Works opened it’s doors it was fun but boy has it been wild.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

In high school I went to a school called The academy of Art science and technology, I studied theater. We had to Shadow somebody that did something in our industry or industry related not necessarily specific so I chose my hairdresser. I actually shadowed the salon owner and he was so inspiring I went back to my teacher and I said I just want to do hair I don’t want to be an actor or on stage I want to behind the scenes doing hair and talking lol 🤣 my theater teacher told me nicely that I was in the wrong school. So I went back to my base school and found a cosmetology school just outside of Charlotte. And here I am. Our main goal as a salon is to try to create a more sustainable future for everyone around us. Including our employees/stylist. Every brand we carry is sustainable or green in some way shape or form. We strive for kindness and accept everybody from all walks of life no matter where they are or where they come from we enjoy all the people. I’m a plant lover and my husband is a master gardener so we have incorporated that into the business by having plants all around and we try to feel the gardening community by hosting plant swaps and seed swaps. Giving back to the community is one of the most important things to, We host quarterly at pop up and Pampers at fresh brewed coffee house for those who are down on their luck and just need someone to cut their hair. It’s more then hair it’s about building a community to help shape a better future 💜🩷

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In 2020 I found out I had to move my business, I was all lined up to buy a building and then the pandemic hit, the SBA stopped the type of loan I needed so we paused, shortly after we reopened I discovered a lump in my throat and 6 weeks later I was on the operating table the having total thyroid ectomy, I ended up being in the hospital for 5 days and was supposed to be in it for 1 day. I developed hypoparathyroid disease from the procedure and my eyes went numb. Didn’t know that could even happen. Meanwhile my support system was crumbling around me. I was released from the hospital and felt crazy. Thought it was the thyroid, no it wasn’t. 3 weeks later, 2 days after I signed the lease for my new place I took a pregnancy test, it was positive. I told my husband we were pregnant on our anniversary. So I would say, moving my business in the middle of the pandemic while pregnant with cancer and 2 kids under the age of 3 makes me pretty resilient 😁

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

Embarrassingly enough I forgot to pay utilities twice. First time was 3 weeks after I had my first daughter my sister passed away and lucky me my card got compromised I forgot to switch it so i got a call we had no water.

The second time was we were in our new location, I just had my son card was compromised and I forgot to pay it soooooooo embarrassing luckily I have officially learned my lesson and have got my self more together 3 years later 🤣

Contact Info:

• Website: Celiashairworks.com
• Instagram: Celiashairworks
• Facebook: Celiashairworks

Image Credits
Papercuts and Postcards Photography