We were lucky to catch up with Joyce Keithley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Joyce, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

I would say the biggest risk I’ve ever taken was deciding to open my own salon. Opening a salon at 52 years of age was something I never imagined I would do. In fact, I didn’t even attend cosmetology school until I was 40, which—looking back—was probably my very first big risk.

When my youngest daughter chose to follow the same career path, we began talking about opening a salon of our own. That dream became a reality, and Wildflower Salon has now been open for five years and continues to thrive. We currently have nine stylists on our team, ranging from part-time to full-time.

Joyce, 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?

I am a Northwest Arkansas native. After high school, I attended Arkansas Tech University, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Just before leaving for college, I shared with my parents that I truly wanted to attend cosmetology school. They encouraged me to use the scholarships I had received and pursue my college education first, reassuring me that cosmetology school would always be an option later.

After graduating, I worked in the corporate world for several years before having my first daughter. When she began elementary school, I had the opportunity to work within the school system at the elementary and at the high school level. During that time, I would occasionally revisit the idea of cosmetology school, but it never seemed like the right moment.

After leaving the school system and returning to the corporate world, I came to a clear realization—the only thing I truly wanted to do was be a hairstylist. A few years before I was diagnosed with epilepsy. I knew I needed a career that allowed flexibility and some control over my schedule, and hairstyling felt like the perfect fit. I took a leap of faith, quit my job, and enrolled in cosmetology school. One year later, I was working behind the chair, finally fulfilling a lifelong dream.

I have now been in the beauty industry for 16 years and have owned my salon for the past five. As a stylist, I love every aspect of my work, but in recent years I have specialized in curly hair and gray blending and coverage. I am certified in all types of extensions and hair toppers.

As a salon owner, I am honored to work alongside nine incredibly talented stylists. My goal has always been to create a salon that feels high-end while still being warm and comfortable—a place where clients can come for everything from wedding services to their child’s first haircut, and every hair service in between. We take great pride in continuing education, regularly traveling out of state for advanced training and hosting educational classes locally within our salon.

Outside of the salon, I am very involved in my church, where I sing on the worship team and lead a women’s discipleship group.

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

As a business owner who lives with epilepsy, there have been times when I questioned whether I could be the leader I needed to be. I truly believe that you are only as strong as the people around you, and I have been incredibly blessed with an amazing team. The stylists at Wildflower Salon have supported me through some of my hardest moments and have always been people I could depend on.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

I work hard to take care of my team by staying current with industry trends and encouraging continued education, both inside and outside the salon. From the beginning, I’m clear with every hire that we are a no-drama salon—and that has remained true. We are a group of women who work hard and support one another.

I believe the most important foundation of a strong salon is mutual respect. I strive to foster that by first showing my team the respect they deserve. I’ve learned something from every salon I’ve worked in, and I do my best to use the things I have learned to have a successful salon of my own.

I’ve also taken risks by hiring stylists without an established clientele, because I know firsthand what it means when someone takes a chance on you. As a 40-year-old new stylist, that opportunity meant everything to me, and I want to always remain open to helping others build and start their careers

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.wildflowersalonnwa.com
• Instagram: @Wildflowersalonbville
• Facebook: Wildflower Salon

Image Credits

Alyssa Owen Photography