We were lucky to catch up with Christie Brenn recently and have shared our conversation below.

Christie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I knew that I wanted to be at the forefront of positive change in my industry. For too long I’ve seen stylists graduate cosmetology school and start at a commission salon, only to experience exploitation and workplace abuse from management and owner. They leave to go independent only to be drowning financially from the overhead and burnt out from the hustle. I’ve been in the industry my whole life (my mom did hair for 40 years), I’ve been behind the chair for 14. I knew there was a better way to do ownership that gives everyone involved the freedom they are looking for. With the help of my business coaches at Destroy The Hairdresser, I was able to create a safe and uninhibited workplace for stylists, as well as have the opportunity as an owner to scale back from behind the chair and focus more on the things that fulfill me- being a mother and and a good leader.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Christie Myhand, I have been a hairstylist for 14 years and a salon owner for 8.5 of them. My mom did hair my whole life, my first job at 13 was cleaning her shop on the weekends. I was immersed in the industry as early as I can remember, feeling such a strong love for all that it entailed. The relationships with people. The artistry of the craft. The freedom to be fully and authentically me. I own Superbloom Hair Studio in Charlotte, NC, a new kind of commission salon. We are time-based pricing model (no confusing add-ons or sticker shock at check out) and gratuity-free, as well as allow our staff to specialize in services they truly enjoy and have mastered.

We are a commission salon, with all the benefits of rental. Our stylists enjoy freedom of schedule, set their own prices (and when they raise them), and what services they provides without the tax headache of being 1099. We also offer 1:1 business coaching/mentorship to help everyone achieve their own goals with an individualized plan. We value genuine relationships with our guests, and believe that honesty and transparency is the way to build upon that. We want every single person who steps into our space to feel welcomed, valued, and heard.

As a leader, I am passionate about leading my team with emotional intelligence, something that has been lacking in the beauty industry for a long time, We talk a lot about reactivity and conscious business practices, something that I feel is truly transcendent work and benefits all aspects of life.

What I am most proud of is scaling my business and building a team that I am truly proud of and can rely on. I came to Charlotte almost 5 years ago as a booth rental stylist, not knowing a single person. 2.5 years I ago opened my shop (while pregnant) in a 2 chair 200sqft studio. We are now a team of 8, in triple the space. I am living proof that if you have a dream and a desire to pursue something, hard work and dedication pays off. I have spent countless hours behind a computer screen doing research, networking with other professionals, and finding the right people to help make it all happen. All while being a wife and mother. I am not glorifying hustle culture by any means. But I do know that working hard for something you love and believe in will be the most fulfilling thing you ever do in your life. Trust me. If I can do it, so can you.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

This was something I was so overwhelmed with in the beginning, and something I love educating other stylists about. I decided to go the salon suite route initially because I didn’t have the capital for a huge build-out. I went into it knowing I would hire w-2 commission stylists to help cover the overhead while I was on maternity leave. We also operate on station-sharing, so this model helped my scalability and profitability from my team for a while. This is an alternative way to salon ownership that isn’t widely talked about, but has a massive profit potential.

When we began to outgrow our space, I started looking into additional funding for a bigger space. The first thing I did was look into the SBA. I received a phone call from a gentleman at a bank (who has now become a family friend), and he spent more than an hour with me on the phone educating me on all my options. We decided that a line of credit would be the better option for me, since I would have to start paying off a loan immediately at closing and I didn’t have a space secured at the time. A line of credit is basically a revolving credit for your business backed by the bank, and its there when you need it. You only pay on what you use, which was the perfect option for me,

When I found out space, it was already a second-generation salon (a gold mine, basically). All the plumbing and electrical was already in place, all I needed to do was fill it with equipment. This was a great opportunity for me to minimize my debt and focus more on scalability of my space.

I will also note, it look me over a year and touring about 30 different spaces in all conditions to find the perfect fit for us. This look a lot of trusting my gut and having honest conversations with my accountant about what was feasible financially. Don’t rush or force this process, if you can help it. The right opportunity will fall in your lap when you least expect it! What is meant for you will find it’s way to you.

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

For most of my career, my job was my baby. I was a total workaholic, and I loved it. When I met my husband, I knew that needed to shift. I slowly started to create more boundaries with my work schedule and with my clients. When we got pregnant, that became even more clear.

My mom worked hard her whole career. She worked long hours and most weekends, She was a single mom and of course had to do what was required to sustain us. But I knew I wanted something different for my life and children. I knew it was time to pivot from being behind the chair so much, and focus more on my leadership skills and growing my team.

Scaling back from behind the chair provided me with the freedom I always knew I wanted when the time came to start a family. I am more present at home and have more patience and capacity to parent with EQ. I have learned that I value being peaceful, and even bored sometimes, than working myself to the bone like I used to. I have more time for hobbies and doing other things that fulfill me and uphold my identity.

This shift is not an easy one to make. It takes accountability from others and strong boundaries with yourself. I had to learn I was more than just a hairdresser, a mom, and a wife. I am a bread baker, a painter, a musician, and (more recently) a potter. Making this conscious shift in my life has made room for more fulfillment and excitement.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.superbloomhairstudio.com
• Instagram: @superbloomhairstudio @christiebrennbeauty

Image Credits

Images 1,5-7 Katie Garner
Images 2,3,4,8 Madison Harney