Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Paige. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Paige, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
The biggest risk I’ve taken so far was when I decided to take my side hustle full-time. At the time, I was 1 year post-grad with a Business Marketing degree (shoutout Brock School of Business!) , working full time for a local artist – doing everything and anything business related. My Monday-Fridays were dedicated to her, and my weekends were fully dedicated to my bridal clients. “Styled By Paige” was my passion, but quickly started to take a back seat due to the many hats I wore elsewhere… I knew I was feeling called to make a big change! To understand how I got to that point, let’s rewind a few years..
I truly was always “the hair girl”. From growing up with an older sister (AKA my guinea pig), to working in a hair salon throughout high school, my passion for hair styling was born early. I took my first bridal client when I was only in the 8th grade (whoever trusted me on their wedding day when my mom was dropping me off… bless you), and I was hooked. I spent high school styling my first “clients” in the jack-and-jill bathroom of my childhood home, began assisting in a hair salon at 16, and started specializing in bridal around 2017. When I graduated college in 2021, I lept at a job opportunity that I knew would provide me some security (thanks, COVID), but also flexibility to still pursue my own passions on the side. Fast forward to around a year later, I started focusing more on my social media presence and trying to grow there. 2022 was a huge growth year for me — my weekends fully booked for weddings and bridal clients. It was at this point where juggling a full time job and *trying* to show up full time for my clients became impossible. My mental health was suffering, my relationships were suffering, and I was beyond burned out; I just couldn’t show up 100% to each bucket I felt I was pouring into.
I knew quitting my job to pursue my own hair styling business was a risk, but that if it worked, it would be so worth it. I’m so blessed to have other female founder friends in my life that really encouraged me and helped to put practical steps into place where this would become possible. I allowed myself 6 months to prepare to take the leap – I officially established my business, tackled my own rebrand design, built my website, and saved some money to give me a little runway incase I was unsuccessful in gaining more clientele off the bat. My fiancé at the time was extremely supportive, and I knew I was the only one left standing in my own way. 2022 ended with getting married myself and in January 2023, STYLED x PAIGE was (re)born and has been thriving ever since! Now, as 2025 is coming to a close, I have continued to grow each year and even brought on my first part-time employee earlier this Summer. Honestly, that felt like another risk worth taking, but that’s a story for another time ;). Taking a risk doesn’t mean taking the easy way out — it can be quite the opposite, in my opinion.
I have poured in a lot of hard work to be able to do this full time, but nothing worth having comes easy. I’m a true testament to taking the leap and having zero regrets doing so. Obviously, it’s not easy being a solo small business owner and wearing all the hats, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have no choice but to believe “the same God that gave [me] the business idea, will give [me] the clients”.
Paige, 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?
STYLED x PAIGE is all about luxury special-event hairstyling. Beyond local + destination weddings, I also work on editorial and campaign shoots, partnering with brands to create trend-forward hair looks that elevate their creative vision. I provide an experience where clients feel both taken care of and inspired. Whether it’s a bride on her wedding day or a brand prepping for a shoot, my role is to ensure they feel confident, understood, and bring their hair goals to life. I even had the opportunity to do hair for some of the Eagles’ Wives and Girlfriends at Super Bowl LIX this year. That was a real pinch-me moment!
Going back, my relationship with hair really starts before I had the language to call it a “career.” I’ve always felt a pull and interest towards all things creative, but specifically in creating things with my hands. I used to say this craft chose me VS. the other way around. Some of my earliest memories involve playing with hair—experimenting on my sisters, friends, and anyone who would sit still long enough. By middle school, I had already become “The Hair Girl” to those around me, running my little side business out of my childhood bathroom. I don’t think I ever charged more than $15 back then, but what I gained was priceless: the realization that I loved creating and enhancing people’s natural beauty… watching their confidence grow right in front of me.
At 14 years old, I did my first bridal client, and by 16, I was working in a local salon. That was the foundation that eventually grew into STYLED x PAIGE, a business that today services clients across the Southeast and beyond, including destination weddings and special events! I like to think I’m more than just a hairstylist for all my clients– I promise to bring a peaceful energy, genuine connection, and expertise I’ve honed through years of experience (and trial and error) in this industry.
I think the combination of luxury and warmth is what sets me apart, professionally. My clients know they are in expert hands, but they also know I’m someone they can laugh with, trust, and lean on during highly emotional moments. I stay deeply tuned in to trends while also respecting timeless beauty, which makes me a resource and open to anything. I want every client to walk away not only loving their hair, but also remembering how good it felt to be in the chair.
STYLED x PAIGE isn’t just about hair—it’s about confidence, connection, and celebrating life’s best moments. When you sit in my chair, you’re not just getting a style, you’re getting an experience and hopefully gaining a friend!
Oh, and if you ever visit me in my studio, there’s a good chance you’ll also meet my mini dachshund, Chicago— the unofficial mascot of STYLED x PAIGE.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I’m the #1 spokesperson and fan girl of Female Startup Club! I could go on and on. FSC, by Doone Roisin, absolutely has changed my mindset, confidence, ultimately business. There, you can find great resources, community, and stories about successful (and failed) business of all caliber. I travel every week for work so personally, I take full advantage of the podcast! Anytime I’m in the car or on a flight, you can catch me listening to other founder stories and making notes of the do’s and don’t’s of early stage businesses. Whether you’re a product or service based business, there is something for everyone in Female Startup Club. Highly recommend subscribing to her weekly newsletters; they are full of free resources to check out (including weekly grants, tips, etc.). Specifically, it’s helped me navigate the legal side of my business, navigating my first hire, generating content and marketing ideas, and much more. It’s a great starting point if you’re feeling overwhelmed!
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
When it comes to the wedding industry in general, I think what’s helped me build my reputation most is consistency in how I show up for people. From day one, I made it a priority to be responsible, organized, and kind in every interaction—whether that’s with a bride, her family, or fellow vendors on a wedding day. The wedding industry is so heavily driven by word of mouth and referrals, and people remember how you made them feel just as much as how the final look turned out. At the end of the day, it’s so much more than hair – it’s about how you made them feel on one of their most important days.
Because weddings are such high-emotion environments, I’ve always tried to remain the “coolest in the room”—calm, collected, and steady. That energy not only reassures my clients but also makes it easier for other vendors to trust and enjoy working alongside me. Over time, that consistency—paired with the artistry and passion I put into styling—has really helped build my reputation and create strong relationships that continue to open doors. I show up for my clients and realize where my not-so-strong areas might be. For example, this year specifically as I grew, I wanted to focus on my clients and providing them with the best version of me and their experience. I quickly realized I can’t do that to the best of my ability if I’m focusing so much of my time on the back end/admin side of things. Enter my first hire… someone who has relieved the weight of those tasks, in order for me to focus my time and energy into areas that make a difference for my clients. They now have someone who is able and ready to serve them better in-person (myself) and digitally with all the communication (Jillian).
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses (or even likes and dislikes) as a business owner can make the biggest difference in your reputation!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.styledxpaige.com
- Instagram: @styledxpaige
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/styledxpaige/
- Linkedin: Paige Wanamaker
- Other: Tik Tok: @styledxpaige
Image Credits
Greddins Photography