Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaye Flewellen.
Hi Kaye, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am the owner of Flewellen’s Hair Salon which is the longest continuously running African American Salon in the city.. I inherited the salon from my mother and collectively we have been in business for 56 years.
My mother founded the salon with the mantra “Building Community Builds Business “. As a result she always sponsored and supported community centered events. This endeared her and her business to the community and the community to her business. As a result, along with providing good service to clients, I a deeply committed and ingratiated to the community I serve.
I would be remiss to not talk about as a stylist, there is added bonus of touching people in a very personal way. Hairstyling shifts one’s personal image and confidence. Clients have a level of vulnerability with their stylists and an emotional intelligent stylist is able to build trust in that vulnerable area. This builds lifelong relationships.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My mother was strong in her leadership and she endured most of the “startup obstacles “. My biggest challenge was stepping in her shoes, honoring her legacy while developing my own leadership style and understanding change management while growing.
After 56 years it’s easy to become stagnant and being creative enough o stay relevant is awfully challenging.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Obviously, entering my work as a hairstylist, my creativity behind the chair was paramount. Now the salon has become a trusted community companion and representative. Most of my clients are an extension of my family. Today, I focus more on the legacy and the giveback.
With pride I founded the Mary Flewellen Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit in honor of my mother which has a two-fold mission. We are committed to providing resources to beauty industry professionals that helps the to start, sustain and scale in the business. As well we aim to connect our clients and community with resources to advocate for or advance their interests.
Currently,I’m partnering with UT Southwestern on an initiative “Brains and Beauty Collaborative “. We aim to use Beauty salon as a platform to promote brain health. Increasingly the black community is reporting new cases of Alzheimer’s and Dementia. The goal is to provide the community with testing, information and resources to prevent or treat the disease.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I’ve always loved people and talking to people. I was inquisitive and enjoyed conversations that both challenged me and engaged me.
In school I was the one who talked too much or too sassy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://MaryFlewellenFoundation.com
- Instagram: Kflewellen
- Facebook: Karon K Flewellen
- Youtube: Kflewellen
