Today we’d like to introduce you to Destiny Clausen.
Hi Destiny, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 1997, at 17, I had dropped out of high school, earned my GED, and was offered a chance to attend Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy for a fraction of the cost. I wasn’t exactly interested in becoming a stylist—my mom was one, and I’d seen how exhausted she always was—but I had no other plans. I figured I’d get my license, work part-time in a salon, and go to college after. A few months into hair school, I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, so I decided to make the most of it. After earning my license and then completing three semesters of college, I realized school took precious time away from her. By the time she was two, I was earning enough as a stylist to support us on my own. I built a small clientele at Toni & Guy in Stonebriar Mall, got married in 2001, and soon had my first son. Wanting more flexibility and income, I left Toni & Guy, moved across the street into a salon suite, and built a steady, loyal clientele.
Eight years later, I bought a home in McKinney and, with my dad’s help, built my own salon inside it—where I’ve worked for the past 15 years. My little trade has solely supported my family of five for over two decades. I never imagined at 17 that this path would become not only a career but a source of deep connection. Many of my clients have become dear friends, confidants, even family.
Having my salon at home has been both a blessing and a challenge. My clients have seen my life unfold in real time—especially while I was raising teenagers. Keeping personal and professional separate wasn’t always easy, and life can get messy when you wear your heart on your sleeve.
Then came 2020—a year of reckoning. Raised in a strict conservative Christian home, I realized my faith had been built on what I was told to believe, not what I truly chose to believe. That awakening cost me half my clientele and even my immediate family, who said I’d lost my way. But the truth is, I finally found it.
Since then, I’ve rebuilt my life and career around authenticity, honesty, and acceptance. I don’t live in fear anymore, and I’m surrounded by the most genuine, kindhearted people.
The house that holds my salon has been a labor of love—I’ve remodeled and renovated much of it myself. It’s become an artist’s haven, filled with character, sawdust, and memories. After an amicable divorce in 2022, I met a wonderful man in 2023, and together we bought a fixer-upper in downtown McKinney—something I’d always dreamed of. Now, my old house is my salon and workspace. My sons and their roommates rent rooms there, and we even turned the game room into a tattoo studio for my bonus son—the only person I’ve trusted to tattoo me so far.
I love having my work and home separate now, but close enough that on nice days, I can bike the 3.2 miles between them. Life feels balanced, creative, and full of peace. For the first time, I’m not chasing anything—I’m just living fully, freely, and with gratitude for how far I’ve come.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Becoming a mom at 18 was hard, but I can’t imagine life without my daughter, Avery. I like to say she grew me up when I was young, and now that she’s 27, she keeps me young—she really is my person. Having two boys in less than two years was a blur, especially since I was only 23 when I had my third, Roman. My mom was 19 when she had me, her third, so I knew it wouldn’t be easy—but we made the best of it. The man I married was a wonderful dad—nurturing and devoted to his kids. He stayed home with them, which brought challenges and shifted expectations, but I always knew they were safe and loved. Looking back, I’m deeply grateful for that time, even though I was working nonstop and utterly exhausted trying to give my family everything I could.
2020 was a year that changed everything. It began with nearly losing our older son, River, who dropped to 111 pounds at 6’1″ after being misdiagnosed for months before learning he had Type 1 diabetes. We spent a week in the ICU at Cook Children’s in Fort Worth, learning a new reality we knew nothing about. In hindsight, it’s been a strange blessing—he’s now one of the healthiest eaters I know and can cook better than most grandmas.
That same year, I also faced some painful truths. It’s when I lost my religion, half my clients, and eventually, my parents and brothers. Losing my mom has been the hardest—it’s a bizarre grief, mourning someone who’s still alive but gone from your life.
I grew up with a stepdad who was physically present but emotionally absent and often verbally abusive. I was afraid of him most of my life, but as an adult, I can see the weight he carried—taking on three kids in his early 20s who weren’t biologically his. He’s incredibly talented and can fix or build almost anything. My “MacGyver” streak definitely came from him. I’m forever grateful for the salon he built for me and for all the times he helped with cars and repairs. There isn’t a day I walk into my salon without thinking of him.
I still hope for reconciliation with my family someday, but I’ve stopped fighting for relationships that haven’t fought for me. I can’t imagine not speaking to one of my kids over a difference in politics or beliefs. Thankfully, that’s foreign to me—I love them unconditionally and will never try to control what they believe.
My kids and I have faced many struggles, and it hurts not having family to lean on for comfort or support. But I’ve realized that what I lost was never a source of peace to begin with. Now, I focus on growth, gratitude, and becoming a better version of myself—for them, and for every relationship in my life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a home-based stylist, and hair is my main passion and source of income. I specialize in natural-looking blondes and affordable extensions—it’s my favorite thing to give someone long, beautiful hair they’ve never been able to grow naturally. I love working within almost any budget since great extensions are so accessible these days! Beyond hair, I’m a builder at heart. Remodeling my two homes has taken blood, sweat, and tears—but it’s been incredibly rewarding. I’ve also been called a magician in the kitchen; cooking is my therapy, and food is one of my love languages. All three of my children have inherited this gift in the kitchen. I live to feed people and connect over a delicious, healthy meal—my motto is that food should taste good and make us feel good. I also have passion for yoga, and have several cats that I have fostered and adopted, they are the loves of my life…they rule my salon. ha!
I’m also a big fan of thrifting and repurposing. I compost, recycle, and hate waste—it’s both a blessing and a curse because I have a hard time throwing things away! Most of the décor in both of my homes is thrifted, and I’m so proud of how those spaces reflect creativity, care, and a little bit of magic.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
If you’re looking for a new stylist, help with a remodel, creative styling ideas, menu planning for an event, a yoga buddy, or even a funky little custom bench for that empty hallway—I’m your girl! I absolutely love meeting new people and bringing their ideas to life. Whether it’s transforming your hair, your home, or your next dinner party, creating beauty and connection is what fuels me. You can find me on Instagram and Facebook, but I’m a little old-school—most of my clients and friends just call or text me directly. I’m always excited to welcome new clients and collaborate on something special!
Pricing:
- intro to highlights start at $75
- cut/style starts at $75
- balayage/ombre starts at $125
- full highlights start at $150
- hand-sewn extensions start at $200
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/destinyclausen/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/destinyclausen
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/destinyssweetstylehouse/
