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

Hi Chelsea, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Let’s rewind the tape. Picture this: four generations of women running the show in my family. Growing up, I was the self-proclaimed diva, and they all thought, “She’s definitely taking over the family business.” But as I matured, I realized my true passion was caring for people, so I set my sights on nursing.
However, life had other plans. My mom fell ill, and nursing school took a backseat. I enrolled in beauty school to have something to fall back on. After about a year and a half behind the chair, my mom passed away. I told my clients I was returning to nursing school, and they were like, “No way! You’re exactly where you’re meant to be.”
I enjoyed it, but I was constantly told that, without a college degree, success was out of reach. I envisioned a big family and wondered if I could support them, especially after witnessing my family’s struggles in the salon business. I learned what to do—and what not to do—just by observing my mom’s finances, the long hours, and the artistic side of the business.
I kept trying to go back to nursing school, but the salon chair kept calling me back. Then it hit me: why not combine the empathy of nursing with the creativity of hairstyling? That way, I could provide a deeper experience for my clients.
During COVID, I discovered I had alopecia. I thought, “What if I could merge my experience with hair loss and my hairstyling skills to help others?” I had three clients who begged me, “If you find a solution, please let us know.” I felt guilty turning people away without a solution.
So, I dove into research, attended hair loss conferences, and connected with a major one in Nashville. I was determined to become an expert in hair replacement. Traditional options like wigs and toupees had a bad reputation—think Donald Trump hair. I wondered, “Is there a better way to make hair look real behind the chair?”
That’s when the idea took off. The salon has undergone several transformations—becoming a spa, hiring employees, and evolving with the times. When I ventured into hair replacement, the business exploded.
Now, my focus is on hiring individuals who understand the experience of hair loss—many of whom are my clients. I hire for empathy. Currently, I have five apprentices: a neuroscientist turned hairstylist, a behavioral therapist and hypnotist turned hairstylist, an art major who became licensed, and a seasoned educator with 48 years of experience in other states. Only two apprentices have dropped out, saying, “This is harder than I thought.”
This journey has shown me that combining passion with compassion leads to a fulfilling experience for both the client and me. My clientele is booming. I don’t even have time to look for clients anymore—they find me through word of mouth and the growing need for help.
Every appointment starts with tears and ends with joy, confidence, and self-esteem. Clients have lost significant weight, transformed their careers, and revitalized their personal lives. It’s clear this isn’t just a coincidence.
It’s especially challenging for women with no hair, but even men get emotional. I’m still strategizing on how to make male clients feel safe, offering private appointments or after-hours slots because it’s such a vulnerable experience for everyone. I can imagine how intimidating it must be for a man to walk into a salon filled with women. That’s why I’m committed to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone in the near future.

Chelsea, 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?

Yeah, so as mentioned earlier, I grew up around the salon industry — four generations of women before me ran the family salon. Though originally I wanted to become a nurse because I loved taking care of people, life had other plans when my mom fell ill.

While initially enrolling in beauty school as a backup plan, I discovered a passion for being behind the chair. After my mom passed, my clients’ overwhelming support and need for my services showed me I had a natural gift here. I provide not just hair styling but specialize in hair replacement solutions, particularly for those suffering from hair loss, including alopecia.

What sets me apart is my deep empathy and commitment to blending beauty with healing. It’s not just about hair — it’s about restoring confidence and dignity.

I’m most proud of creating a space where clients feel seen, heard, and valued, especially those facing emotionally painful hair loss. The environment at Salon Adair fosters hope, empowerment, and transformation — you don’t just get a haircut, you get your life back.

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

I didn’t take business or marketing in college because everything I did was off the cuff, from my heart, listening to my intuition. I started this business with $500 after my parents passed away. I thought, “I’m either going to sink or swim,” so I had to figure out how to run a company with no loan, no credit, no parents, and no mentors. I did whatever strategy I had to do — in the beginning, I would trade free hair services for necessities. I was pregnant at the time, so I would trade haircuts for boxes of diapers, food, anything to survive and help pay my rent. Over six weeks, I gained a lot of new clients, and over nine months, I had 90 boxes of diapers and 90 new clients. It started with a chair in my bathroom on a laundry hamper, and now we have 10,000 clients in our database, a full spa, and a strong team. Even when we faced bad reviews or discouragements, I learned to pivot, listen, and grow. I realized conflict with customers wasn’t scary anymore — it was just another strategy session to do better. I couldn’t imagine ever going back to a regular job. I’m a natural-born, independent leader.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

I think being yourself is the most effective strategy. Taking the façade of being too professional to the point of being bland doesn’t keep clients. What built my relationship with clients was being genuine. I engage with them as if they’re really part of my life — I see them more often than they see their own families, every six weeks in my chair. They can tell I’m excited about what I’m doing. I’ve stayed at the forefront of education, always offering something new. In the beginning, I took free classes until I could afford paid ones, and once I got a taste of something fancier, I wanted to go even further — to Paris, Milan, and beyond. My clients, many of them successful businesswomen, became like coaches and mentors to me. They taught me about opening an LLC, marketing, payroll — and they were excited to see me take their advice and succeed. People love to support passionate people. When clients see your real joy and self-expression, they naturally want to support you and send others your way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.salonadairstyle.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafE-iv2IkOiXpsjZV1MKMSE14MJpFPzzN5_Gb5NfON7VJFT7_hhW4nilCNCdg_aem_jABschxOB47wCICRBLad4g
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrshairstylist/?hl=en

Image Credits

Images provided by Chelsea Adair.