We were lucky to catch up with Charlotte Vaughn recently and have shared our conversation below.
Charlotte, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?
Made Up and Cuttin’ Up- The name actually came from my best friend’s mom when we began a Youtube channel from the get go. At the time, everyone had Youtube to jump start a career, and beauty influencing was very popular at the time. My name is a dad joke and highlights some of the best parts of my job. Made Up obviously comes from make up and a version of making over someone for my bridal side of my business and Cuttin’ Up was the southern way of saying we laughed plenty as well as meaning quite literally that I cut hair. It began as a Youtube channel with a side of Instagram but as Instagram progressed, I fell in love with trying to figure out marketing through videos and pictures. Made Up and Cuttin’ Up is my personal brand as well as the name of my bridal hair and makeup team.
ModHaus, meaning House of Modern- is a branch off from Made Up and Cuttin’ Up to showcase the actual salon suite address that I’ve built over the years. Part of the name comes from the German word Haus meaning house. My grandfather was of German descent and he was instrumental through my beauty school career. The name is a nod towards all that he helped me build. House of Modern is a reflection of the modern hair and styling that I specialize in.
Charlotte, 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 Charlotte Vaughn. I grew up a massive tomboy that hated dresses and purses with a deep passion. I began cosmetology school based on something hilarious my mother once told me. She remarked one day, “You know what you’d be really good at?” and I excitedly answered, “What is that?” and she responded with, “You’d be really good at doing hair. Like a hairstylist.” to which I replied, “Oh yeah? Why is that?” feeling so proud of myself for learning how to braid and being interested in the artistic side of things. She responded with, “Because you talk a lot. You’d be good with people.” Ha, a humbling but oh so true statement that still to this day causes me to laugh. Mom, you know me well.
I went into beauty school with having very little experience in makeup but learning via Youtube beauty influencers and spending every last paycheck on makeup and new products as I explored this avenue. I began doing bridal makeup during school and fell in love with styling updos and the more natural looking approach to makeup that Bridal offered.
I’ve been fully licensed for 8 and some years; I assisted for little over a year, worked behind the chair in commission salons for three years and went out into my first Suite in 2020 right before the pandemic shut everything down. I specialize in dimensional colors (mostly adding in enhancing work throughout your hair and using lots of your natural color to keep the haircolor as healthy as possible). I have been certified in four different beaded row extension methods and regularly upkeep my education as much as possible every year. The more I travel, the better in my opinion, ha. I love a good work trip.
What sets me apart from other salon spaces is a luxurious atmosphere of privacy and leaning into what works for you and your lifestyle. I aim every year to educate myself on the best techniques that will allow me to service a client’s hair to make it last as long as it possibly can. Most of my clients’ are young moms and entrepreneurs who aim to look their best and never have a color that can quickly grow out and make them not feel as fresh. My aim to ensuring clients’ have the best hair is by consulting with them for what works for their skin tone and lifestyle to better their getting ready time each and every morning to feel their absolute best.
I’m most proud of how many people I can meet on a yearly basis and share what God is doing in my life with them. It’s difficult I think for everyone to get swallowed up in the “hustle” culture and lose sight of what’s important. God teaches me every day just how much He’s doing in my life and providing me with an outlet I thrive in and can create so often.
My wish for every client, new or seasoned, is to know Jesus through my actions and my business. It sounds cheesy, but God gave me this talent and this ability for a reason. I hope and pray that my business is a blessing to others.
Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?
2020 was a rude wake up call on so many levels. Just two months before, I had begun a money saving system and just began a new system to ensure my business could profit well and flourish. I risked it all and went out on my own suite just two weeks before the shut down without any knowledge it was going to happen. The shutdown took every single penny I had within my brand new savings for my business, and God really provided during that time with a rent that was postponed until after the shutdown was lifted. That year terrified me on every level; my peace of mind was stretched to it’s very limit. God provided, and I was able to just barely squeak by without going into debt.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
It’s an old fashioned thing to say but being willing to say yes to every opportunity. Making the sacrifice to make any opportunity work within time frame and giving up social time to hustle. Being humble enough to recognize that everyone in each work space knew something I didn’t and could always teach me something. I recognized how I felt in situations where I wasn’t welcomed and try to welcome every stylist and vendor wherever I went. I think being a team player and being willing to go out of the way to help others goes tremendously far with gaining a reputation.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.madeupandcuttinup.com
- Instagram: madeupandcuttinup
- Other: Tiktok @ Madeupandcuttinup
Image Credits
Mary Kate Steele Photography