I sit down with my friend and boss, Samantha, to talk about her journey from being a young girl obsessed with hair and all things beauty to becoming the owner of Salon Stella, and most recently a brand creator of her very own hair extension line, The Mane Collection™. Sam shares where her passion began and how each chapter of her career unfolded. From starting out in a corporatized salon, to stepping into the safety-net of a commission-based environment, to eventually taking the leap into chair rental, she walks us through the lessons learned in every season.

It’s funny how just when the chaos of life finally starts to settle, the next door of opportunity swings wide open. Ready or not, she took the biggest leap of faith and purchased her own salon. Unfortunately, it wasn’t all roses and butterflies, and smooth sailing from there. No matter how hard you try to be the perfect boss who gets it right every time, business ownership has a way of sharpening you. As a female, it will harden you, & that’s just a fact. In Part 2, we dive into what that hardness really looks like behind the scenes.