We were lucky to catch up with Kai Downey recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kai , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you manage your own social media?

Yes, I manage all of my social media accounts! Running 7 different instagram accounts can be tiring at times, but it is worth it to be able to run them myself! I spend an hour everyday to take time and plan out upcoming posts and ads. Being in the salon and talking to clients, I have learned what they want to see or what they like/don’t like. So i can curate posts based on my clientele. One thing I love about instagram is how easy it is to connect to with other people. I have made connections with other salon owners across the United States which has helped me spread my haircare line across the states! My social media has taken off this past year with my main account hitting 15k followers and my salon almost at 10k. I have loved the process of building and watching my social media grow.

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 own Kaiblonde salon, a luxury salon in Mount Pleasant, SC. I also own a few companies Kaiblonde Extensions, Kaiblonde Cosmetics, Kaiblonde Hair Care, Kb Couture and Kaiblonde Coffee. My salon is a one stop shop. We offer custom blonding, extensions, lashes, nails, spray tans, facials and body sculpting. Kaiblonde salon is an experience. As soon as you walk in you will feel welcomed with some of the best beauticians in Charleston, we will have you looking and feeling like the most beautiful version of yourself!
When I was in cosmetology school I shadowed at a couple salons around town and I wasn’t impressed with any of them. They were all missing something. Right after I graduated school I opened a little salon suite. I had no clientele or experience but I was so determined to create not only a salon, but a luxury experience. 10 months later I had outgrown my suite. I had a full clientele and needed more space, so I opened up a brand new full service salon in Mount Pleasant, SC. It was so crazy how fast I grew but it was because I created an experience. My salons have a vibe to them with music playing and a fun atmosphere. I created a safe, fun place that my clients looked forward to coming too. Now a year later my salon is full with hairstylists, estheticians, nail and lash techs and I couldn’t be more thankful to have such an amazing team of strong women with me!
I curated Kaiblonde hair care for blondes and extensions. One problem I heard everyday was clients not knowing what shampoo to use. They needed something to benefit and moisturize their blonde while also being safe for their extensions. So I decided to create my own! All 6 of our amazing shampoo and conditioners help to keep your blonde bright and healthy! while also being extension safe.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Social media is so important, it gives you the opportunity to build your brand, generate reviews, create a platform, and market yourself. Clients want to see new and updated posts daily. In the beauty industry your Instagram is your portfolio, so you always want it to be up to date. I post at least one picture, a story and a reel a day. Creating engaging posts is a great way to bring activity to your page. Asking questions in your caption and posting stories with polls are two examples. Being consistent on social media is the best advice I can give!

How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.

I sell all of my products in my salon. I do have a website for my girls that don’t live in Charleston and want to buy my products. I use shopify and it is the best website for selling retail, in my opinion. I have had nothing but positive feedback on my websites. It makes it super easy for other hair stylists and clients across the United States to purchase Kai Blonde hair care, extensions, cosmetics, coffee and couture!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kaiblondesalon.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaiblondesalon/
• Other: Personal Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/downey.kai/?hl=en