We were lucky to catch up with Elena Nelson recently and have shared our conversation below.

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

Interestingly enough, I never wanted to go out on my own or even rent a suite. Because of the circumstances at the time, I didn’t have much room for decision making, unfortunately. I knew I could rely on myself to make my business run smoothly so I took the plunge and signed the lease on my first suite. As far as the mission behind my business goes, that’s something I’ve lived by my entire career as a stylist. The ideology behind Hair Ethics is that letting your guard down and being honest and transparent with people is what will propel you forward. I’ve noticed that in this industry stylists are willing to sacrifice quite a bit to make a dollar. Ultimately, at Hair Ethics I focus on creating a safe space where my clients feel seen and heard. From their hair cut and color, decisions on buying home care products, and willingness to communicate with me as their stylist, there is complete transparency as well as kindness. I can’t even begin to count the number of clients who have said things like “I’m so happy that you’re nice and non-judgmental, my last stylist wasn’t”. The fact that I can change someone’s perspective of this industry means everything.

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

I first began taking an interest in hair at a very young age, maybe 10 years old, when my mom would let me help her highlight her hair with a cap in our bathroom at home. Growing up I would do all of my friends’ hair with color from Salley’s Beauty Supply. That was the Kelly Clarkson chunky highlight era, if you can remember back to that phase. I graduated high school early and enrolled in beauty school, where I kept my head down, worked hard, and was in and out in 11 months. Fast forward, things have completely done a 180 in the industry. I now specialize in low maintenance, sustainable looks that enhance my clients’ natural beauty. This includes the ever-popular service, balayage, which requires little to no maintenance. I play off and play up the client’s natural hair and encourage wearing natural texture. When doing base colors, I work off my clients’ natural hair color so the grow out is less noticeable, allowing for more time to pass between appointments. I also specialize in dry cutting, which can allow for two less haircuts on average a year. My goal for anyone who visits me is to give them a look that they can love more with each passing day instead of less. Longevity and wearability are the key.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

What most people don’t know is how cutthroat this industry truly is. I have clients that have come to me from a stylist that they were previously bullied by. What I say to them is always a shock but it’s that I too have also been bullied, by salon owners, coworkers, managers etc. All of that helped to shape my business and what it is today. Because I was different and consistently frowned upon for being so, it has helped me to cultivate a space for myself and my clients to feel safe and understood. Being true to myself over all these years and never conforming to what anyone else thought I should has given me my business and brought me the business of all the right people.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The number one thing that is always constant for me is showing up as my most authentic self. These days, anyone can be a good hair stylist, there’s one in every shopping center. What makes a hairstylist great is their ability to relate, listen and understand. When you cultivate a very strong and specific energy the right people will find you. Of course, that doesn’t mean just sitting back and doing nothing. Being consistent with social media and also word of mouth is both huge for all hairstylists. Staying in touch with current clients is just as important if not more than obtaining new ones. Keeping the lines of communication open is extremely important. If your clients are afraid to reach out to you about any hair related concerns or questions, they will ask someone else. If you don’t have a strong foundation of trust and communication, you have nothing.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hairethics.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/HairEthics
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/HairEthics
• Other: TikTok – @hairethics

Image Credits
Beau Raines at Voice One Arts