Today we’d like to introduce you to Elena Nelson.
Elena, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Always knowing I had a passion for the art of hair, I graduated high school a year early to be able to start hair school before the end of that year. After graduating from cosmetology school in 11 months, I started my first job in the industry at Great Clips. Eight months later, I left there to pursue an apprenticeship in a Dallas salon to expand my skills in the industry. I was an apprentice for 6 short months before I was put on the salon floor & able to take clients on my own. After moving around to a few different salons over the years & never feeling like I fit in, I finally found a home on my own in my salon suite, “Hair Ethics,” & have been in business for almost 5 years.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road to where I am now has been long, winding, & full of obstacles. Something that’s not talked about enough in this industry is the pressure to conform. Coming into the field I thought I’d be welcomed by like-minded people, unfortunately that was far from the case. Instead, I was met with salons & stylists bullying me for being different. It felt like an extension of high school. Instead of giving into the toxic culture I’d been submerged in, I kept my head down & stayed true to myself. I watched many around me say & do just about anything for a dollar, even if it meant going against a client’s best interest. I promised myself that one day being my true authentic self & moving with honestly & integrity would pay off. Standing where I’m at now, I can say that it truly has & the the perseverance was well worth it.
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?
In whole, I am a low-maintenance hair specialist. Most of my clients are on a 12-week rotation. My specialty is reds, lived-in color & dry cutting. I strive to give my clients a look that can grow with them as their hair grows out. Finding the perfect low-maintenance look for a client is all determined in the consultation, which is custom to each person. My goal is that each client returns to me with a gorgeous wearable grow-out / fade that is easy to maintain so they can look just as good wearing their hair as they do leaving the salon. One of the biggest things that sets me apart in the industry is my honesty & transparency with my clients. They know they can trust that I will give them only exactly what they need, & I won’t try to sell them on something that’s not meant for them. This has created a very unique relationship between my clients & I that has built their trust in me & keeps them coming back.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
One of the things that brings me joy in my career is that I’ve created a safe space for people to be their most vulnerable & authentic selves with me & me with them. I was told early on when starting my business that people wouldn’t care about getting their hair done by a stylist that was forthright. That has since been proven to be incorrect, so much so that my clients seek me out just because of the way I run my business & how much integrity I have as a salon owner. Being able to provide a space in the beauty industry where my clients can trust that I’ve got them, & not have to question every single thing I say or do, to me, is the magic in it all.
Pricing:
- Haircuts – $100
- Hourly pricing for color services & haircuts booked with color services – $100 per hour
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hairethics.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/hairethics
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/hairethics
- Other: www.tiktok.com/@hairethics
Image Credits
Bailey McGuire
