Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Elliott.
Hi Emily, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I didn’t set out to become a hairstylist—like many great things, it found me. After dropping out of college in 2010, I took a job as a salon assistant and instantly fell in love with the fast pace, creativity, and transformations happening around me. That spark led me to cosmetology school in 2012, and I hit the ground running—working full-time behind the chair during the week and weddings on weekends.
Driven by the dream of becoming independent, I opened my first studio in 2015, eventually niching down to color and extensions. After being diagnosed with a brain tumor and navigating recovery, I stepped away from weddings and created a peaceful studio environment where clients could feel seen, safe, and transformed.
When COVID hit, I knew it was time to grow again. I trained my first assistant—now my co-stylist—and in Summer 2025, I’m opening my first full-scale salon in Allen, TX. At E. Elliott Hair Therapy, we’re blending cosmetology and Trichology—offering personalized, comprehensive hair care in one calming space.
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?
In 2017, while building our first home, I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor called an acoustic neuroma—just two months after breaking ground. I powered through my summer wedding contracts, then underwent a 10-hour surgery to have it removed. The team at UTSW was incredible, but the aftermath hit hard: I was left with single-sided deafness, chronic vertigo, and balance issues that made me genuinely believe I’d never do hair again. For weeks, even the texture of hair was unbearable. I sat in those feelings, unsure if I’d ever return to the career I loved—until one day, I called a friend and said, “Meet me at the salon. I need to try.” That single appointment reignited my fire. The first year back was brutal—relearning how to stand all day, managing background noise, nerve pain, and the waves of vertigo—but I fought my way through it. Eventually, I carved out a quiet, calm studio space where I could heal, grow, and rebuild on my own terms—and I’ve never looked back.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about E. Elliott Hair Therapy ?
E. Elliott Hair Therapy is a local salon rooted in the belief that hair care is a form of therapy. We specialize in personalized hair color, multiple extension techniques, and advanced scalp care, all grounded in Trichology, the science of the hair and scalp. This dual focus allows us to go deeper than surface-level beauty—we’re helping our clients understand the why behind their hair health and giving them real, long-term solutions.
What sets us apart is our commitment to education and empowerment—for both our clients and our fellow stylists. We don’t gatekeep knowledge. We teach our guests how to care for their hair between visits, and we support our team with ongoing training, mentorship, and systems that prioritize career sustainability and personal growth. The future of E. Elliott Hair Therapy also includes The Hair Therapy Club—a growing community dedicated to hair education, connection, and elevated self-care.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
For a long time, I played it safe. I’m someone who overanalyzes everything—I like to plan, prepare, and have a backup for the backup. That mindset kept me grounded, but it also held me back. It took some of life’s biggest curveballs to show me that risk is where the real growth happens.
Over the years, I’ve faced some major turning points. Rebuilding my business after COVID, stepping away from a thriving wedding career, navigating the aftermath of brain tumor surgery, and launching not just one—but multiple private studio spaces—all required me to trust myself more than my fear. Most recently, I’ve taken the biggest leap yet: opening my own full-scale salon in Allen, TX.
That decision required me to stop waiting for the “perfect time” and start betting on my vision. It’s a huge investment of time, money, and energy—but it’s also a declaration. I’m all in now. And I’ve learned that taking a risk with intention and heart isn’t reckless—it’s brave.
Time is going to pass either way, so take the risk or lose the shot.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.TheHairTherapyClub.com
- Instagram: Eelliotthairtherapy
- Facebook: Eelliotthairtherapy
- Youtube: The Hair Therapy Club
Image Credits
Elizabeth Danielle Photography
