We were lucky to catch up with Courtney Gassaway recently and have shared our conversation below.

Courtney, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with a fun one – what’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?

Most people in my industry use toxic hair color and treatments. I believe ammonia, PPD, and resorcinol free lines benefit myself and my clients. It took a few years for me to realize the ingredients I was working with and putting on my clients scalp and hair had a negative effect on our bodies as well as the environment. Clients scalps would be itchy during color processing and the hair would feel kind of dry after lightening services. I also always had a stuffy nose that I chalked up to allergies. After switching to non toxic products, I found my clients hair to be moisturized after color and treatment services, shiny, and their scalps were never red or itchy. My year long “seasonal allergies” also went away. My salon no longer smells like bleach or chemicals which should have been a clear indicator in the beginning just how bad those toxic ingredients were. Switching to non toxic products is one of the best decisions I’ve made in my career so far.

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.

I always hated the question “what do you want to be when you grow up?”. I’ve always wanted to work in a hair salon, but I never thought I could make a career out of being a hairstylist. “You just play with hair all day” is something I always heard and still hear to this day. After high school, I signed up to go to community college. About a month in, I decided that wasn’t for me and I really couldn’t see myself in one of your “normal careers”. I continued working at my restaurant job which I loved because I was constantly moving around and interacting with people. When I turned 21 I finally signed up for cosmetology school and decided I was going to make a career out of being a hairstylist. I finished school and passed my cosmetology boards and have been in the industry for 9 years now. I recently opened my own salon with my two amazing co owners. We focus on non toxic products and providing a calm and relaxing space for your services. I specialize in dimensional color, lived in blondes, hand tied extensions and long length hair cuts and styling. The salon has been open for 2 years now and I’m always in disbelief that I get to do something I genuinely love every day. I’m so happy building relationships with my clients while providing them with services that make them feel good about themselves. Knowing I use products that aren’t harming anyone makes it even better. I am truly grateful for not giving up on my dream career.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

There was a time a few years ago where I felt unhappy in my day to day life. I was feeling drained after my work days and could never catch up on my responsibilities outside of work. I started to wonder if doing hair wasn’t for me anymore, but I quickly realized I just didn’t have any work life balance. I still loved seeing my clients at the time, but I was missing out on important life events. When I found out I wasn’t the only one feeling that way, I started to get excited about making a change. The change was opening the salon I have now with my two co owners. I still dedicate time to the salon and to my clients, but I’ve created my schedule in a way that allows me to enjoy my weekends and more free time. Having a work like balance is possible and my clients get the happiest and most focused version of myself now because of it.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I have two co founders/ business partners that I absolutely adore. I met Bre in cosmetology school. I graduated a few months before her and started working in my aunt’s salon. A year or so later, I was asked by a salon to assist at a wedding. I went to the salon for a trial and it happened to be the salon Bre was working in. I ended up interviewing at the salon and started working there along side her. My second business partner Sarah was actually a client of that salon at the time. Sarah ended up going to cosmetology school and started working there as well. Ever since, we’ve all been working together!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://SANDsalon.com
• Instagram: Courtdoesmyhair_
• Facebook: SAND an organic concept salon
• Other: Tik tok: SANDsalon

Image Credits

Personal photo – Meredith Heim